From bachelorette parties to celeb sightings, Palm Springs has been all over the ‘gram in the last couple of years. The desert meets mountains backdrops and ’70s vibes are enough to make any babe want to visit. I finally paid a visit this past Spring. Palm Springs does have an airport, but it’s small and more expensive to get to than the Los Angeles airport. My fiancé and I decided to fly into LA to visit some good friends of ours before driving a couple of hours there.
Where to Stay
There are sooo many cute, fun and absolutely stunning hotels to choose from when booking a trip to Palm Springs. A place with a pool is obviously a must. After doing lots of research, we settled on Hotel Alcazar. At $200 a night, it was an amazing deal in a prime location. The pool had an amazing view, and pretty much everything we did was walking or biking distance from the hotel. They also offered bikes as part of the stay. If you’re looking to majorly splurge, try the Parker Palm Springs, or if you can’t pass up the retro vibes go for Les Cactus.
What to do
See the architecture
Palm Springs is known for it’s well-preserved mid-century modern architecture by some of the most famous modernist architects. The homes are so fun to see and so much different than anything you would see down south. There are plenty of formal tours you can sign up for, but we opted for a self-guided tour on bikes. The Old Las Palmas neighborhood is the best place to start for this and was only a few minutes by bike from our hotel.
Shop
There are so many beautiful shops in Palm Springs to stroll in and out of. The Shops are Thirteen Forty-Five are definitely a must. With 14 shops in one, you can browse clothing, artwork, furniture, and more. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s like being in a museum!
Eat & Drink
Bootlegger Tiki
Bootlegger Tiki was recommended by more than one friend who had visited Palm Springs before me, so I knew we had to add it to the list. I also love a good tiki bar, and this one is definitely worth a visit. It’s a tiny tiny spot, but every cocktail has a big personality.
Farm
Farm is a great little French restaurant for lunch. If it’s a nice day (which it usually is here), the patio is absolutely adorable for cocktails and a yummy lunch.
Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey
Sushi and whiskey are not the typical pairing, but Sandfish does it right. The sushi is fresh and the place is so much fun! We loved the spicy edamame and The Experiment roll.
Workshop Kitchen + Bar
Workshop Kitchen was also recommended by more than one person and from a few Google searches it was clear it’s one of the top restaurants in Palm Springs. As soon as we walked in, we could tell this was the place to be. The modern restaurant is lively, fun, and absolutely delicious. Be careful if you’re on a budget though as things here can add up very quickly.
Both of the restaurants in our hotel Cheeky’s and Birba were also great. Other places we wanted to try but couldn’t squeeze in were Chi Chi, Rooster & The Pig, and Pink Cabana.
Beyond Palm Springs
Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park is a little less than an hour drive from Palm Springs. It’s so worth the drive to check out the unique and incredibly diverse desert landscape. Plus, you can check a national park off of your list!
Idyllwild
Just an hour or so away up the San Jacinto mountains, you can visit the funky, adorable mountain town of Idyllwild. The stark difference between the town and Palm Springs even though they are only an hour apart was super cool. One minute we were hiking in the snow in the mountains and the next lying poolside. Idyllwild is definitely worth checking if you are in the area, and my friend’s cute airbnb The Cedar Treehouse is the best place to stay in town.
