Happy Fall, you guys! Palm Springs hasn’t quite gotten the autumn memo yet… I’m looking forward to temperatures dropping down below 100 degrees, and reducing AC usage at home. As we progress into the cooler months, I know that more people will be coming here to enjoy our beautiful weather! With that said, I’m continuing the Palm Springs series with another post on 15 of my favorite spots in & around my hood. There is just so much to see. I feel like no matter how long I live here, there will always be new gems to be discovered. If you’re planning a trip to the Coachella Valley, I highly recommend checking some of these Insta-worthy spots out!
Cabazon Dinosaurs
50770 Seminole Drive
Cabazon, CA 92230
Driving from LA? You’ll conveniently pass the Cabazon Dinosaurs on your way into Palm Springs. It’s located right next to the Cabazon Outlets – a roadside stop that’s quite hard to miss. When it’s not overly crowded and lighting conditions are right, these dinos present a unique photo opportunity for tourists and locals alike!
Whitewater Preserve
9160 Whitewater Canyon Road
Whitewater, CA 92282
The Whitewater Preserve is a stunning hiking trail with water flowing through certain spots like a river. The water is refreshingly cooling on hot days! We have taken our pugs out on walks here early in the morning and the younger one just loves to play in the water. As you enter the road to get up to the hiking spot, you’ll also see a heavy stream of really clear blue water where people like to pull over, admire the view, and take pictures. Some even go down to the river and hang out – although it’s strongly frowned upon by authorities because it’s not exactly the safest place to be.
Pro tip – whatever you do, do not leave anything out in plain sight. Our car got broken into earlier this year and we were only out for maybe 15 minutes tops! The parking situation is much safer once you get up to the Preserve, but I’d still keep valuables out of sight to be safe.
Palm Springs Windmills
26950 20th Avenue
Palm Springs, CA 92262
The iconic windmills were what drew me into Palm Springs years ago when I first visited. If you come during sunrise or sunset, you’ll likely be rewarded with a breathtaking view! David and I have done countless photoshoots out in the desert with the windmills in the background. Depending on time of year and day, it can be quite windy in these areas (thus why the windmills exist in the first place). So, wear a comfy jacket and maybe bring a hair-tie if you hate having hair blow around everywhere like I do. Once you see these windmills, you know you’re entering Palm Springs!
#ThatPinkDoor
1100 East Sierra Way
Palm Springs, CA 92264
You may have already seen it all over Instagram – #ThatPinkDoor is an iconic spot worth driving by once you’re in Palm Springs. Earlier this year, the owners of this home, unfortunately, had to put up signs prohibiting photography because people were being disrespectful of their property. The good news is, this neighborhood in general has really modern colorful doors that are Insta-worthy as well. Just drive around and see for yourself! If you must take a photo in front of this famous pink door, I’m sure nobody would yell at you if you did so quietly or from a distance on street 😉
Ice Cream & Shop(pe)
1551 North Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Whether you like ice cream or not, you must make a stop into Ice Cream & Shop(pe) in Downtown Palm Springs, part of ARRIVE Hotel! This is seriously the CUTEST ice cream shop ever – you won’t regret stepping in. My ice cream lovers will enjoy a variety of flavors to choose from. The quality and texture of their ice cream is simply unparalleled. My ultimate favorite is the pomegranate chip and it always crushes my soul when I walk in and find that they don’t have this flavor for the day. They switch out ice cream flavors at random. Not so into ice cream? Hang out in & peruse through their little souvenir shop in the corner. They’ve decorated it so “Palm Springs” – oh so colorful and pretty!
Moorten Botanical Garden & Cactarium
170 South Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92264
Plant lovers, anyone? Stop by the Moorten Botanical Garden & Cactarium in Palm Springs to walk through a fun maze of succulents and cacti. I’d recommend coming earlier in the day to avoid the heat if you are here in the summer. Trust me, it’s really not as enjoyable when it’s too hot out. It’s only $5 per adult to go in, so it’s really friendly to every vacation budget. My favorite spot in this garden is the greenhouse – a great place to do a “follow-me-to” shot if you’re into that! They also have a section where they sell plants, and you don’t have to pay to enter this area of the garden.
