Ahhh Palm Springs… One of my favorite places in the world, and a convenient one hour flight from my hometown!
When you think of Palm Springs, what do you think of? Sun? Pool parties? 60’s vibes?
Yes to all of the above!
Palm Springs is an endless summer; a town filled with vintage vibes and classy cocktails. A town that feels Old Hollywood, preserved forever. And an amazing place for a weekend away!
Let’s do this!
Where to Stay:
There are several cities surrounding Palm Springs that are all perfect vacation spots. Although I love staying in Palm Springs, here are some other options:
Joshua Tree
About 45 minutes from Palm Springs, J Tree is a great place to stay! Those wishing to spend a lot of time in Joshua Tree National Park will find this location much more convenient. The Airbnb’s in J Tree are heavenly. Highly recommend!
Check out some of these aesthetic af Airbnb’s in J Tree!
Airbnb 2 (Take me with you if you stay here)
Palm Desert/ Rancho Mirage
About 20 minutes from Palm Springs is Palm Desert. This is where you’ll find The Ritz Carlton, as well as some of the pricier shops. Stay here if you’re a Luis Vuitton girl through and through. The Ritz is lovely!
Cathedral City
Palm Springs’ less talked about sibling, Cathedral City is right next to Palm Springs. Definitely consider staying here if looking at the Palm Springs area.
Palm Springs
The queen herself! I usually opt for an Airbnb, but the hotels are fabulous. I love The Saguaro for a colorful, fun hotel with a great pool. I think of this as the rainbow hotel!
I also love The Ace Hotel for a vintage 60’s vibe. I also saw Mark Ruffalo here, which was pretty exciting.
If you’ve got cash to spend, stay nowhere else but the Parker Palm Springs. The Parker has my heart! I will say, it’s incredibly bougie. They don’t allow you to take photos on a DSLR camera unless you have a permit. I know, I know. But guys, it’s WORTH IT. It’s one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever seen. You won’t regret it. (High chance of celeb sighting here, as well. When I was here, Joanna Gaines and Flume were staying here).
Other honorable mentions (I haven’t stayed at any of these, but have friends who have/ have visited and loved them) are La Serena Villas (make sure you check out their amazing rooftop restaurant) and Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs (amazing rooftop pool).
What To Do:
There are truly endless things to do in this magical city. Trust me, you won’t get bored. And if you do, you’ll be able to spend your days basking in the sun by the pool at your airbnb or hotel. Be sure to reserve at least a day for lounging!
Shopping
If you’re looking for a fun way to spend the day in PS, shop. There is soooo much fun shopping (especially if you’re a vintage/ 60’s lover). Downtown Palm Springs is a ton of fun and you can definitely kill some time there. Check out this article for more on the stores in downtown PS. Here are a few fun places to check out, as recommended by our favorite local gal, @nataliequinniee.
- Mojave Flea
- Shop Thieves
- Angelview Thrift Store
- Revivals Stores
Joshua Tree
Visiting Joshua Tree National Park is a must when you’re in town. About a 45 minute drive from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree is a beautiful, albeit small national park, full of photogenic wonders. Drive into the park for a quick pic, or drive all the way through and enjoy the entire park. The world is your oyster when in Joshua Tree! Pro tip, leave some time for funky shopping in J Tree and Yucca Valley. There are some seriously cool shops that you won’t want to miss.
Salvation Mountain
Salvation Mountain is one of the most unique places in Southern California, and a must visit at least once (probably only once if you ask me!), and also an incredible place for photos.
Salvation Mountain is known as ‘the last free place in America’ and is just off the Salton Sea (you gotta watch a docuseries on the Salton Sea, it’s wildddd). This area is broken into two ‘cities,’ Slab City and East Jesus. Everything in these areas are funky and wild, almost an artist’s junkyard retreat. Plus, people still live here!
I recommend taking one day to drive out there and explore. Check out Salvation Mountain, go sniff the Salton Sea, explore East Jesus… but be safe, because this is not the safest area there is (I don’t recommend staying after dark).
Moorten Botanical Garden
A botanical garden in Palm Springs full of cacti and desert plants- a must visit if you’re a plant lover! You can even take a little cactus home with you. I want to get re-married and do it here, it’s so beautiful and peaceful!
Where to Eat:
The food in Palm Springs is NEXT LEVEL. Here are a couple of my personal faves, but trust me, you can’t go wrong.
Acuzar (Make sure to sit on the rooftop, and go during sunset for some amazing views)
The Heyday (burger popup)
Tac/Quila (Probably my favorite on this list. Everything is delish and you have to try the margarita flight!! Good for lunch or dinner)
Ice Cream and Shoppe (If you’re in the mood for some shopping while eating yummy ice cream, go here)
Norma’s (If you’re open to dropping a pretty penny on a fun brunch, head to Norma’s at the Parker. It’s quintessential Palm Springs, you don’t want to miss it)
Boozehounds (dog friendly!)
Sherman’s Deli (Go here for some solid Jewish food. Highly recommend, well, everything)
And there you have it! The perfect guide for a couple days in fabulous Palm Springs. Be sure to take me with you whenever you visit!
Stay tuned, and we sure to watch my Instagram to see upcoming travels!
Xoxo,
Hannah
