Few people are aware of the Morongo Basin, except of course its residents, and the people that pass through on their way to play in Las Vegas or Laughlin. Situated in the high desert, tucked away in the hills above Palm Springs, the small towns of Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, Pioneertown, Landers, Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms sit smugly, enjoying warm days and cool nights. From here, the commute distance to Palm Springs is around 45 minutes and the San Bernardino is around 1 1/2 hours. On a hot summer day, you can leave Yucca Valley and be in the cool pines of Big Bear or Idyllwild in just over an hour. The drive to Las Vegas is usually traffic free and is less than four hours. The proximity to I-10 gives good access to Los Angeles and the coastal areas within 2 -4 hours. US News and World Report recently identified Yucca Valley as one of the top 10 communities across the country for post-employment living.
Yes, we are desert, so that means wide open spaces. It means that most homes sit on a half acre lot close to town, with more on larger acreage a little further from town. The traffic is minimal compared to our neighbors 'down the hill.' Each town has its own 'downtown'area, with its own distinct flavor.
Morongo Valley is very 'country' with horse properties and mountains on each side, yet is only 20 minutes drive to I-10.
Yucca Valley is the largest town, offering a wide range of shops and amenities. The old town area is a great place to stroll and explore an eclectic mix of stores, while the main downtown offers most everything you need, including a cinema and an active community center.
Historical Pioneertown will take you back to western days with its 'Mane Street' built as a movie set in the 1940's. The scenery in this area is breathtaking, with large boulders and sweeping canyons, great for exploring and getting out into our very unique desert.
Landers is a semi-rural area that offers wide open spaces and great horse properties. It is on Hwy 247 that leads to Victorville, so has the potential to be an ideal commute.
Joshua Tree is a gateway to Joshua Tree National Park and offers everything from hiking and camping equipment stores to a great bakery! The town is also a mecca for artists and has some very unique galleries.
Twentynine Palms has a great downtown area that boasts large murals on the sides of the town's buildings, giving insight into our desert history. There is a very active community theater offering entertainment year round.
Beyond that lies Wonder Valley, which is rural and magical, where homestead cabins of yesteryear sit and wait for a new owner to breath life back into them. A true desert getaway area.
All this and a very affordable housing market make the Morongo Basin worth a visit. Whether it be to relocate, retire or for a vacation getaway, this desert has it all. If you are looking for smog, traffic, noise and close neighbors, then the Morongo Basin is probably not for you. But if your choices include blue skies 300 days a year, pleasant temperatures, a small town community feel and a smaller mortgage, then take a weekend and come up to visit us. Take a look at these articles about our area: http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/04/21/travel/escapes/21joshua.html http://www.joshuadesertretreats.com/nytimes.html http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0DE6DE1239F931A15750C0A96E958260&sec=travel&spon=&pagewanted=3 www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/retirement/retirement_guide_2007/index.htm |