I can confidently say my first trip to Palm Springs was a success. We only had two short days, but we definitely made the most of it! Sharing things to do in Palm Springs below!
If you’re here for the outfits – I have a separate post linking everything I wore here.
Two of my best friends Briley and Sydney live in the San Diego area. We all decided immediately we had to make the two hour drive out to Palm Springs while I was there. We were lucky enough to be able to make a weekday trip so it was much cheaper, and less crowded.
Where We Stayed
The Saguaro Hotel – We decided to stay at the Saguaro Hotel. Not only was it in our budget, but the fun decor and pool view really sold us. The hotel is surprisingly affordable, but be warned on the weekends it is known for being a party hotel. If you’re in it for the insta pics this is the spot for you!
What We Did
Wind Turbines – We left Encinitas around 2pm, grabbed some coffee, and headed straight to the Wind Turbines for our first photoshoot of the trip. Finding this spot can be a bit tricky, my best advice is to head west on Garnet Ave off the corner of N Indian Canyon Drive. About a mile down the road on the left you will see various little side roads to find your perfect windmill spot. I wrote and entire post about what to know before you go that you can read here.
Hangout by the Pool – This was my fav part of the trip but please please please wear sunscreen. That desert sun is NO joke. Nothing ruins a trip like a terrible sunburn on the first day. My favorite brand is Supergoop – I’ve written an entire post about it here. My swimsuit is from Triangl – and you can read my honest review here.
Visit the Starbucks Reserve & Shopping – One of my bucket list Items was to visit a Starbucks reserve, and how cool to cross this off the list in Palm Springs? Make sure to order at the reserve bar if you are looking to snag a cute cup!
Took a Sunset Drive – This was the perfect chill ending to the day. We got slightly dressed up for dinner, and decided to drive around a little snap some photos and watch the sun set over the valley.
Where We Ate
El Jefe – Inside the Saguaro, this was the perfect spot to have lunch in our room and escape the sun for an hour or two! The food was delicious!
Lulu California Bistro- We ate here on our first night and this was kind of a blur to me. We were so exhausted for shooting in the desert for hours that this place really hit the spot. The outdoor vibe is really nice with garden lights and everything.
Eight4Nine – This place is very aesthetically pleasing, but the best part was the heavy pours on the wine. The decor and food was great, and they were even filming an episode of Vanderpump Rules while we were here.
Shermans – Shoutout to Sydney for taking us here. This was my favorite meal of the trip, I left so full I could bust and had leftovers. If you’re not sure what to order definitely get the Latkes. We also got a giant bag of cookies to go (highly recommend)
I hope this post gave you some palm springs trip ideas for your next girls trip! Searching things to do in palm springs on pinterest can definitely be overwhelming, but whatever you do you will have a great time! I would love to know any recommendation you have for the next time I’m back!
