Palm Springs is absolutely one of my favourite vacation destinations! As a child, my grandparents were snowbirds (Canadians who winter in the south) so we vacationed there every year. What I love about Palm Springs is that, from Vancouver. B.C., it is a direct two hour flight to the Palm Springs airport. The area is also a two hour drive from Los Angeles and a short drive to Disneyland or the coast.
Where To Stay In Palm Springs
Palm Springs is famous for its retro/cool hotels like The Ace. As well, there are many condo resorts you can check out if you are wanting your own kitchen. I have friends who love staying at Airbnb's in Palm Springs because you are able to rent a whole house with your own pool!
The Riviera has a sexy couples or singles vibe. It was a hollywood hotspot back in the day, hosting such famous guests as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and even Elvis! The rooms are funkily decorated and the pool is a non-stop party with loud music from the speakers and groups of girls taking selfies (at least when we were there). When the crowds die down, however, the pool is very beautiful at night, lit up with torches and gas fires. Amenities at the hotel include a nice restaurant and bar, as well as tennis courts.
The DoubleTree Hilton Golf Resort - is geared towards business travellers but is also family friendly. The pool area is not quite as nice as the Riviera, but it includes a gorgeous view of the golf course. The rooms are basic Hilton. There is a restaurant and a bar which I ate lunch at almost everyday because the food was so good and they served you outside. And let’s not forget the famous chocolate chip cookies you get when you check in! (Maybe even a few more times if you ask nicely:) The hotel is situated beside and affiliated with the Desert Princess Golf course so hotel guests can use the facilities for a reduced rate and even borrow golf clubs.
Where To Eat In Palm Springs
By and large, Palm Springs is geared towards healthy living and healthy eating. It's not hard to find a juice bar in every area mall. Raw Remedy Organic Juice & Raw Food Bar is a popular place to have a plant based lunch or juice. It's located in the downtown Palm Springs shopping area.
The Escena Golf Club is a sophisticated place to have lunch. You will be treated to beautiful views of the golf course and San Jancinto Mountains while you indulge in Californian fusion with a retro vibe.
Of course, there are always chain restaurants like Californian Pizza as well as local favourite, LuLu, famous for award winning menus and vibrant bar scene.
Nightlife in Palm Springs
First off, I have to admit that I am not much of a partier/drinker but I definitely had a fun time at a few places.
Las Casuelas Terraza - In addition to indulging in some seriously yummy Mexican food, the restaurant features live music and dancing. The clientele ranges from romantic dates, large parties and families.
Pappy & Harriet's - Located in Pioneertown just outside Joshua Tree National Park. According to their website, this bar is "known for its BBQ and rock and roll. Beer flows like water." I had a friend who drove herself there alone in the afternoon for a drink and ended up staying for several hours she was having so much fun!
The Purple Room Supper Club - Looking for a place one night to take in some live local jazz, we stumbled upon this location not realizing the importance of this famed supper club who regularly hosted the rat pack. The room is intimate and sophisticated and the music is top-notch.
Recreational Activities in Palm Springs
The plethora of recreational activities is what makes Palm Springs one of my favourite places.
Golf - There are more than one hundred golf courses in the Palm Springs area! With a warm, dry climate, Palm Springs is definitely a golfing destination. In addition to the two courses I've already mentioned, Escena Golf Club, which was designed by Jack Nicklaus, and The Desert Princess Golf Club, other notable courses include The Desert Willow Golf Resort and PGA West Golf Club among others.
Hiking - Hiking is one of my favourite activities to do in Palm Springs. You could hike a new trail every day. The rocky, sparsely vegetated hills are quite different to the hikes I'm used to in Vancouver but interesting and scenic in their own way.
Joshua Tree National Park- This famous desert location is a destination all on its own. There are so many hikes to do ranging from short and easy to longer, more strenuous ones.
Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyons are part of the Agua Caliente peoples' reserve. They manage the trails and there is admission charged to enter and hike. The scenery is beautiful and the trails are well maintained.
You could also take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of the Mt. San Jacinto State Park (elevation 8, 515 ft.) to enjoy 50 miles of hiking trails or just take in the views from the tram car. You will find two restaurants, a museum, theatres and a gift store at the top as well.
