Palm Springs Recommendations from Fox & Doll

I have been going to Palm Springs since April 2013 and have been back so many times since, with an average of twice a year. My trips have evolved from staying mostly by the hotel pool (see the post here from my first Palm Springs trip) to being 2-3 week adventures with plenty of vintage shopping, great vegetarian food, day trips, caftan wearing and of course I still get in plenty of pool time.

April 2017

August 2017

January 2019, it can get cold!

May 2019

October 2019

Because I have been so many times people often ask me for recommendations, so now I have finally put together a compilation of favorites. Take note that there was a big gap in my travels to Palm Springs during the height of covid, I was there in January 2020 and then finally returned this month in April 2022. Luckily all of my favorites were still there!!! The only exception is the Elvis Honeymoon Hideway, it is still there but you can't visit it anymore because it sold to a private buyer in 2020.

February 2018 at the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway, on their bed!

Favorite spots to visit in Palm Springs:

Moorten Botanical Garden - Located just around the corner from the Ace Hotel, don't forget to check out the turtles in the back area. Closed Wednesdays.

Walking the historic neighborhoods - I am obsessed with the architecture and landscaping

Driving the historic neighborhoods at night - the shadows on the houses are amazing

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway - I have actually never done it, but am always keeping it in mind for future trips and for particularly hot days since it is much cooler up there.

Palm Springs Art Museum - Closed Mon, Tues and Wed.

Vintage shopping  - This is a big one for me, so check out my upcoming post, but for now I will tease you with Iconic Atomic, Dazzles and the Vintage Market.

Eating - This is also a big one for me so I will do a separate eating and drinking in Palm Springs post but in the meantime for food don't miss Birba, Workshop, Farm (brunch), Chef Tanyas Kitchen (all vegan) and Mod Cafe. Eat ice cream at Kreem and the Ice Cream Shoppe. And drink at Bootleggers, Seymour's, Tonga Hut, Truss and Twine.

Brunch at Farm 2018

Kreem May 2019

Favorite day trips out of Palm Springs:

Shields Date Farm - Get brunch, a date shake, take a tour and watch "The Romance and Sex Life of the Date".

Salvation Mountain - It is a bit of a drive but makes for a unique day and great photos, if you get started early you can pair it with a the Shields Date Farm trip.

Salvation Mountain January 2020

Cabazon Dinosaurs - A fun stop and great photo spot. There are outlet stores nearby if that's your thing. 

Cabazon Dinosaurs January 2020

Great Hikes - There are so many beautiful options. Do your research and bring lots of water and snacks.

Joshua Tree - This can be a day trip from Palm Springs. Plus a stop at Natural Sisters Cafe, The Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum and the hidden shops behind it. 

May 2019 at the Beauty Bubble exhibition opening

Pioneer Town and Yucca Valley - Half way to Joshua Tree. Eat at Pappy and Harriets, walk the old west movie set location and shop the one block strip in Yucca Valley.

Brunch at the Pink Cabana - Located at The Sand Hotel, yummy and beautiful. The spa looks lovely too, at least go peek your head in to take a look at it.

Monthly events to plan your trip around:

Palm Springs Vintage Market - The first Sunday of the month October through May.

Live music at Pappy and Harriets - Keep an eye on the calendar and plan ahead.

Yearly events to plan your trip around:

Palm Springs International Film Festival - You will find me there each year seeing films and doing makeup and hair for presenters. There is also a blog post I did from one of my film festival trips a few years back. 

Makeup and hair by me January 2020

Hair by me, Film Festival 2020

Film Noir Festival - Give me any excuse to see more noir films! I have been to this and it is great! Happening in mid May.

Tiki Caliente - A tiki party in the desert. Happening in May.

Modernism Week - Happening in February and May. Plan ahead, it can get crowded and expensive but is so much fun.

October 2018 Modernism Week Event, hair styled by me

February 2018 Modernism Car Show

Paradise Road Show - Classic cars and bikes, plus great vendors selling vintage and more. Happens January.

Where to stay:

I have actually only stayed a few places in all my trips to Palm Springs, but can recommend many from all the research and pool visits I have done. I slightly hesitantly share my favorite place to stay, but hey maybe I'll run into friends next time. And I would love to hear where others have stayed and loved. 

