Unique Stays in Southern California

Southern California has two kinds of escape within a few hours of Los Angeles: the high desert, with its huge skies and boulder fields, and the mountains, with pines and snow in winter. The homes on this page cover both.

In the desert, Sol to Soul in Pioneertown and Mockingbird Villa in Morongo Valley sit close to Joshua Tree, and Solicio del Sol in Indio is in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs. In the mountains, A-Frame Above the World in Mountain Center looks out from the San Jacinto range, and the Mountain House Treehouse sits among the pines of Pine Mountain Club.

Every home on Locèlle is listed by its owner, and you book with them directly, without added platform fees.

• Desert and mountains. Joshua Tree, the Coachella Valley and the pine forests above Los Angeles.
• Dark skies. The high desert is one of the best places in California for stargazing.
• Easy from LA. Most homes are about two to three hours from Los Angeles.
• Book direct. Locèlle introduces you to the owners so you can book with them without platform fees.

October through April is the best time for the desert, with warm days and cool nights; summer can be extremely hot. The mountains are good year-round, with cooler summers and occasional snow in winter.

From Los Angeles, plan on roughly two to three hours by car to Joshua Tree, the Coachella Valley, Mountain Center or Pine Mountain Club, depending on traffic. Palm Springs International is the closest airport for the desert homes. A car is essential.

• Joshua Tree National Park: hiking, climbing and stargazing.
• Pioneertown: the old Western film set and Pappy & Harriet's.
• Palm Springs: mid-century architecture, pools and the Aerial Tramway.
• Mountains: trails around Idyllwild and the Los Padres National Forest.