Less than an hour from Palm Springs lies Joshua Tree National Park, established to preserve the groves of unusual, spiny-leaved Joshua trees. These interesting objects aren't actually trees at all, but the world’s largest yucca plants which can grow up to forty feet tall and live anywhere from five hundred to one thousand years. Another interesting fact? Joshua trees are only found in the Mojave Desert, which stretches from southeast California into parts of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.
And why are they called Joshua trees? Well, we don't know for sure, but one theory credits the name being given by Mormon settlers in the mid-1800s. The shape of the tree reminded the settlers of Joshua reaching his hands to the sky in prayer. One thing is for certain, visiting the area feels almost spiritual, you'll be glad you came.