Rancho Super Car Wash
71490 Highway 111
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
As you go down Highway 111 towards Coachella, you’ll come across a cute pink elephant car wash called the Rancho Super Car Wash in Rancho Mirage. I know it’s really no big deal, but I just love the vintage vibes and character of this spot. If you want a picture in front of it, you’ll have to come early in the day before the car wash opens to get an undisturbed look. Street traffic is typically friendlier, too. At night, the sign lights up and looks awesome!
The Living Desert
47900 Portola Avenue
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Meet the zoo of the Coachella Valley! Located in the heart of Palm Desert, The Living Desert is a zoo worth checking out. Compared to other zoos, this one is on the smaller side, but very unique in its own way. David and I love that they have a good mix of plant and animal life here. We got an annual pass earlier this year and have gone several times already. Parking has always been a breeze and is free. There are a multitude of cute spots to take photos. Our favorite is the giraffe exhibit because it is so photogenic – depending on how you photograph it, it could look like you’re on an African safari!
Old Town La Quinta
78100 Main Street
La Quinta, CA 92253
A couple cities over from Palm Desert is La Quinta. The downtown area is called Old Town La Quinta, and it’s a beautiful place to take an early morning or evening stroll. The Spanish tiles here add a perfect splash of color in photos. If you ever get hungry or thirsty while exploring the area, there’s plenty of food and drink options to take delight in. I’m not a coffee person, but I’ve heard great things about Old Town Coffee Company. There are also small boutiques and shops that are fun to check out if you’ve never been! Every Sunday from October 7 – April 27, Old Town hosts a certified farmer’s market from the hours of 8 am – 12:30 pm.
Indio Rose Garden
81800 Avenue 51
Indio, CA 92201
If you are a sucker for flowers like I am, you’ll fancy the Rose Garden in Indio. It’s in the Empire Polo Club, right next to where the Coachella music festival takes place! Entry is free and parking is easy. The flowers are typically in full bloom during Spring and die off in the summer when it gets scorching hot. I’d recommend visiting this spot if you’re in town from late March to late May.
Joshua Tree
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
You might already be familiar – just outside of Palm Springs is Joshua Tree. Avid hikers, campers, and adventure lovers often look forward to visiting Joshua Tree National Park when they are in the valley. Just be aware that temperatures here can vary greatly from those of the low desert regions like Palm Springs. It can get drastically cold and windy at night depending on the time of year you visit… so, plan accordingly! Similar to the windmills, the views of Joshua Tree can look unreal during sunrise and sunset because you have that open horizon which makes for a beautiful photo backdrop.
Salton Sea
100-225 State Park Road
Mecca, CA 92254
The history of the Salton Sea is quite interesting. If you have never been to this once-paradise, now-apocalyptic town and are in the Palm Springs area for at least 3-4 days, I highly suggest coming out to see it! The first time I visited with David, we thought we finally found a beach in the desert. In fact, the “sand” looked so white and perfect! Once we got out of the car and were greeted by a disgusting stench, we quickly learned that the sand is actually not sand at all – just millions of dead fish bones broken up. It hurts to walk on, so I never went again in flip-flops. If you are keen to drive around the area, you’ll find a lot of abandoned elements that used to make the Salton Sea a paradise (i.e. hotels, boats, drive-ins, etc).
Salvation Mountain
603 Beal Road
Calipatria, CA 92233
Managed to make your way out to the Salton Sea? Turn your adventure into a day trip & visit the monumental Salvation Mountain. It is just several miles away! This visionary art piece was created by a local resident, Leonard Knight, to deliver his message that “God Is Love.” He was very devoted to this project but passed away in 2014. Salvation Mountain is 28 years in the making, covered in half a million gallons of latex paint. Volunteers now work diligently to maintain and protect Knight’s hard work. So long as you follow the yellow brick road, photography is welcome here. The beautiful colors and unique sculptures make it a sight to remember!
East Jesus
23 Sidewinder Road
Niland, CA 92257
After Salvation Mountain, check out East Jesus in Niland, just at the end of Slab City. This is another attraction that will surely wow you! The artwork is dusty, dirty, and trippy. Imagine trash and junk transformed into incredible sculptures – it’s definitely not everyday art you’d stumble upon. If you go at a time when it’s not busy, and on a cloudy day, it feels extra eerie. Yes, I’m speaking from experience – it was an unforgettable one.
