Summer, for us, has always been about getaways, friends and recharging. Since we were kids, as many families do, we would look forward to that special summer vacation. Growing up on the East coast meant lots of trips to nearby cities, down the coast to Florida, and of course, Disney World. Our families were very similar in that way. They worked hard, but always made time for that one big trip every year that really helped us as kids to understand reward, and what it means to step away from the comforts of home and try something new.
We’ve only been living in Phoenix for three years, but feel pretty grateful for a good group of friends here that we truly care about and love spending time with. We like to think that we’ve continued those old traditions of getting away for the summer, even for just a few days, and recharge. These people have become our family, home away from, and getting away with them for a few days was just what we needed recently.
A few weeks ago, we planned a fun trip to Palm Springs with our Arizona family, packed up the car and took the five-hour drive. Of course, we stopped a few times along the way to explore some new spots, pick up a few snacks, and take a few photos for our collection. The highlights were definitely the Imperial Sand Dunes and Salvation Mountain. It was hot, no doubt about it, and the sands may have burnt our feet (just a little), but the six of us made the best of it and laughed the whole time. We joked around the whole ride there, listened to a lot of Beatles, and sweat it out together. Exploring Salvation Mountain was pretty amazing. We had first heard of this place when we watched Into the Wild a few years back, and were so thrilled to finally see it in person. “This is a love story that is staggering to everybody in the world.” Regardless of what one’s religious beliefs may be, there’s no denying the incredible artwork of Leonard Knight. We could definitely all learn a thing or two from him. Every inch of that place was just so special and definitely worth a visit if you are near the area.
When we arrived to our Airbnb in Palm Springs, we were pretty stunned. It wasn’t your ordinary house. It was a dome!! But not just any dome. It was a dome on five acres of land, surrounded by towering windmills, and decorated with some pretty funky furniture. We all freaked out about it for a few minutes in the best way possible, geeking out over the design choices and architecture in general, before we started snapping photos and videos of the property. It was pretty amazing and we’re so glad we picked such a beautiful place to spend a few days at together. It was so private and only 15 minutes to downtown Palm Springs, so we really got the best of both worlds. 
We packed the essentials for our trip…comfy clothes, bluetooth speakers to sync up with our Spotify playlists, chairs made by our friends at Tremaine Ranch, our guitars, and of course a little travel wine by our favorite, Bota Box. We were excited to partner with Bota Box recently, as they have been our go-to for getaways and trips with friends all summer long. Plus who doesn’t want to treat their friends with some tasty treats, corny singalongs, and a little wine? We love that they’re portable and 100% recyclable, while not sacrificing quality.
We spent equal parts of this trip hanging out and relaxing on the property and wandering around downtown. We enjoyed happy hour at the ACE hotel and an amazing farewell dinner at the Parker. Palm Springs in the summertime isn’t for everyone. It’s hot, pretty empty, and some businesses don’t even open, but we love it. It feels like we have the city to ourselves. We were out and about quite a bit on this little getaway, as some of the group was experiencing Palm Springs for the first time, but it’s pretty safe to say that our favorite part of the trip where the evenings where we gathered outside, shared stories, and made up some ridiculous songs.
Palm Springs never gets old…it’s the perfect little adventure while not going too far from our own backyard. The mid-century homes, beautiful hotels, and vintage shops are always fun to check out and it reminds us of why we moved out west and fell in love with the desert. We’re glad we are just a car ride away and can’t wait for our next trip. Until next time, Palm Springs!
This post was made in partnership with Bota Box. As always, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
always a fan of your beautiful photographs
Stefanie Meier | Casualllyawkward | Bloglovin
Love this so much! I grew up in Palm Springs, so these photos were super nostalgic to me…I miss it!
-Lauren
http://www.chic-ethique.com/
What a cool space!
Jen | affecionada
Looks like the perfect getaway! I agree, Palm Springs never gets old.
Xx
Lauren
http://www.shoesandsashimi.com
Palm springs looks absolutely amazing! We were actually planning a trip there for this Christmas, but I think we’re going to try go somewhere closer (and cheaper instead). The dome that you guys stayed in looks amazing! So fun!
xo April | April Everyday