This photo is a fairly accurate summary of my weekend

The dude and I escaped south to Palm Springs this weekend, and our few days in the desert did not disappoint. We posted up at the Riviera Palm Springs, which had quite the lively vibe and a very fun (but slightly too crowded) pool scene. The grounds and rooms were absolutely lovely, however – somewhat reminiscent of their Rat Pack roots – and I wouldn’t have chosen another spot as our hotel for our first trip there. The Riviera’s Spa Terre was fantastic, complete with a wide array of treatments and beautifully decorated lounge and pool areas, and I would highly recommend a visit to anyone traveling in the area.

We also did a good bit of exploring of downtown and the surrounding area, taking a little trip up to Mount San Jacinto State Park via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which provided sweeping views of the Coachella Valley. As a native of the Southeast, I’m continually awestruck at the terrain out here; there’s just nothing at all like it on the East Coast, and there’s something awfully romantic about rugged desert. In downtown Palm Springs, we managed to find some really tasty restaurants (loved Spencer’s and Cheeky’s) despite some rumors I’d heard of a lack of great food there. Lots of Palm Springs remains to be explored however, and I can say I’ll definitely be back.

Loved the retro-modern details of the Riviera Palm Springs

On the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Scenes from high above Palm Springs

Bearded palms

The most amazing carrot cake via Spencer’s