How to Experience Palm Springs Just Like ABC’s The Bachelorette

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Season 16 of ABC’s The Bachelorette was unlike any other. Not only did COVID add to the craziness that was 2020, but instead of jet setting around the world on fantasy trips, the entire production was grounded at a single resort in Palm Springs. While this initially seemed way less fun than a global love story, I realized this actually made Season 16 the most attainable and easily replicable season of all. Since quarantine brought on many reality show binges, I thought it would be fun to curate a guide on how to experience Palm Springs just like ABC’s The Bachelorette.

Stay at the La Quinta Resort & Club

The most obvious way to live out your dreams of being The Bachelorette is by staying at the La Quinta Resort & Club, where the entirety of Season 16 was filmed. Featuring 41 different pools and 1400 acres, it’s no surprise that this was the resort of choice. Depending on if you want to rent an entire villa (with a private pool), or if you just want a casita, there is a wide range of pricing and amenities available as well.

Fun Fact: While researching I found out you can actually Airbnb the Bachelor Mansion in Malibu. If you have around $7000 for a single night!

Unwind at the Spa

In Episode 3, Clare Crawley took Zach J to Spa La Quinta. While their date did not come off as very romantic on TV, couples massages and spa days are actually one of my favorite dates! I missed it on my last visit to Palm Springs, but I’ve heard amazing things about The Sands Hotel & Spa.

Get Roasted at a Comedy Club

Honestly, a comedy club roast would be my worst nightmare for a date. But if you want to emulate the group date that appeared in Episode 3, there are a few options in Palm Springs like at Fantasy Springs Resort. Don’t expect to find Margaret Cho there anytime soon.

Lounge at the Pool

Many of this season’s dates and quite a bit of downtime were spent relaxing by the pool. In fact, I highly recommend planning at least a full day of enjoying a poolside. You will need to escape the heat, plus, pool lounging is one of the top Palm Springs activities. On my visit, I loved the pool at the Arrive Hotel. Read more about why Arrive was my pool of choice, and why it would make an excellent pool date spot.

Horseback Ride the San Jacinto Mountains

Horseback riding is another one of my favorite dates. Tayshia Adams took Brendan Morais on a cute horseback ride around the La Quinta property in Episode 5. While you probably won’t be able to get on the hotel property again, Smoke Tree Stables is a family-owned trail riding business offering rides through scenic palm tree-lined canyons.

Dress Up for a Photoshoot

Regular photoshoot dates are just one of the many perks of being married to a photographer. If you haven’t taken professional pictures in a while, or if you are hesitant about dressing up for photos, I promise it is actually so fun! A full-on “wedding” photoshoot like Tayshia and Zac had in Episode 8 might be a little intense, but Palm Springs has so many other fun photo spots to choose from. The enormous windmill farm on Palm Springs Station Road is gorgeous at sunset. Moorten Botanical Garden is another Palm Springs classic. And don’t forget you are only an hour away from Joshua Tree National Park.

Appreciate Art

The group date on Episode 8 started off a little wild. But you can’t visit Palm Springs without appreciating its abundant art! Although it was closed due to COVID when I visited, the Palm Springs Art Museum is the top place to go to get a feel for Palm Springs itself. If you are looking for a more commercial, hands-on date there is also a Pinot’s Palette in Palm Springs. You can also just walk around town and you will never run out of public art and beautiful midcentury architecture to admire.

Take a Bike Tour

Okay, so we know that Tayshia and Ben actually went on an electric scooter scavenger hunt in Episode 9. However, you won’t find any e-scooters like Byrds or Limes in Palm Springs because they are banned at the moment. Instead, you will see lots of people exploring the city by bike! Check out my post on the best free bike route that was super easy to follow. Best of all, many Palm Springs hotels include complimentary bicycle rentals as part of their amenities.

For even more photos and trip suggestions check out my Instagram. If you ever have a question you can always DM me @cassiescompass or drop it in the comments below. What do you think, has ABC’s The Bachelorette inspired you to try something new in Palm Springs?