There are a number of free hikes just outside of Palm Springs. Bob Hope (located around Hope's famous residence), North Lykken and The Cross are just a few and easily accessible from Palm Springs. I would suggest hiking as early as 7am to avoid the heat of the day.
Pickle Ball - This relatively new sport is replacing tennis in many places and Palm Springs is crazy about it! A cross between tennis and raquetball, it is relatively easy to play and is a very social sport when its played in doubles. There are courts, clubs and leagues around the area.
Yoga - Palm Springs is very much a wellness mecca so of course yoga is a big part of that! Palm Springs Yoga @poweryogapalmsprings is a chill space, right off N. Palm Canyon Dr., to practice any kind of yoga from hot to yin and they welcome drop ins.
Art Galleries - Palm Springs is a popular destination for people who love the midcentury aesthetic. There are a plethora of galleries to visit but the most popular would be the Palm Springs Art Museum. While it features exhibitions on the history of the desert area, its people and culture, since 2011, its second location focuses on architecture and design.
Shopping
Palm Springs is a world class shopping destination. Downtown Palm Springs boasts many stores that sell the vintage merchandise that the area is famous for. The Shops At Thirteen Forty-Five are a collection of boutiques that sell unique clothing and art. The Night Market is held every Thursday night on Palm Canyon Drive and features the wares or local artisans, food trucks and entertainment. Another market frequented by locals is The Street Fair at College of the Desert which is open on weekends.
Special Events
If you visit Palm Springs any time of the year, it is likely you will catch some festival or other special event. In the fall, there is the Joshua Tree Music Festival, Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival and Modernism Week, while the Palm Springs International Film Festival can be caught after Christmas. For music lovers, there is of course, the instagramable Coachella Music Festival and Stagecoach. While things do slow down a bit in the summer heat, Comic Con is held in Palm Springs in August.
Summary
I hope my post didn't overwhelm you with the amount of things you can do in Palm Springs! Clearly, you will have to pick and choose if you are going for a short holiday. But, in my recent short stay of 4 nights and 5 days, I was actually able to do a lot. For example, I took a short free hike every day, played pickle ball once, went to the driving range at my hotel, took in a night market, spent an afternoon window shopping in downtown Palm Springs, went to Frank's Place for a show, and of course, ate out a lot at lunch and dinner. However, if you want to just lie in the sun by the pool, Palm Springs is excellent for that too!
Where To Stay In Palm Springs
Palm Springs is famous for its retro/cool hotels like The Ace. As well, there are many condo resorts you can check out if you are wanting your own kitchen. I have friends who love staying at Airbnb's in Palm Springs because you are able to rent a whole house with your own pool!
The Riviera has a sexy couples or singles vibe. It was a hollywood hotspot back in the day, hosting such famous guests as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and even Elvis! The rooms are funkily decorated and the pool is a non-stop party with loud music from the speakers and groups of girls taking selfies (at least when we were there). When the crowds die down, however, the pool is very beautiful at night, lit up with torches and gas fires. Amenities at the hotel include a nice restaurant and bar, as well as tennis courts.The DoubleTree Hilton Golf Resort - is geared towards business travellers but is also family friendly. The pool area is not quite as nice as the Riviera, but it includes a gorgeous view of the golf course. The rooms are basic Hilton. There is a restaurant and a bar which I ate lunch at almost everyday because the food was so good and they served you outside. And let’s not forget the famous chocolate chip cookies you get when you check in! (Maybe even a few more times if you ask nicely:) The hotel is situated beside and affiliated with the Desert Princess Golf course so hotel guests can use the facilities for a reduced rate and even borrow golf clubs.
Where To Eat In Palm Springs
By and large, Palm Springs is geared towards healthy living and healthy eating. It's not hard to find a juice bar in every area mall. Raw Remedy Organic Juice & Raw Food Bar is a popular place to have a plant based lunch or juice. It's located in the downtown Palm Springs shopping area.
The Escena Golf Club is a sophisticated place to have lunch. You will be treated to beautiful views of the golf course and San Jancinto Mountains while you indulge in Californian fusion with a retro vibe.
Of course, there are always chain restaurants like Californian Pizza as well as local favourite, LuLu, famous for award winning menus and vibrant bar scene.
Make sure you indulgence at least once in a Date Shake. This is a delicious, sweet and creamy treat made of…well… dates!
