It’s hard to believe Palm Springs was almost a month ago already. It feels like March has flown by! I’m just going to throw out there right away that one weekend – even a long one – is NOT enough time for a first trip to this glorious desert spot. I think we missed more than we covered and we didn’t even step foot into a pool or a spa. In this Palm Springs travel guide, I’m not only going to share the fabulous things we did see, but also the sure-to-be-fabulous things we missed.
Palm Springs Travel Guide: Where To Stay
There are so many great lodging options in Palm Springs, but my color-loving heart dictated we stay at The Saguaro (pronounced Suh-Wah-Roe, as we learned). This hotel has an incredible backstory … it used to be a run-down Holiday Inn when a proposal was sent to the powers that be to paint the motel all different colors and turn it into a hipster paradise. The proposal was said to be “too gay, even for Palm Springs” (ooooof) but it moved ahead anyway and we’re so glad it did!
Real talk: you’re paying $$$ to stay in a motel with pretty paint. The beds are comfy and the grounds are stunning, but the rooms are outdoor entry and central heat doesn’t seem to be a functioning thing. That said, I would definitely stay there again just for the vibe and style alone. My friend said the entire weekend I was “drunk on color” and she wasn’t wrong.
Palm Springs Travel Guide: Where to Eat
EIGHT4NINE
This may be one of the most stunning restaurants I’ve ever been in. Everything is white with accents of hot pink. It pretty much had my name all over it. The patio looked even cuter but sadly was too cold the week we were there. Most restaurants in Palm Springs are pricey, and this was no different, but the food was also top notch. I had the lobster benedict with green goddess hollandaise, but my friend won with their deconstructed ahi tuna poké bowl.
Farm
For Chicago friends, this spot really reminds me of Blue Door Kitchen & Garden with the quaintest outdoor patio and French country cuisine. The inside is adorable as well, but I’d push – and potentially wait for – a seat outside. I skipped the croque monsieur – blasphemy – and went for the egg sandwich instead and was not disappointed. The food is as fresh as the flowers in the garden!
Workshop Kitchen + Bar
This may be the fanciest of fancy places we dined at in Palm Springs but it was so worth it. The patio is darling, but this time, we opted for indoor seating due to low evening temps. The communal tables seem obnoxious, but are surprisingly spacious and quiet. I’d like to think my scallops won the night, but my friend’s steak was also delish and our savory pot de crème appetizer didn’t suck either!
Cheeky’s
It seems no Palm Springs travel guide would be complete without this go-to brunch spot. They don’t take reservations, but the 45-minute wait was actually pretty nice – we walked across the street to an adorable café called Koffi for tea (ha!) and explored their attached courtyard where they had live (quiet) music and lots of folks with their laptops out. We were kicking ourselves for not staying another day and working from there. Plus, right next door is an amazing shop called Just Fabulous where the owner was so sweet to fill us in on the Palm Springs art scene, history, and things to do! Back at Cheeky’s we had huevos rancheros and an amazing blue cauliflower quiche.
Woody’s Palm House
All I can say about this place is what a hoot! My friend and I were easily the youngest people here by 20 years, but the vibe was just so amazing. There was a live band – and a good one – playing mostly oldies and quite a few geriatrics with dance moves that put mine to shame. We saw sequined jackets, choreographed routines, and lots of plastic surgery! The food was whatever, but the scene was a riot!
Palm Springs Travel Guide: Things To Do
Joshua Tree
I cannot speak highly enough about taking a day trip to Joshua Tree. It’s only about 45 minutes from Palm Springs and was possibly the most unique National Park I’ve been to. The terrain seemed out of a different time or even a movie set and we were constantly in awe of our surroundings. We did a relatively short hike called Ryan Mountain which – with an aggressive incline – was difficult for me, not being accustomed to altitude. The feeling and views at the top made it all worth it though!
Since we were pressed on time here, we really relied on this blogger’s day trip guide to tell us what to do and expect. My friend and I agreed her recommendations were spot on, but her timeline was pretty skewed and would definitely recommend adding plenty of buffer to see everything on the list.
Desert X
This one is sort of a sad thing because unless you’re going to Palm Springs in the next couple of months, this pop-up art instillation will be over. That said, it seems like there will always be some sort of cool happening in town to research. In this case, a number of artists created pieces across town that you could use a mobile app to search out. We were only able to see a couple, but the one we spent a lot of time at was very cool by Nancy Baker Cahill. Basically, it used an augmented reality app to create these firework type things that moved around a bunch of windmills. The windmills alone were gorgeous, but this made them even more of a sight. You could take pictures through the app as well, but unfortunately, they were a bit blurry.
Local Hiking
If you don’t feel like heading out to Joshua Tree or want an extra hike to start your morning like we did, there’s a short 2 mile out-and-back in town called the Tahquitz Canyon Loop Trail. Our plan was to hit Indian Canyon, but it was closed due to rain levels from a recent storm. This one was just fine, though and was one of the best-kept trails I’ve found while hiking. The best part: views of the valley and a waterfall at the top!
Drinks at The Parker
At around $800 / night for the weekend we were visiting, staying at The Parker was flat out unattainable for us. That said, we did drive over and have a drink one night in their eclectic lobby bar. I had one extremely strong cocktail that was as beautiful as it was potent. If you go during the day, you might be able to sneak a peek at the grounds (which are private) or at least take a picture in front of their iconic orange door.
A Door Tour of Indian Canyon
Speaking of colorful doors, the Indian Canyon neighborhood in Palm Springs is known for them. Yes, we’re talking #thatpinkdoor. The photography isn’t as great as one would expect on a sunny day with shadows and wanting to ensure the tenants still had some modicum of privacy, but it was fun to drive through. If we had more time, we would have gone on bike since our hotel was so close!
Shop!!
I mentioned Just Fabulous which was a great store for art prints, stationery, coffee table books, and more. But if you’ve read any other Palm Springs travel guide before this one, you’ve probably seen the iconic Shops at Thirteen Forty Five. Each boutique inside comes with its own feel and flare with vintage goods, art, modern stationery, handmade silk dresses, and more. There are so many stores – both chain and local on Palm Canyon Drive, so block off some time if you’re a shopaholic like me.
Palm Springs Travel Guide: What We Missed
A Date Shake at Great Shakes!
I’m a big believer of the “When In Rome” mentality, so even though a shake made with dates sounds pretty awful to me, I would have loved to try one as it seems to be the official drink of Palm Springs.
The Palm Springs Art Museum
I’m not normally a fan of spending time in museums on vacation, but this one looked very cool – both in the art and the architecture. We had it on our list in case of inclement weather, but that never happened.
The Aerial Tramway
This one came with mixed reviews and we decided not to spend the $24 for a 12-minute ride to see the view of the valley. That said, after a couple of locals raved, we were set to squeeze it in when we found out it was closed after the same storm that shut down our Indian Canyon hike.
Check Out The Dinosaurs
Sorry, but as cool as it sounds, seeing some dinosaur statues was not high on my list. Had I more time, I would have gone just for the photo opp.
Attend a Pool Party
Palm Springs has a reputation for over-the-top pool parties at some of the younger hotels like The Saguaro and Ace. Would have been fun to sip margaritas and take in the scene.
Whew. I know that was a ton. I think I need another trip. Have you been to Palm Springs? What would you add to the list?
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