The Twist

The Float

Arrive

The Parker

The Ace

The Ocotillo (via AirBnb Hostess with the Most) - Very historic. A wonderful private spot and a pool shaped like a champagne cork!

January 2020 at The Twist

May 2019 at The Ocotillo

Do you love it in Palm Springs so much that you want to buy a place there? Here is my realtor friend Dylan's info. And you better invite me as a guest when you do, joking (sort of). I also recommend following her instagram and YouTube for much more mid century inspiration. 

Please share with me your favorite Palm Springs spots, anything I missed on this list and anything I recommended to you personally that you loved. 

xo Fox & Doll 💋

My Favorite Granola Recipe

Back in 2014 I posted my "Granola Perfected" Recipe. Well now with even more years of making granola under my belt (almost 30!) it turns out it gets even better. 

This recipe is adapted from one of my all time favorite cafes recipes (RIP 20th Century Cafe in San Francisco).

I have made some changes that add some extra nutrition and makes it clump a bit more, ground flax meal!

Plus my favorite part is that I serve it like a make-your-own-sundae, add your toppings as you go. Maybe one day it's toasted coconut and almonds (my go to combo). But the next maybe switch it up with dried cherries (I love the ones from Whole Foods) and hemp seeds sprinkled on top. 

Granola is my go to breakfast and snack too. I make a batch of this about every two weeks. The prep truly only takes a few minutes to get it in the oven, but the slow baking takes some time so plan ahead when you have a little time at home. And as a bonus this recipe is gluten free.

And if you have never made a "flax egg" it is one of my favorite baking tricks. A perfect thing to have up your sleeve when you run out of eggs or are baking for someone that can't eat them. I first learned about it from the Minimalist Baker. It is one of my best kitchen tricks to share.

Last year I offered you up my favorite healthy cookie recipe Triple C Cookie Recipe, and this year its my favorite granola recipe. Happy Valentine's Day and thank you for following along. 

Recipe

Makes 3.5 cups, plus bonus À la cart toppings

Granola Ingredients:

1 tablespoon ground flax meal

3.5 cups rolled oats (I buy Bob's Mills Gluton Free)

1/4 tsp ground cardamom 

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon 

1 tsp kosher salt

6 tablespoons coconut oil

1/2 cup Grade B or A maple syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Toppings Additions:

All are optional

Toasted Coconut and Almonds

Candied Cocoa Nibs

Dried Cherries

Hemp Seeds

Granola Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 275°

Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet, use a sheet with sides.

Pre prep the flax by boiling some water. And in a small bowl add 2 tablespoons of water to 1 tablespoon of flax meal. Mix and set aside.

In a mixing bowl combine the oats, cardamom, cinnamon and salt.

In a small saucepan melt the coconut oil on low on the stovetop. Once melted add the maple syrup until just heated, then stir in the vanilla extract and remove from the heat.

Pour the liquid mixture over the the oat mixture,  then stir to evenly coat. If there is still some wetness from the coconut oil and maple syrup at the bottom of the bowl I usually mix in about another 1/4 cup of oats.

Add flax mixture to the everything and mix until just combined, this last step doesn't need to be well mixed since you want the flax to help create some clusters. 

Pour mixture onto you parchment lined baking sheet. Spread it out evenly and lightly pat it down with the back of a spoon or spatula.

Bake in the oven for about one hour at 275°, see notes below.

The time can vary between about 15 minutes in an hour and 10 minutes. I flip my baking sheet about 30 minutes in, so that the back of the pan is now at the front of the oven. And I start checking regularly at about 50 minutes. Mine usually ends up taking a little over an hour to look the right amount of golden and smell perfectly toasted. If you are not sure if it is done break of a little corner and let cool and try it. It should be crisp but not getting dark on the bottom. 

Once baked let cool in pan on countertop. And once cool transfer to a storage container. It will break up a bit in the process. 

À La Cart Toppings 

Toppings Instructions:

Toasted Coconut and Almonds Instructions

1/2 cup clipped or roughly chopped almonds

Bake at 325° for 6-10 minutes. Stir every few minutes and watch closely till light golden toasted color.. 