Great Shakes has great ones.
Great Shakes has great ones.
Nightlife in Palm Springs
First off, I have to admit that I am not much of a partier/drinker but I definitely had a fun time at a few places.
Las Casuelas Terraza - In addition to indulging in some seriously yummy Mexican food, the restaurant features live music and dancing. The clientele ranges from romantic dates, large parties and families.
Pappy & Harriet's - Located in Pioneertown just outside Joshua Tree National Park. According to their website, this bar is "known for its BBQ and rock and roll. Beer flows like water." I had a friend who drove herself there alone in the afternoon for a drink and ended up staying for several hours she was having so much fun!
The Purple Room Supper Club - Looking for a place one night to take in some live local jazz, we stumbled upon this location not realizing the importance of this famed supper club who regularly hosted the rat pack. The room is intimate and sophisticated and the music is top-notch.
Recreational Activities in Palm Springs
The plethora of recreational activities is what makes Palm Springs one of my favourite places.
Golf - There are more than one hundred golf courses in the Palm Springs area! With a warm, dry climate, Palm Springs is definitely a golfing destination. In addition to the two courses I've already mentioned, Escena Golf Club, which was designed by Jack Nicklaus, and The Desert Princess Golf Club, other notable courses include The Desert Willow Golf Resort and PGA West Golf Club among others.
Hiking - Hiking is one of my favourite activities to do in Palm Springs. You could hike a new trail every day. The rocky, sparsely vegetated hills are quite different to the hikes I'm used to in Vancouver but interesting and scenic in their own way.
Joshua Tree National Park- This famous desert location is a destination all on its own. There are so many hikes to do ranging from short and easy to longer, more strenuous ones.
You could also take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of the Mt. San Jacinto State Park (elevation 8, 515 ft.) to enjoy 50 miles of hiking trails or just take in the views from the tram car. You will find two restaurants, a museum, theatres and a gift store at the top as well.
There are a number of free hikes just outside of Palm Springs. Bob Hope (located around Hope's famous residence), North Lykken and The Cross are just a few and easily accessible from Palm Springs. I would suggest hiking as early as 7am to avoid the heat of the day.
Pickle Ball - This relatively new sport is replacing tennis in many places and Palm Springs is crazy about it! A cross between tennis and raquetball, it is relatively easy to play and is a very social sport when its played in doubles. There are courts, clubs and leagues around the area.
Yoga - Palm Springs is very much a wellness mecca so of course yoga is a big part of that! Palm Springs Yoga @poweryogapalmsprings is a chill space, right off N. Palm Canyon Dr., to practice any kind of yoga from hot to yin and they welcome drop ins.
Art Galleries - Palm Springs is a popular destination for people who love the midcentury aesthetic. There are a plethora of galleries to visit but the most popular would be the Palm Springs Art Museum. While it features exhibitions on the history of the desert area, its people and culture, since 2011, its second location focuses on architecture and design.
Shopping
Palm Springs is a world class shopping destination. Downtown Palm Springs boasts many stores that sell the vintage merchandise that the area is famous for. The Shops At Thirteen Forty-Five are a collection of boutiques that sell unique clothing and art. The Night Market is held every Thursday night on Palm Canyon Drive and features the wares or local artisans, food trucks and entertainment. Another market frequented by locals is The Street Fair at College of the Desert which is open on weekends.
Special Events
If you visit Palm Springs any time of the year, it is likely you will catch some festival or other special event. In the fall, there is the Joshua Tree Music Festival, Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival and Modernism Week, while the Palm Springs International Film Festival can be caught after Christmas. For music lovers, there is of course, the instagramable Coachella Music Festival and Stagecoach. While things do slow down a bit in the summer heat, Comic Con is held in Palm Springs in August.
Summary
I hope my post didn't overwhelm you with the amount of things you can do in Palm Springs! Clearly, you will have to pick and choose if you are going for a short holiday. But, in my recent short stay of 4 nights and 5 days, I was actually able to do a lot. For example, I took a short free hike every day, played pickle ball once, went to the driving range at my hotel, took in a night market, spent an afternoon window shopping in downtown Palm Springs, went to Frank's Place for a show, and of course, ate out a lot at lunch and dinner. However, if you want to just lie in the sun by the pool, Palm Springs is excellent for that too!
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