Slip on your Bono-style wraparound shades, put on your best rocker sneer, and head to this retro-cool 1950s motel made famous by the band U2, which stayed here while recording their iconic album The Joshua Tree in 1986. The small lobby shows off memorabilia from Bono and his bandmates, including photos taken on the property by famous rock-and-roll photographer Anton Corbijn.
Catch the U2 fever and hum a few bars of “Where The Streets Have No Name” as you lounge by the pool. Then retreat to your room, featuring colorfully painted walls and open-beam ceilings. Some rooms include kitchenettes. Relax on your own private patio for memorable views south into Joshua Tree National Park. Feeling energetic? Load up the car (convertible preferred) and sing the rousing chorus of “Beautiful Day” as you head to the trailhead for Fortynine Palms Oasis, one of the loveliest hikes in the park. A three-mile round-trip takes you up and down a few easy hills to a lush thicket of native fan palms.
