When the festive season is on the horizon, the holidays are the ideal time of year to pack up the family and head to Palm Springs, California in the name of fun and adventure. In Palm Springs, it’s an easy thing to leave all thoughts of falling snow and dropping temperatures behind because daily highs throughout December typically linger in the 70s with plenty of sunshine included! While Palm Springs is always packed with incredible activities, attractions, entertainment, and history to discover no matter when you arrive, a holiday trip this way comes with the benefit of lights, décor, seasonal events, and more. There’s a good chance that no matter what you add to your lineup, you’re going to want to capture those special moments together on camera. When you’re looking for where to take family holiday Palm Springs photos this year, the following list is a great starting point.
Snap a Photo or Two on El Paseo
El Paseo is always a treat to explore but during the holiday season, this glitzy area takes the illuminating effect to greater heights. Throughout the festive season, the towering palm trees located along the principal shopping street of El Paseo are strung with holiday lights from top to bottom! When the sun goes down, this makes for an incredible photo backdrop for your family to gather in front of and snap some amazing angles on the area and of course, those you love most. If you head over here closer to sunset when the lights have just come on, but the mountain silhouettes are still visible against the sky, you’ll get an even more dramatic photographic effect for your holiday snapshot.
Attend the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade
Since the early 1990s, the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade has been delighting locals and visitors alike looking for a reason to embrace the beauty and fun of the holiday season. This annual parade is always hosted on the first Saturday in December and is a family-friendly affair that as originally designed to bring the community together and celebrate in style. Since its initial kick off, the parade has only continued to grow in popularity and today, it includes dancers, marching bands, festive floats, music, horses, and visits by Mickey and Minnie Mouse as well as Snoopy, Santa, and Mrs. Claus. The Macy’s style balloons are always a highlight of the parade and offer up a fantastic and impressive backdrop for fun family holiday photos in Palm Springs. Bring your entire crew and get a great spot early so you can enjoy the fun while also getting the best angle on it all through the camera.
Check Out Wild Lights
You won’t have to go far from Palm Springs to find yet another fantastic opportunity for taking great family holiday photos at the Wild Lights event held each year at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert. This event runs separately from general admission, so you’ll want to be sure to purchase your select night tickets in advance. When you arrive, you’ll be treated to mesmerizing holiday light tunnels to explore paired with holiday music and impressive seasonal displays that illuminate the night alongside life-size animal lanterns. It’s an event everyone in your family is sure to love and a great place to take your time and set up just the right backdrop to fit your needs and preferences for that annual holiday photo.
Infuse the Best of Palm Springs into your Holiday Photo Ops
While there are plenty of places and events across Palm Springs during the holidays that make it easy to infuse seasonal inspiration into your family photo, those who are looking to make the most of a quintessential Palm Springs vibe this holiday season will find that’s within easy reach too. Consider heading over to the neighborhood around Indian Canyons when you want to take a photo of your family this holiday season that showcases the best of that gorgeous mid-century architecture Palm Springs hosts so well. Each cul-de-sac in this neighborhood features beautiful and meticulous desert landscaping as well as homes that speak to intricate architectural details. It’s also packed with towering palms and surrounding mountains that create a dynamic backsplash for the moment you’re looking to capture on camera.
Take a Trip Up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway with a Camera in Hand
For a new view of Palm Springs this holiday season and a great opportunity to get a one-of-a-kind family photo, consider taking a trip up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. This is the world’s largest rotating tram car and as you travel the 2.5 miles up over the Chino Canyon, you’ll be treated to Mt. San Jacinto State Park views from a bird’s eye view that makes for a thrilling photo backdrop. The journey only takes about 10 minutes so if you don’t capture just the right view from the tram itself, you’ll have opportunities to take photos at the top at observation points overlooking the valley floor at 8,516 feet in elevation.
Book Your Palm Springs Journey Today
Elevate your holiday stay in Palm Springs in impeccable style when you book your vacation rental through Ryson Vacations. Reach out today to learn more about our exciting property options and how we can help you make it a festive getaway to remember in California!
