Lets start with Greater Palm Springs, California. 2 hrs drive from Los Angeles and you've arrived at the playground for the rich and famous. Elvis Presley's honeymoon hideaway home is here as well.... you know why? Cos.. Greater Palm Springs is so beautiful and a perfect getaway from LA.
Fun Fact: 95 % of all the dates produced in North America comes from Palm Springs. So, if you're looking for a date chances are, you'll find it here.
You will find your date in the form of a shake, dont forget to try date shakes in Palm Springs. I loved the one we had at Ace hotel.
Specialised driving schools including High Performance Schools allow visitors to push a BMW to its limits and become a better driver with hands-on learning in the latest BMWs under the watchful eyes professional instructors. To close out the guest experience, hop into a BMW M5 for a hot lap with the talented Driving Instructors. Put your seat belt on and get ready to drift.
If you're in Palm Springs on a thursday, make sure to check out the Village Fest also known as the Palm Springs Street Fair. The Village Fest features an array of artists, entertainers, assorted fruits, vegetables, fresh flowers,jewelry, international cuisine etc. This night-time celebration invites visitors and locals to enjoy world famous Palm Canyon Drive and all the great shops, restaurants and clubs it has to offer.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the World’s largest rotating tramcar, you will experience a breathtaking journey up the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon. You will start at an elevation of 2,643 feet, and end at the Mountain Station, elevation 8,516 feet. If you are visiting in the winters, make sure you carry a jacket as the top gets snow.
29 Palms is the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park. Remember Joshua Tree does not have any accomodation, restaurants, stores etc. inside the park. Hence, when visiting make sure you carry supply of water, snacks and make sure your gas tank is full.
You can also have wedding in Joshua Tree National Park with prior notice and scheduling with the National Park Services beforehand (NPS). The park is always open, it never closes. The park is also great for star gazing.
Guided tours can be booked with www.nomadventures.com
Joshua Tree Retreat center hosts spiritual retreats, meditation camps, sound baths etc. for those interested.
29 Palms or Pioneertown are the best locations to stay while visiting Joshua Tree National Park (one of my favourite parks).
Properties in 29 Palms like Camel house and Rimrock Ranch are popular for weddings. Top hotels include 29 Palms Inn & Campbell house. I stayed at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott which was not bad, there is also a Best Western owned by an Indian Family as well.
While entering the park take the Oasis entrance which is always less crowded than the main entrance.
Then it was time to leave 29 Palms behind and drive to Big Bear Lake in the mountains. So off we go from the desert to the mountains (approx 2 hrs drive only).
While driving to Big Bear is a restaurant called Lacopine, a restaurant in the middle of no-where owned and run by women. It is a fine dining restaurant in the desert, you cannot make reservation and you need to show up at 1PM and book a table for the evening. They are famous for French Asian Californian Cuisine (we didnt get a chance to dine here though).
Big Bear is home to outdoor adventure. It's a small laid back town which is one of the closest ski destinations from LA in the winters. During the summers you can enjoy Heavenly Village, Water sports, dinner cruise, ride the scenic sky chair lift upto Snow Summit Ski resort for mountain biking and hiking.
On the return back to LA for an overnight or directly to LAX, make sure to stop at the Ontario Mills (it's a shopping Outlet about 1 hr 10 mins drive from Big Bear) which offers amazing discounts throughout the year.
Spend a couple of nights exploring Los Angeles and around and fly home from LAX airport. Ontario Mills to LA is about 44 mins to an 1 hr drive.
Read my blog- https://piecesofpink.wordpress.com/
Travel pictures on instagram: Pieces_of_Pink
