One of the things I’ve taken for granted living in LA is exploring the city! I travel so much for work that I always forget to set aside time for myself to recharge, reflect and disconnect from the world. Last month, I was lucky enough to join my good friend and her girl squad in Palm Springs to celebrate her bachelorette. I say lucky because I could only manage to stay for a night, because I had to fly to New York on business on Sunday.
So on a sunny Friday after work, I headed to Palm Springs to soak in much needed girl time. The drive to Palm Springs, if you leave from West Hollywood, is an easy 2-hour drive without traffic! I was not so lucky, so my drive turned into three hours! However, as any experienced road trip regular knows, on long drives you stock up on your favorites. My favs:
- WATER (Hydrate, then hydrate, then hydrate some more)
- SNACKS (Mine was a huge bag of baby carrots – it’s beach season y’all)
- MUSIC!!!! (On deck for me was Khalid)
- AUDIO BOOKS (Audible is one of the best memberships I have right now!)
Two of my favorite drives in Cali are to San Diego and Palm Springs! Mother nature is just so amazing, and these drives are short enough that they don’t feel daunting, but long enough that you can really get into your zone. One of the bonuses to getting away in Palm Springs was to check out Desert X!
“DESERT X IS A SITE-SPECIFIC SHOW THAT OPENED IN THE SPRING OF 2017. ARTISTS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD WERE INVITED TO MAKE WORK THAT RESPONDS TO THE UNIQUE CONDITIONS OF PALM SPRINGS AND THE SURROUNDING COACHELLA VALLEY” — NEVILLE WAKEFIELD
I have been dying to see the MIRAGE HOUSE since I saw it all over social media! The installation is created by American artist/filmmaker Doug Aitken. His work manifests in all mediums from sculpture, film, and installations to architectural intervention. He has been featured in the likes of the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, Vienna Secession, the Serpentine Gallery in London, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.
I loved this installation. The house is fully open so you can walk around the whole space. Every corner is mirrored, which I wasn’t expecting – but I loved that the concept was thread through. There weren’t tons of visitors, so you didn’t feel Claustrophobic or like you couldn’t get the perfect pic! The installation is closed for the summer, as it get HOT is Palm Springs, but be sure to plan your trip in the fall when it returns!
Love, L
Make sure to come along on my adventures by following my Instagram Account. See something you’d like me to write about? Tag me! I can’t wait for you to join in on my #DoTheDaniel adventures in Los Angeles.
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Photos by Lesli Fairweather