Looking for that perfect desert destination? Look no further than Palm Springs!
Palm Springs is a safe bet for sunshine and warm weather. With the outdated diners, the 1950’s motels that have been remodeled with vintage style, and the hip pool parties-- it is safe to say Palm Springs feels like a blast from the past, which were all too dreamy for this soul to resist!
WHERE TO STAY | Arrive Palm Springs
In the heart of Palm Springs, the Arrive hotel is the perfect mix of 21+ pool party fun and laid back 'hip' vibes. Upon arrival, I was welcomed with complimentary drinks, and then was escorted to my modern studio + patio room. Included with my room was a reserved pool lounger, which I took full advantage of while soaking up the Palm Springs sunshine!
The Arrive Palm Springs has you covered with food, drinks, and on-site activities. My favorites were the Coffee Lab, Ice Cream Shoppe, the NEW food & drink menu, poolside fireplaces, and the cute free vintage bikes to cruise around town on!
I promise you won’t be short of Instagram worthy pics here!
Food | Best Eats in Palm Springs
Some things to note: food in Palm Springs is more expensive, at least compared to Scottsdale and Chicago! I would recommend making a reservation at each of these locations to guarantee a spot, since they are the local's favorites & fill up quickly!
Coffee: Cartel Coffee Lab
I had THE BEST iced chai latte here & that says a lot because I have inhaled my fair share of chai lattes! The small coffee shoppe was modern with a mix of industrial aesthetics, and it was an obvious locals favorite!
Brunch: Cheeky's
Did you know brunch originated in Palm Springs? Cheeky’s is a popular ‘destination’ cafe in the trending uptown area of Palm Springs. I recommend trying the bacon flight and Bloody Mary (P.S. it's served in a boot glass)! How fun is that?!
Lunch Option 1: Arrive Palm Springs
Relax poolside with a chef driven food & cocktail menu! Everything on this menu sounded so delicious! Some of my favorites were the Avocado Flatbread, Tuna Tartare, Ricotta Cavatelli, and the Backseat Bingo cocktail!
Lunch Option 2: Jakes
The sweet spot of Palm Spring's dining! Jake's really hits the sweet spot, not just for the cakes, but for providing excellent quality food in a casual, totally classic Palm Spring's vibe!
Cocktails: Bootlegger Tiki
Hands down best and prettiest cocktails in all of Palm Springs! Expect a traditional tiki bar with the lights down low, complimentary snacks, Hawaiian music and fun decor. I recommend the Pod Thai, it's the perfect balance between fresh and sweet, without being too sweet.
Dinner Option 1: Birba
YUM! In my opinion Birba is the best Italian pizzeria in Palm Springs! The food and ambiance scores a 5/5 on my radar! Be sure to make a reservation!
Dinner Option 2: Workshop Kitchen & Bar
From the moment I walked in, it was clear I was somewhere special! What used to be a 90-year-old movie theater has now been transformed into one of the most popular contemporary restaurants in Palm Springs! I loved the Truffle Burger!
Things to Do and See in Palm Springs | Excursions & Activities
-Rent a Bike
Everyone seems to ride cute vintage bikes around town! It's the perfect way to stay fit and help the environment! I loved how the Arrive Palm Springs hotel had these bikes onsite for free usage! It made me feel like a true Palm Spring's local!
You can also rent a bike at Bike Palm Springs Rentals and Tours
-Attend a Summer Pool Party
Splash House is the event to attend during summer in Palm Springs. This event takes place twice a year, June 11-13 and August 13-15! If you are not visiting during that timeframe, no worries, these resorts have numerous weekend pool parties: The Saguaro Hotel, Arrive Palm Springs, and the Ace Hotel & Swim Club !
-Shopping at Palm Springs
There's no shortage of shopping in Palm Springs. Some of my favorite shopping areas are: The Shops on El Paso, the Sunday farmer's market at Old Town La Quinta, Uptown Design District, The River, and downtown Palm Springs!
-Take the Palm Spring's Aerial Tramway
A total of 10 minutes to elevate you 6,000 feet from the floor of the Coachella Valley to near the top of San Jacinto Peak! At the top you can experience 50 miles of hiking trails, 2 restaurants, a cocktail lounge, a small history museum, and observation decks!
Ticket Prices: Adults $26.95, Seniors (65+) $24.95, Children (ages 3-10) $16.95
Only $5 to enter the arboretum! The beauty and extraordinary varieties of desert plants are incredible! I could have spent a whole day exploring and taking pictures in here!
The perfect place for a picnic in a desert wilderness setting, and did I mention it’s FREE to visit?! The nature reserve offers a nice boardwalk that takes you around most of the oasis allowing you to get pictures of the giant palms.
Top Day Trips From Palm Springs
Salvation Mountain
A unique and exciting surprise located in the middle of the desert an hour and a half from Palm Springs is Salvation Mountain! Leonard Knight is the brilliant artist that gifted us this adobe clay mountain. His theme of “God is Love” is illustrated throughout the mountain, and you can walk through the rooms and explore the layers of creativity.
Walker Canyon Poppy Fields
I highly recommend doing the Walker Canyon hike if you’ll be visiting during a rare “super bloom”, which is associated with an unusually wet/ rainy season that causes a high proportion of bright wildflowers to bloom. That being said, whether you get to see the beautiful canyons of wildflowers or not, Walker Canyon is a great hiking trail year around. It’s easy to find, easy to park at, only an hour away from Palm Springs, and it is heavily trafficked.
Sand Dunes | Imperial Sand Dunes
I have driven past the dunes numerous times on I-8, and exploring them has been on my bucket list for a long time now! Located two hours away from Palm Springs, the beautiful white sand mountains seem to appear out of thin air. Here, a lot of people will camp, take engagement photos, go ATV / motor bike riding, or for me personally I used it as a giant grown up sandbox. I definitely recommend checking this off your bucket list.
Joshua Tree National Park:
Joshua Tree is about an hour drive from Palm Springs, and is one of southern California’s best known national parks. I recommend hitting up Joshua Tree Coffee before starting the scenic drive.
For current fees and park hours, visit the Joshua Tree park’s website.
Hiking In Joshua Tree: I love hiking the“Hidden Valley Nature Trail”, which is rated as an easy 1 mile loop trail . This trail highlights Joshua Tree’s huge rock formations and unique trees.
Arch Rock, Skull Rock, Key View, and Cholla Cactus Garden are worth checking out as well!
Before heading back to Palm Springs, eat at Pappy & Harriets! The live music and steaks are phenomenal. Staying Overnight at Joshua Tree? I recommend booking a trendy airstream at Joshua Tree Acres.
What to Pack | Shop the Post
I visited Palm Springs in the heat of Summer, so think shorts, sundresses, and swimsuits galore! You can shop some of my favorite Palm Spring vintage looks I wore down below!
For a better view, view this on a desktop, or click here.
Be sure to follow me on the Liketoknow.it app, where I post all my outfit & product details!
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Thanks for tuning into another one of my complete travel guides! Let me know in the comments below if I missed any of your Palm Spring, California favorites!
*Watch my Palm Springs YouTube video here!
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xoxo,
Cami
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