Algodones Dunes
Ted Kipf Road
Glamis, CA 92227
The Algodones Dunes is located in Imperial County about 2 hours from Palm Springs. It’s a bit of a drive, but is so worth it if you have some extra time in the valley! Most people do not realize that there are actual sand dunes in California. I was pleasantly surprised when I came out here for the first time. The few times I’ve visited, it was never too busy and we were able to squeeze in a few fun fashion shoots. It is pretty deserted and can get very hot though, so be sure to pack plenty of water and stay hydrated! The best time to visit the dunes is anytime but summer because it just gets way too hot to fully enjoy it then.
In case you missed it, I also shared my favorite Palm Springs hotels last month, in case any of you are looking for a place to stay during your visit (or just more places to check out)!
Have you seen any of these iconic sights around Palm Springs?
116 Responses
I just shot at Salvation mountain and Joshua Tree and I got the best pictures!
Briana
https://beyoutifulbrunette.com/
AHHH! How exciting! I can’t wait to see how your pictures turned out! xx
I love your parisian hat in the first couple of photos! Such a cute trend!
Xo, Ashley / https://thehoneyscoop.com/5-pairs-of-cute-shoes-you-can-walk-to-class-in/
Aw thank you Ashley! Berets are always in hahaha
wow these places all look so amazing, i seriously need to make a trip to palm spring.
xoxo,
@rachelvogttrends
http://rachelvogttrends.com/the-miracle-of-pregnancy/
Yes you do! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it out here especially once it cools down in the next couple months 🙂
I need to get myself to Palm Springs asap! This place looks so amazing and perfect for Insta-photos!
I promise you won’t be disappointed! There are many other places that didn’t make this list that I love but I’ll have to group them up for another post hahaha
I’ve made a stop at the Cabazon dinos once when I went to the outlets with friends! Definitely a cute spot to see. Loving your other recommendations too! Thanks for sharing.
Isn’t it? So glad you were able to see it! The pictures really don’t do those dinos any justice lol they look wayyyy bigger in real life!
I know I say it all the time, but these photos are gorgeous! Also, those dunes look amazing!! If I ever go to Palm Springs now I know where to go!
Thank you so much Carolyn! 🙂
I have never been to Palm Springs. There are some interesting places to see it looks like. Thanks for sharing.
I hope you’ll have the opportunity to visit one of these days! There are so many cool places to see out here.
I’m absolutely dying to visit Palm Springs! It would be amazing to see all these fun spots in person!
Palm Springs is calling your name! Haha hopefully you’ll get the chance to visit soon! 🙂 xo
I love this post!! So many cute spots in Palm Springs!! Definitely makes me want to make a spontaneous trip out there!
Kileen
cute & little
Thanks Kileen! You should make it out here some time 🙂 Promise you won’t be bored as there’s so much to see! <3
I absolutely loved them. I wanted to visit CA but now I’m not sure though.
Haha why aren’t you sure?! I was hoping that these spots would inspire you to come visit if you loved them 🙂
Oh wow, so many picturesque spots in the area! I think the Pink Door is really cute and quirky. 🙂
Yes, indeed! All of Palm Springs is picturesque in its own way. The Pink Door is one of my fave spots but after the owners put up the signs prohibiting photography I have only driven by! There are lots of other cute doors in that neighborhood that I love too 🙂
I have to admit- I’ve been to CA several times but never had a desire to visit Palm Springs but seeing Salvation Mountain would be worth the trip!
Yes!!! Salvation Mountain and East Jesus are both fun places to check out. If you’re in that area you might as well check out Salton Sea too!
It looks like there is something for pretty much everyone. So many fun and funky places to visit! What a nice post full of great ideas! Thanks so much for sharing.
There really is! All we’re missing really is a real beach hahaha
I love Palm. Starting going for coachella. Now a friends parents have a place there. It’s such a magical place!
That’s so awesome! Glad that you like it out here 🙂
This post is amazing! The photos are incredible, and I have always wanted to visit the dunes. Great read.
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the article. The dunes is a fun place to visit… I can’t wait to go back once it cools down some more!
Ahhh now I really want to visit Palm Springs! What a perfect set of spots. Bookmarking!
Thank you for stopping by Megan! So glad that my article has inspired you to visit! 🙂 I know you won’t be disappointed xx
It’s funny how a normal house with a pink door became an Instagram attraction, so badly that the owners had to prohibit photography. I like that there are so many spectacular and unique insta spots around Palm Springs. The Salvation Mountain has to be my favorite.
