For adventurous travelers drawn to desert seclusion—without sacrificing good food, thoughtful design, or small-town amenities—Joshua Tree offers a compelling escape in Southern California. The nearby communities of Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and Twentynine Palms function as natural bases for exploring the park and the surrounding high desert, shaping a trip that balances wide-open landscapes with lived-in local culture.
Tucked between the Berkshires and the Hoosic River, TOURISTS Welcome is a 46-room riverside lodge that reimagines the classic American roadside motel through a design-forward lens. Inspired by 1960s motor lodges and the area’s industrial past, the low-slung buildings feature warm white oak cladding, contemporary interiors, and expansive windows that blur indoor and outdoor space. Rooms are spare but intentional, with custom-built furnishings, built-in benches, and woven textiles that nod to regional craft. Trails begin on site and meander into forested hills, while a saltwater pool, fire pits, and art sculptures add a layer of quiet luxury to this outdoorsy retreat.
At 3.4 million acres large, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the lower 48 states. It’s also the hottest, driest, and lowest national park; it famously recorded temperatures of 134° at the Badwater Basin, a dry salty lakebed expanse that’s 282 feet below sea level.
For those desert wanderers really looking to get away from the crowds, the Anza-Borrego region should be on your bucket list. Located 150 miles southeast of Los Angeles (and only 80 miles northeast of San Diego), come for the quirky town of Borrego Springs and make it your launching point to further explore the natural offerings of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Forget Disney World—if there was vote on the real “most magical place on earth,” Sedona, AZ would surely be a top contender. From its iconic rugged rock landscapes to its mysterious vortexes, the energy in Sedona is undeniably special. Add a vibrant arts and culinary scene to boot, and we’re all in.
165 miles from LA, the town of Kernville sits in the southern Sierra Nevada. For years, visitors have flocked to the region enjoying a range of adventures from whitewater rafting, kayaking and tubing on the Kern River — to biking, hiking, camping, and climbing its rocky terrain. Kernville is also a fishing destination; anglers from everywhere come to fish the Kern River for its native trout.
One of California’s most iconic road trips is the 99-mile stretch of highway that hugs the Pacific coast on Highway 1 between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Cambria. Don’t let the short distance fool you – there are plenty of stops and sights to see. Many people do the drive in a day, which is very possible, but if you want to linger in the coastal mist and be inspired by the landscape like the artists and authors that revere this special place it’s possible to make a weekend or longer trip out of the drive.
A scenic 140 mile drive northwest from Los Angeles will land you in idyllic New Cuyama, CA. This slice of California’s high desert is a destination where the journey is just as much of a prize as arriving in the quaint town located east of Central California’s wine country.
I know exactly what you're thinking: low-key Miami? That's like an oxymoron, right? Yes, in a town overflowing with fancy beach hotels, cheesy nightclubs, and rampant self-absorption, it's easy to dismiss Miami as a place with #zerochill. However, with some careful maneuvering, Escape Brooklyn founder Erin Lindsey and travel buddy/sommelier/wine writer ...
Photos & Story by Peter Crosby | Follow Peter @pbcrosby on Instagram and see more work at PeterCrosbyPhotography.com Tempted by family in Norway and long-held desire to visit the Land of the Trolls, my partner and I planned a 750km road trip along the West Coast of Norway and ...