1 cup large flake or chip coconut 

Bake at 325° for 3-6 minutes. Stir every few minutes and watch closely till light golden toasted color.. 

I like to do them both at the same time on the parchment paper sheet I just baked the granola on. I put the almonds on half the sheet, bake them till they look about halfway done (about 3-5 minutes), then add the coconut to the other half of the sheet and bake till both are a light golden toasted color (an added 3-6 minutes). Let cool on sheet then transfer to storage containers.

Candied Cocoa Nibs Instructions

1-1/2 teasp maple syrup 

1/4 cup cocoa nibs

pinch of kosher salt

In a small skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat, heat the syrup. Add the nibs and a pinch of salt, then stir consistently until the syrup clings to the nibs, and the bottom of the pan is dry. Spread out the nibs on a plate to cool. If they're sticky set them on top of the warm oven to dry out. 

Candied Cocoa Nib instructions from 20th Century Cafe 

Dried Cherries - serve right out of the container

Hemp Seeds - serve right out of the container, sprinkle on top of granola

I hope you love this recipe and that it becomes part of your weekly routine.

I'd love to know if you make the recipe and how you like it? And what other toppings you come up with?

xo

Fox & Doll 💗

Intro to Facial Gua Sha

Curious about Facial Gua Sha but don't know where to start?

I have the source for stones, companion oils and lessons. 

First lets start with what Facial Gua Sha is:  

Gua Sha is an ancient Eastern Asian massage technique that uses uni-directional press-stroking massage movements, acupressure points and frictioning on the skin to manipulate and stimulate specific energy lines along the face and body to increase the life energy force that runs throughout the body. It can be performed on the body using larger tools and with more pressure, more of a scraping action. For the face and neck massage, lighter, gentler pressure is used and is safe for sensitive skin. 

Key Benefits

• Relieve tension in muscles of the face and neck - can relieve tension headaches, jaw tightness
• Boost blood circulation - creates that healthy glow of skin
• Lift and tone skin - natural anti-aging 
• Encourages lymphatic drainage - essential for our body’s immunity
• Moves chi/qi/energy in the body - can help move blockages to our organs
• Grounding and relaxing - down regulates the stress response in our nervous system 

from emikooyoga

On the Fox & Doll Shop site we have a full list if what you need to do it at home.

https://foxanddollshop.com/collections/gua-sha

Three favorite Gua Sha Stones

Gua Sha Obsidian Stone, $33

Clear Quartz Gua Sha Tool, $33

Mookaite Jasper Spoon, $68

Three favorite oils for Gua Sha

B3 Rose Squalane, $32

B3 Flourite Oil, $40

QiQi Antioxidant Facial Oil, $33

I also offer a starter set, $48

Feel free to message me with any questions about the stones or oils, I would love to help you select what items are best for you.

How can you learn to do Gua Sha?

Join emikooyoga for Facial Gua Sha online lessons - https://emikooyoga.com/facial-gua-sha

Facial Gua Sha livestream classes are held every 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. Each lesson focuses on a different guided Gua Sha treatment. Or schedule a private session!

Plus get $25 off your first class, session or package with this referral ink. All sessions include a rewatch link, so you can watch later if you cannot attend live.

Want to do self guided sessions? Then check out my YouTube Gua Sha Playlist

Are you a skincare professional and want to learn how to do Gua Sha for the treatment room? Check out the training from CJB.

Want to get a Gua Sha facial from a professional? Check out this list. In San Francisco I recommend Lindsay at Vera.

If you want further help picking out the right stone for you, watch this.

Or contact me to schedule a virtual shopping appointment to see the stones over video or have me send pics of my current selection. 

Want to schedule a skincare treatment or consultation from home, check out the options I offer.

Use code GUASHAATHOME for 10% off Gua Sha items at https://foxanddollshop.com/collections/gua-sha

(one use per customer, good for all products in the Gua Sha category).

Read more about eyes and Gua Sha here

❤️ Fox & Doll, 2022

photos by emiko oye, Kristin Cofer and Shana Astrachan