LOL right? They even had an Instagram account for their door and initially did allow guests to take pictures but I guess they didn’t expect it to go overboard lol. But, I don’t see why one couldn’t still take a picture in front of the house from the street or something. Salvation Mountain is one of my faves too! It’s so unique and I had never seen anything quite like it before.
so many of these spots are incredible! east jesus is super cool!
Yes it is! I’ve only been to East Jesus once and that experience alone was incredible. I’m hoping to go back soon once the weather is cooler haha
This looks like an incredible place to photograph! I love finding Instagram-worthy places to post about. I’ve found my next destination!
You won’t run out of ideas in Palm Springs!
Wow such amazing places they are most definitely Instaworthy! I love that pink door & the dinosaurs look fab
So glad you think so too, Lauren! xo
I really want to visit Palm Springs! It looks so beautiful!
You should come this fall! The weather is going to be so great 🙂
Palm Springs always made me feel curious and it is in my dream destination list. I think it is instaworthy everywhere but your places are even better!
I’m glad to hear that Palm Springs is on your dream destination list! You really have to come check it out in person to really appreciate all that it has to offer 😉
Looks like such a great place! My aunt used to be in the same golf club as Tiger Woods lol.
Whattttt!! That is crazy! I’m actually in a golf course community really close by to that golf club!
Ahh I love Joshua Tree for photography! The skies there are the absolute best.
I do too! I have to agree with you – the skies are really nice and make for dramatic sunrises/sunsets!
OMG what an amazing mix of gorgeous spaces to shoot for insta! I would love to take a trip there! Need to bookmark this in case I ever make it out that way!
Love how you found a mix of so many fab places!
Denise | Fashion Love Letters
I’m so glad you think so, Denise! I hope that you’ll be able to check out some of these awesome places on your next visit <3 xx
All of these location look gorgeous and worthy of a visit. I wouldn’t know where to go first, perhaps the rose garden! Thanks for sharing!
Haha they’re all great! But some places are best in certain seasons, like the rose garden is prettiest in spring 🙂
I have always wanted to visit Palm Springs and now I want to go even more. I will definitely keep this list of spots in case I end up going anytime soon.
Yay! Glad you found this little list handy. Hope you have a chance to come out and enjoy the delight of Palm Springs!
These are some GREAT shoot spots! Whitewater Preserve is my favourite of the bunch, I think.
Yes, the Whitewater Preserve is a fun place to hike! Definitely one of my favorites 🙂
Wow! These photos and these locations look amazing! I was just in the middle of deciding where to go for vacation next summer and Palm Springs is definitely on my list now! Thanks for the guide 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that darling! You will love it here 🙂 Try to come before it gets toooo hot hahaha
These are absolutely beautiful pictures. I think you’d be able to make any spot Instaworthy.
Aw thank you Christa! You’re the sweetest <3 xx
What an awesome list! My kids would go NUTS running around with the dinosaurs! I’ve never been to Palm Springs, but I always thought it would make a fun getaway. Now I KNOW it would!
Lol!! Yes, the dinos are quite fun and I hear that kids enjoy it a lot there 🙂 Palm Springs is a great family getaway destination!
PalmSpring is such a great place to visit and I am always dreaming about going to here. Truly a bucket list material.
I hope your dream comes true soon, Preet! xx
Will have to check these spots out!
Would love to hear all about it when you get the chance to! xx
Great pictures I would love to visit here one day. I love the pink door and know my boys would like the Cabazon dinosaur. Thanks for sharing.
There’s something for everyone to love! Hehe 🙂 xx
Those are really beautiful places to visit and it feels so relaxing to be in the Salton Sea.
Haha yes, if you can stand the stench, it’s quite calming to visit the Salton Sea… especially during sunset!
Wow! The place looks relaxing! I love the idea in strolling while having a good scenery around you. Thanks for sharing this wonderful place.
Thanks for reading, Karla! I am very blessed to live in such a beautiful desert!
Uou. I never tought on palm springs has a possible destination but, these wonderful pictures made me think about that! Really beautiful pictures!
Thank you 🙂 It is a popular vacation destination for a reason! 😉 Come visit soon and see for yourself! xo
I have never been in Palm Spring but definitely a nice place to visit and a nice place to have a photograph.
