Snow in the desert: Adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park and the San Bernardino Mountains, Yucca Valley is a pleasant little town in the Mojave Desert that actually gets more snow on average than the rest of California.
Yucca Valley, although situated in the Mojave Desert, is home to a bustling population of nearly 21,000 people. Of course, with a total land area of over 40 square miles, this still means that residents get their own personal space since the population density is only about 500 per square mile. Compare that to nearby San Bernardino's density of 3,500 per square mile, and you can feel free to spread your wings.
Moving to Yucca Valley
Those considering a move to Yucca Valley will have a variety of choices. From awesome townhouses and furnished apartments to mobile homes in the desert, there's literally no housing desire that can't be met. Keep in mind, though, that there are a few things you should consider first. Seriously, you're moving, for crying out loud. It's not like you're changing aftershaves.
Starting Your Search
Renters make up nearly a third of all Yucca Valley residents, but this doesn't mean that there aren't still plenty of homes and even studio apartments for rent. With the number of homes and the land area in the town, you'd probably be fine starting your search two to three months in advance. This will give you plenty of time to make sure your only neighbors aren't cacti. Unless you're a loner, in which case, enjoy the cacti.
The Best Time to Move
There are plenty of times when we say to avoid the hot summer months when moving to an area, but when it's said about Yucca Valley, you should take it seriously. It's a desert after all! The average high temperature in July is around 108 degrees. Yeah, so let's avoid that. Head out during the cooler months so you can ease your way into the desert life.
What to Bring
Lots of water, because of the heat. Other than that, make sure you're prepped with your rental application and fee in addition to proof of income or something showing that you've landed a nearby job. It might not be hard to find an apartment in the area, but the landlord is still going to want to know that you can pay your bills. Come on, it's the desert; not UNICEF.
Yucca Valley Neighborhoods
Whether you're looking for rental homes or just a nice one-bedroom apartment somewhere, all of the neighborhoods in Yucca Valley will have options. No need to worry about how sparsely populated the place is; literally all of these areas have their perks.
Yucca Trail: You're literally right next to South Park! Okay, not the one with Cartman and Kenny, but still. Not enough to attract you? Well once you've found some amazing apartment rentals, you can check out all of the shopping north along Twentynine Palms Highway.
Town Center: From grocery stores to medical clinics, Yucca Valley's town center has it all. Heck, if your air conditioner ever goes out, go enjoy the cool auditoriums at Cinema 6 Theatre. Might as well watch a movie while you're there, too.
29 Palms Highway: Considering its size, the 29 Palms Highway area, situated on either side of Old Woman Springs Road, is sparsely populated. You can still enjoy the Hi-Desert Nature Museum, though, and if you need to get out of town, the Yucca Valley Airport is right nearby as well.
Living in Yucca Valley
Other than the occasional earthquake, living in Yucca Valley may sound like a bore. Okay, well don't tell anyone, but the locals keep the fun stuff hidden from the outside. They're sneaky like that. Once you're in good, though, you'll enjoy all of these great aspects of living in the valley.
Getting Everywhere is Easy
Sure, the airport makes it easy to get out of state, but why bother? The connecting highways put San Bernardino and Los Angeles only one and two hours away, respectively.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Black Rock Campground is ideal for birders, RV campers, horseback riders or anyone else who wants to throw out the comfort of their air conditioner for a night. Well, some RV's have A/C, but you get the point.
Easy Shopping
There are a variety of places to shop all around Yucca Valley. Of course, there's a Wal-Mart too. You know a place has made it when it's got a Wal-Mart!