Guide to Palm Springs

Last month in January my girlfriend and I decided to take a “moms” trip to sunny California. We chose Palm Springs as our destination because of the beautiful boutique hotels, warm weather and good food. It was my first time in Palm Springs and I have to say that I was blown away by how much there is to do in such a small city, not to mention the architecture and scenery! Given that it was my first time in Palm Springs and we were only there for 4 days, I know there will be some activities and attractions that won’t be mentioned, but here is a little guide to get you started if you are planning a trip there soon.

Shop this look: Hat, Top (sold out, similar), Jeans, Sandals

Places to Stay

L’Horizon – The L’Horizon is definitely an upscale resort with private little houses surrounding the pool for each guest. I cannot tell you enough how beautiful everything is about this hotel from the white drapes in the pool area to the beautiful landscapes. We stayed at The Saguaro for the first few nights and treated ourselves to one night at the L’Horizon. Even if you are not staying at the resort, it is a must see. The property is a restored mid-century modern style building and the decor and architecture is so tastefully done.

Parker Palm Springs – We didn’t actually stay at the Parker Palm Springs during our visit but we spent almost an entire day exploring it’s grounds. They have everything from Bocce Ball to the cutest outdoor lemonade stand. The property is huge and there are so many different gardens and landscapes and buildings to explore. It also has the cutest interior decor! The Parker is not as high end as L’Horizon but it is still considered a boutique hotel, so it can get pricey depending on the room you choose to stay in. This is one of my favorite attractions while in Palm Springs and when I visit again, I would like to stay here.

The Saguaro (budget friendly option) – We stayed at The Saguaro because in pictures, it looked so vibrant and pretty. This is a really colorful hotel with a beautiful pool. It doesn’t really have “grounds” that you can explore, but if you are looking for a hip, fun and budget friendly hotel, then this is the one for you. If you are looking to do a photo shoot, the colors make for a beautiful backdrop. Again, another site worth at least seeing while in Palm Springs. If you stay here, they have bikes that you can use for exploring the town.

Places to Dine

Cheeky’s – for breakfast. This was highly recommended by a few locals and so we tried it for breakfast one morning. It had a little bit of a Mexican inspired flavors and everything was delicious. Definitely a great breakfast/brunch spot that is also family/kid friendly.

NORMA’S at the Parker – We came here for lunch and this was one of my favorite restaurants that we ate at while in Palms Springs. They have a really good menu with lots of variety and a lovely outdoor seating area. It is the perfect spot to get a little dressed up and enjoy lunch with a girlfriend or your partner.

SoPa at L’Horizon – This is such a beautiful and classy restaurant. The food was chef inspired and unique. We ate here one night when a few more of our girlfriends drove into town to visit us. They have a great wine menu and lots of unique items to share. I would recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a fancier place for dinner, although I would not recommend bringing small children as it is a higher end restaurant. Just beautiful!

Coffee at the Ace Hotel – You can’t come to Palm Springs and not stop to get a coffee at the Ace Hotel. They serve only the best, Stumptown Coffee. The hotel itself is a restored mid century style motel turned boho-chic. The restaurant inside the Ace Hotel has a mid century modern diner vibe, we didn’t eat there but I loved the style and would like to try it for brunch next time I visit.

Great Shakes for dessert – Someone recommended this so we decided to stop and try it. It’s a cute little shake shop and they have so many flavors, it was almost hard to decide on one! They also give you these cute little donuts with your shake that were divine. Sweet lovers paradise!

Activities

• Ride bikes all over town – most hotels offer bikes for free that you can use for the day.
• Moorten Botanical Garden – the most beautiful cactus garden!
• Resort/Hotel Hop
• Hangout by the pool
• Visit the “famous” pink door. The homes in the neighborhood are amazing. It is a great neighborhood to ride your bikes through.
• Do a little shopping on Palm Canyon Drive
• Visit the Palm Springs Art Museum

Shop my second look here: White Free People dress or similar dress here, Madewell Jeans, Madewell Boots

I do hope to plan another trip to Palm Springs soon. If you are looking for a laid back atmosphere, then this is a great destination for you. It is also the perfect destination for a girlfriends getaway!

For more things to do in Palm Springs, TripAdvisor has a really good list here.
Happy Travels!