Things to do in Joshua Tree

No. 13 of Night Attractions in California

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park, established in 1994, is located in the middle of the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert. This is a desert. In this desert area with little rain, hot summers and cold nights, few trees grow. , but there is a tree called Joshua that grows here, and the park is named after it. There are three things to see here, Joshua trees, strange rocks and cacti. These three things are very strange, and when you walk into the park, you feel like you have come to an alien world. It will take more than half a day to visit Joshua Tree National Park by car. You can enjoy the bizarre trees and stones on both sides of the main road while driving, and you can stop and take pictures from time to time. In addition to the natural landscape in the park, you can also visit the former pastures, mining areas and the ruins of the Indians. The characteristic Desert Queen Ranch is a historic ranch that preserves its original features. In addition, sightseeing spots include Cactus Park (ChollaCactusGarden), HiddenValley, Chase Viewpoint (KeysView) and numerous trails and rock climbing spots. The bizarre stones in the garden are in different shapes. These rocks have existed on the earth for more than 100 million years and are now a paradise for rock climbers. Rock climbing and hiking in the park are free, there are seven famous rock climbing spots, and there are thousands of climbing routes named with different difficulty levels. In addition, there are 13 trails, you can choose the trail or climbing point that suits you according to your own situation. The most famous of these rocks is a piece called Skull Rock, which is shaped like a skull, with sunken eyes and nose, which is very lifelike. There is also an Arch rock not far from Skull Rock, which is also worth admiring.

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Disneyland Park California

Starting May 16, 2025, Disneyland Resort will launch a year-long 70th anniversary celebration! Centered around the theme "Celebrate Happy," the resort will unveil exclusive global experiences to honor seven decades of magic and joy. The parks will be adorned with 70th anniversary-themed décor, while Mickey Mouse and friends debut special outfits. Interactive surprises await at select attractions. Limited-time ticket offers include 3-day and new 4-day tickets (upgradeable for park-hopper and Lightning Lane Multi Pass). The celebration runs through summer 2026—plan your visit now to experience Disney's "Rainbow of Happiness"! In 1955, Walt, the father of Disney, built California Disneyland in Los Angeles, which is the world's first original Disney theme park. The park is located within the California Disney Resort. There are two main parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. The two parks are adjacent to each other. Visitors can visit both parks at one time and experience the joyful magic of Disney World. Come and enter the land of fairy tales and meet classic characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Disney princesses, Avengers, and Star Wars heroes. △ Step into fairy-tale worlds filled with Character sightings, attractions and more! △ Enjoy a leisurely stroll through small-town America—you'll love the turn-of-the-century charm! △ Explore this out-of-this-world land, where you can live your adventure in a galaxy far, far away!

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Disneyland Resort California

Disneyland Resort California is an entertainment resort in Anaheim, California, USA. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its experiences division, featuring two theme parks (Disneyland and Disney California Adventure), three hotels, and the Disney Downtown shopping, dining, and entertainment district. Disneyland Park features Sleeping Beauty Castle as its landmark, with scenes from the fairy tale displayed inside. The Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge area recreates the streets of Batuu from the movies, where visitors can board the Millennium Falcon. Classic attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square have been operating for decades, with daytime parades often winding through the park. At Disney California Adventure Park, Cars Land is modeled after the desert town from the movie, with Radiator Springs Racers remaining a perennial favorite. The Avengers Campus offers thrilling experiences like Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout! and an interactive shooting adventure with Spider-Man. Over at Pixar Pier, the Incredicoaster races along the bay. At night, Disneyland lights up the sky with castle fireworks, while Disney California Adventure dazzles with a grand water and light show on the lake. Given the resort's size and long queues for popular attractions, two full days are recommended to fully explore both parks—hit the top rides early, then explore at leisure. Keep an eye out for hidden Mickey easter eggs scattered throughout the parks, as spotting them adds to the fun. After the parks close, head to Downtown Disney for dining and shopping to cap off your day. Disneyland was the company's first theme park, and also a theme park built by Walt Disney, which opened on July 17, 1955. Disney California Adventure Park is a theme park based on Disney's interpretation of California, which opened on February 8, 2001.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Universal Studios Hollywood

Explore iconic movie sets, participate in immersive photo activities, experience tour upgrades, and enjoy themed food and collectibles. ·Explore large-scale movie sets in Hollywood and learn behind-the-scenes trivia about filmmaking ·Explore the mysterious Hogwarts castle as you journey through The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ·Step into the Super Mario™ world at Super Nintendo World and get ready to experience Mario Kart™ ·Enjoy thrilling roller coasters and experience realistic movie scenes

Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

Black Rock Canyon Campground

Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Sphere

It is located on the Las Vegas Strip in the United States. The exterior wall area is about 54,000 square meters and is composed of 1.2 million programmable LED panels. Its screen covers an area larger than three football fields and wraps around, above and behind the stage, providing viewers with a fully immersive experience that is 100 times clearer than HDTV. The outside of the entire building is equipped with 54,000 square meters of programmable lighting, so that the audience outside can also feel the performance inside the venue. Sphere is a next-generation entertainment medium that is redefining the future of live entertainment, allowing the foremost artists, creators, and technologists to create extraordinary experiences that take storytelling to a new level and transport audiences to places both real and imagined. The venue is powered by cutting-edge technologies that ignite the senses and enable audiences to share experiences at a never-before-seen scale.

2026 Americas 50 - Best Things to Do

USS Midway Museum

The USS Midway Museum is housed in a decommissioned U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that saw actual service. Named after the Battle of Midway, the carrier entered service in 1945 and is the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, having taken part in the Vietnam War, the 1975 Saigon evacuation, and the 1991 Gulf War before opening to the public as a museum in 2004. The flight deck and hangar deck display more than 30 restored carrier aircraft and helicopters, spanning from World War II-era planes such as the F4F "Wildcat" and SBD "Dauntless" to Cold War-era F-4 "Phantom" and F-14 "Tomcat" and on to the F/A-18 "Hornet," tracing the decades-long evolution of carrier aviation. Catapults and arresting wires and other launch and recovery equipment remain on the deck, and many of the volunteer on-site guides are retired Navy pilots who explain the carrier aircraft launch and recovery procedures on site. The ship is divided into three visiting areas: the flight deck, the hangar deck, and the lower deck. The hangar deck features an immersive theater for the Battle of Midway, showing a short film of about 15 minutes that tells the story of that pivotal 1942 naval battle; nearby, a small observation aircraft that landed on the carrier deck during the 1975 Saigon evacuation is also on display, documenting that special chapter of history. The lower deck opens up shipboard living spaces such as the galley, medical bay, sailors' quarters, and engine room, allowing visitors to experience the real environment in which thousands of crew members lived at sea for extended periods. The bridge tour climbs through narrow ladders into the navigation room and pilothouse; due to limited space, the queue time is long, so it is recommended to go early.

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Disney California Adventure Park

This is a Disney adventure park themed around California. Originally conceived as "experiencing all of California in one day," the park's entrance once featured a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge, vividly showcasing the state's captivating culture and rich history—the very essence the "paradise park" aimed to convey. Disney California Adventure Park opened on February 8, 2001. Originally the parking lot for Disneyland, it has since evolved into a vibrant theme park featuring rides, shopping, and dining. From Cars Land and Buena Vista Street to Pixar Pier, Avengers Campus, and San Fransokyo Square, the park has continuously expanded over the years, with even more exciting additions planned for the future.