A Vancouverite's Top 5 Palm Springs Picks
Leave it to us to vacate Vancouver for warmer weather in Palm Springs, California, right when the sun was starting to come out! But we just had to put our new Nettle's Tale swimsuits to work! At least we went to a destination where we certainly were not missing out on the forecast back home; beautiful Palm Springs, California.
At first glance, as Vancouverites, it was really refreshing to go on vacation in a landscape completely unique from what we live in daily. Seeing palm trees and cacti instead of evergreens and oaks and gazing upon desert hills and terra cotta coloured rock instead of the snowy-peaked Rocky Mountains... which brings me to the first location on our list of suggested "to do's" for Palm Springs:
1. Joshua Tree National Park
Two distinct desert ecosystems come together in this National Park, the Mojave and the Colorado. A great location for wide open, starry night skies! Named after the Joshua Tree of course, which is a twisted and brittled tree native to the region. I personally have not seen something that has awestruck me as much as this park did for quite some time. Arriving at dusk (about 55min drive from Palm Springs) didn't hurt either, as you can see from our many snapped pics below. Tip: If visiting later in the day, make sure to wear a longer skirt or pants and a light sweater or jacket.
2. Pappy & Harriet's Pioneer Town Palace
After dusk at Joshua Tree we drove for about 20-25min to Pioneer Town to grab some dinner and drinks at Pappy & Harriet's, which had come highly recommended by a dear friend. It did not disappoint! Woodsy barn feels, live music, Christmas lights up all year long and most importantly — chilli cheese fries. YUM!
3. The Ace Hotel & Swim Club
Talk about our photographer's [Meghan Bustard] stylized photoshoot dreamland. This spot is mid-century modern done right. If you're not a guest, go visit for the food and Stumptown coffee, you can stay for the pool and that's just what we did! We ate brunch by the pool, ogled at design features and how good the coffee butter & maple syrup combo was on our french toast, and then we lounged in poolside chairs that even had our own personal canvas sun coverings. It's all about the details! Even the pool towels are custom Turkish towels, made specifically for the Ace Hotel. Of course we had to take the opportunity for our own Nettle's Tale Swimwear photo shoot featuring The Margaret cheeky two-piece, The Alicia knot top, The Julia underwire top and The Heather swimsuit(s), as well as some matching visors we purchased at the 'Desert Hatter', another "do recommend" in downtown Palm Springs. Be sure to visit the hat shop after a few margaritas... it's way more fun that way.
4. Salvation Mountain
This mountain is a hillside visionary environment created by local resident artist Leonard Knight. The Folk Art Society of America declared it "a folk art destination worthy of preservation and protection." As weird, profoundly strange, or interesting as most may find Leonards expression, it is jaw dropping and will re-invigorate your love for all things colour. The entire piece has been constructed entirely from adobe, straw and thousands, upon thousands of gallons of lead-free paint. I loved how so many of the paint cans emptied were all lined up and clustered together, further highlighting the amazing use of COLOUR! If this piece of art doesn't make you happy, then maybe everything in your closet is black. Definitely worth the breathtaking, 90min drive past the Salton Sea. Canadians are always down for a good road trip, right!?
5. Kimpton Rowan Hotel Rooftop
A newer addition to Palm Springs scene and a must mention for anyone having their bachelorette or girls vacay in Palm Springs! During the day this rooftop has epic natural views, but at night the lux, bohemian vibe is to die for! Private, group-sized, cabana-style seating, great tunes, tapas and cocktails poolside. The perfect spot to get dressed up for and add to your Friday night itinerary. It's also walking distance to other great Downtown Palm Springs shops and hot spots!
All photos courtesy of the lovely Meghan Bustard Photography
SHOP--> the Nettle's Tale Swimsuits featured in this post by clicking on a thumbnail below:
