driving into palm springs after three days in joshua tree was like making a trek back into civilization. but better. the picturesque town has a retro feel, and our stay at the saguaro was epic.
palm springs is only a 3o minute drive from the heart of joshua tree so it makes sense to bundle the trip. trust me, you’ll feel like you got two vacations in one.
READ: 5 Tips for Planning the Perfect Trip to Joshua Tree
palm springs is la’s cool little sister. the city became uber chic in the 1950s when hollywood celebrities would visit to party and get away from the los angeles rat race. today, the numerous hotels and swim clubs tucked quietly away in unassuming neighborhoods still have an old hollywood vibe.
READ: How I Found Healing in the Desert
i knew i wanted to visit both joshua tree and palm springs because if i’m being honest — i could only last so long in the desert. seeing the colorful pictures of the saguaro made me want to pack my bags that very day. it just looks like someplace you NEED to be.
here’s how to visit palm springs like a boss:
chill pool side at the saguaro (and bring a float). palm springs just makes you want to party. everybody has such good vibes and the saguaro’s djs crank. people started congregating at the pool as early as 10 am and the party literally lasts all day. we had bomb drinks and good conversation with the mountains in the distance. the best part: we didn’t have to leave for anything thanks to the saguaro’s two hot tubs, pool, bar and food service.
no worries if you’re not staying at the saguaro, you can purchase day passes or even seasonal passes if you’re in the area.
plan a day trip to desert hills premium outlets. hands down, this is the best outlet mall i’ve ever visited in my life. it has everything from dolce & gabbana to gap and the labor day sales were outrageous. i snagged a great dress from marni for 70% off!
don’t be confused though, this isn’t a simple excursion. treat visiting desert hills premium outlets like an adventure. it’s split into two mega buildings and there’s a shuttle that travels between. map out the stores you want to visit and get there early to avoid the wait. stores like gucci and tory burch have long lines just to get indoors let alone purchase something.
have brunch at the purple palm. it’s listed as one of the top brunch spots in palm springs and i couldn’t agree more. the purple palm is located inside the boutique hotel, colony palms, and overlooks their beautiful pool. it’s quaint, affordable and the food is delicious. it’s also a dope place to people watch. in fact, we ran into rosario dawson who was soooo sweet.
ride bikes around the city. most of the hotels have bikes you can check out for free or low cost. the sunshine and mountains made it the best bike ride i’ve had in a long time. make sure you visit the famous pink door house located at 1100 sierra way. it’s instafamous and when we got there the residents were pulling into the driveway. it made me kind of shy to take pictures, but they were super nice and actually reminded us to use hashtag #thatpinkdoor when posting on social media.
go way up on the aerial tram. like joshua tree, palm springs is also a desert terrain, and the views are dynamic. the tram takes you up 8500 feet above the desert floor, and i’ve heard it’s an amazing experience. also, it’s about 20 degrees cooler which is nice given the scorching climate. it’s definitely on my list for our next visit.
many thanks for following along during my trip to joshua tree and palm springs on social media. what i couldn’t capture was the time i spent focused on wellness. for me, travel is a form of self care, and my meditation practice skyrocketed while on vacation thanks to the ability to unplug. wishing you good vibes and the ability to enjoy the moment.
this post was written thanks to a media partnership with the saguaro. as usual, all opinions are my own and thank you for supporting the companies that support politics & fashion.
Your descriptions and photos make me want to go NOW! Definitely on the bucket list. Thanks for sharing.