Yes! It’s beautiful in person – sometimes photos just don’t do a place justice!
So many beautiful spots for pictures! I wish I could go there and take all of the pictures! I can’t wait to travel there and grab a few pictures at these places!
Ahh yes! Palm Springs is totally worth the visit if you like to take photos 🙂
These are some of the most amazing insta worthy places I’ve seen! I need to take a trip there and just get a full months worth of shots!
Hahaha right? I actually had a friend visit from NYC for just 3 days and she got over a month’s worth of content LOL
This is super amazing! Your photos are lovely dear, thanks for sharing!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Thank you Jessica! xo
Wow, this is a great list of places to visit. I especially love the White Water Preserve. That sounds like the perfect place for me. I grew up near a lot of whitewater rivers and I find it so calming and refreshing. I’m sorry to hear about your car getting broken into however, some people are terrible!
Thank you so much Frank! Yes, you’re right! Whitewater is so calming and a great place to disconnect and just be in touch with nature. Despite getting my car broken into once, I still enjoy visiting!
Palm Springs is soo picturesque! I love it! These are gorgeous spots!
It sure is! I am lucky to call this place home and be able to share the beauty of it with you all! 🙂 xx
So many Instagram spots to add to my list of places to go! I’ve never been to Palm Springs before but it looks so eclectic and interesting there!
It has a lot of personality here for sure! You’ll see when you visit 🙂
These spots look amazing! I definitely will look into them whenever I visit 🙂
Yay! Hope you can come visit soon 🙂 xx
Pretty destinations! I’ve been to this area just once but I remember it being hot and dry. Going to the spa or to the gardens is always a great idea.
Yes, it’s usually quite hot and dry in the summer – though we had quite a hot and humid one this year 🙁 I personally prefer dry heat haha. Visiting in the fall/spring is nice here!
Goodness, these edits and locations are magical!! I wish I lived closer! 🙁
Thank you Bree! Maybe one of these days you can visit! 🙂
Wow.. these all palces looks great and amazing. Very picturesque
Thanks Prashant!
These are all such beautiful spots I really want to go to salvation mountain and salton sea!! Bravo!
Both are beautiful spots that you won’t regret visiting, for sure!
These are really picky pictures and trust me you have some great taste for the choice of location and pictures.
Thanks Sania! You’re so sweet! <3 xx
Ahhh I’m so visiting some of these locations when I’m up in Palm Springs!! Definitely insta- and blog worthy photos!! I really miss the beauty of the desert, especially when there are like no deserts out in Japan haha.
xo Samantha
Ahhh! I still have never been to Japan so I don’t know how it compares to California. I hope to make my way out there soon… craving some good ramen haha
These are gorgeous shots!! I’ve only been to Palm Springs once but it was so cool there. I’d love to go back and check out some of these spots!
Thank you, Megan! So glad you enjoyed the photos, and that you had a good time the one time you visited Palm Springs! xx
Soooo many good picks! I just moved from about an hour away from PS and have visited many of these spots. I especially loved the living desert and botanical garden.
Thanks Kristin! Where do you live now?! I’m so glad that prior to your move, you were able to visit The Living Desert and Moorten Botanical Garden 🙂
I shot everywhere expect for Salton Sea, it’s so pretty! Thanks for the tip 🙂
xx
Laura
Wow, that’s impressive girl! xx
I’ve always wanted to take a picture in front of “that pink door”! It’s so chic and perfect for IG photos 🙂
-xo, Azanique | http://www.lotsofsass.com
It so is! Definitely a favorite spot 🙂 xx
Girl I am planning to come to the states next year and you’ll have to take me to ALL these places! We can have a shoot day/week!!! These photos are seriously so amazing!!
Ahhh that’s so exciting! Let me know if you make your way out to Palm Springs! XO
I really want to make it back to Palm Springs. It’s been years since I went and it was for a bachelorette so I didn’t really get to do much exploring. Pinning this for later so I have all these spots when I do plan a trip!
xo, Laura
It’s definitely worth another visit! There are so many fun places and things to see 🙂
Pictures are stunning… not only insta worthy….. each one is wall-frame worthy…. please take a print …. those are achievements, memoirs for the places you visited …. to shine your victory right in your room.
Haha thank you! That’s a brilliant idea! xx