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These 11 Revamped Californian Motels Are Totally Worth a Road Trip
Vintage-inspired lodgings and wide California highways go together like beds and breakfasts.
By Mae Hamilton
This former-motor-lodge-turned-boutique motel has all the trappings that visitors expect from a Joshua Tree getaway: desert expanses, midcentury-modern accommodations, and a dash of New Age magic.
The Bungalows, which opened in June 2022, is located on the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, aka the Institute of Mentalphysics, which is dedicated to improving physical and emotional well-being through Eastern-inspired philosophy; it is also has the largest collection of Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright) buildings in the world. The rooms at the Bungalows are steeped in midcentury details: original post-and-beam ceilings, polished concrete floors, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. The property abuts the Mojave Desert Land Trust, so even if you don’t make it to nearby Joshua Tree National Park, there are still many hiking trails and sights to explore right outside your room.