Rugged mountains, gold mining ruins, desert plains dotted with oddball trees—Joshua Tree National Park is a unique and wonderful place. The park lies at an ecological crossroads, where the high Mojave Desert meets the low Colorado Desert. That marriage results in amazing desert flora, including those distinctive namesake trees (actually a type of yucca). The beauty here shines around the clock, with vibrant sunsets melting into nights filled with uncountable stars perfect for stargazing.