If I could describe Palm Springs in one word it would be: enchanting. Palm Springs is such a cheery, positive, magical hidden gem in the middle of nowhere.
It’s literally a desert oasis, no joke. You’re driving through the desert and then boom, you see these lush green palm trees and adorable colorful buildings. It’s something out of a movie. It kind of reminds me of an Andy Warhol painting.
Anyway, I’ve only been there a few times so I’m sure I haven’t see everything but when me and my BF have gone, we always try to see a lot. The city is pretty small so you can 100% see everything worth seeing in 1 day.
On your way to Palm Springs you must, must, must stop at the Cabazon Dinosaurs Rest Area. It’s an iconic spot for influencers to snap pics on their way to Coachella. Around the same area you’ll see TONS of windmills which is also another great photo opp.
where to go
When you actually get to Palm Springs you’ll be greeted by tons of cute, Palm Springs-y places to stay, but I highly recommend staying at the Ingleside Inn. Why?
Well if you’re a real estate junkie like me then you’ll love the history behind the property and all of its Kodak moments. Basically everywhere you go in Palm Springs is a Kodak moment, it’s literally an influencer’s dream.
On our most recent trip to Palm Springs, there were a few iconic spots I wanted to see like the “pink door” (shown above), which is in the Indian Canyons neighborhood. All the houses there are adorable and very Instaworthy. I also saw Twin Palms Estate (Frank Sinatra’s house), The Frey House II, Elvis’s Honeymoon Hideaway, Marilyn Monroe’s home, and Piazza de Liberace.
what to do
Again, we stayed at the Ingleside Inn which is located right in the middle of town, off the main drag so it’s quiet and secluded but in walking distance to all the action. We ended up there on a Thursday which was the perfect day because every Thursday they have a nighttime block party. It’s absolutely adorable, unique, and perfect for families or couples who are looking for a low key night. I loved seeing all the art from local vendors.
If you’re outdoorsy and not big on shopping, the Indian Canyons hike is a great option. The hike leads to a little oasis with a mini waterfall which is something out of a movie.
If you want adventure without exuding too much energy, the aerial tramway is the best of both worlds. You get full 360 views of Palm Springs which is pretty incredible. I haven’t done this because I’m terrified of heights but maybe one day.
where to eat
The one thing I was kind of disappointed with in Palm Springs was the food, and yes I Yelped every restaurant I saw. None of them checked all the boxes: food, atmosphere, location. It seemed very touristy and the food was overpriced and underwhelming… but like I said I’ve only been there a few times so I do plan on going back and finding a good spot.
However, the food provided by Ingleside Inn (shown above) was amazing, BTW.
One place we didn’t try, that we wanted to, was right next to The Ingleside Inn: Melvyn’s, which was highly rated on Yelp. The only reason we didn’t eat there was because we didn’t pack the right clothing. It is pretty fancy, I mean, Frank Sinatra had his own table there, so we didn’t want to go in in our jeans and sneakers.
Have you ever been to Palm Springs??
No Comments