Maybe it was all the Real Housewives shows of people jet-setting off to lay poolside in Palm Springs, but I have always wanted to visit here! I had big dreams of smelling like sunscreen and lounging pool side.
DAY ONE
Since we were on the road and staying at a campground, we had to improvise. Fortunately, I found just the thing. ResortPass. Our first full-day in Palm Springs, I ordered us day passes to the V hotel pool. This was a major travel hack. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to stay at, and thus enjoy, resort amenities. You can stay where your budget allows and then check out ResortPass for a day pass to their pool and gym.
After being on the road for more than a month, this day was a luxury. We brought our computers, laid out on the daybeds, and ordered food and drinks from the hotel bar, Elixir. Fueled by good wifi and piña coladas, we were actually so productive at work. We spent the entire day here, until the sun disappeared behind the Mt. San Jacinto. We felt so calm and tan after, that we did this again once more later in the week.
DAY TWO
The next day, we started the day with breakfast at Cheeky’s. This place is quintessential Palm Springs. They’re known for their bacon flights, which we obviously had to order. The breakfast was unique, tasty, and had fabulous customer service. The menu also changes weekly – except for their classics.
After some full bellies, we headed to Moorten Botanical Garden. “The Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium is a 1-acre family-owned botanical garden specializing in cacti and other desert plants.” The place is stunning and the cactarium is a must-see. It’s a cheap and quick activity in town. Admission is only $5 per adult.
DAY THREE
We started the following day with a hike at Indian Canyon. Adult admission is $9. I chose the Murray Canyon hike and it was hands-down Shane and my favorite hike in the history of all hikes. It’s considered an intermediate hike. There were river crossing which required you to balance on fallen tree trunks or rocks to avoid stepping in the water. It was so unique to have palm trees and water flowing in the middle of mountains and the desert. A lot of landscapes at once made it just beautiful. If you have a full day, you can spend it all here, exploring more of the trails.
DAY FOUR
PART I
On our last day in town, we headed out to Joshua Tree National Park. It’s about an hour drive to the park entrance. We brought our dog along and honestly, I don’t recommend this. I had read some blogs about what to do with a dog at Joshua Tree and felt like we could still enjoy it with him, and… we did not.
Overall, Joshua Tree was not my favorite national park. Partly because I had high expectations for it after years of seeing beautiful pictures, partly because of having our dog in tow, and partly because the landscape is (dare I say) boring? Once you see one part of the park, you see it all. There were some interesting rock formations jutting out of the desert. Joshua trees, which is how the park gets its name, is a weird cross between a palm tree and a cactus. They only grow in this region so it is fascinating to see. But once you see one, you see them all.
PART II
After driving the scenic roads within the park, we continued on to our next destination: Pioneertown. According to their website, “Pioneertown was founded by a group of Hollywood investors, including actors Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. They dreamed of creating an Old West set that was actually a town worth visiting, with 1880s-style false-front façades but interiors that had stuff for visitors to see and do too.” It’s a quick pitstop – not worth it’s own trip – but a hysterical stop to or from Joshua Tree. There are actual functioning businesses in the western storefronts and there are two restaurants that would be a great place to grab a beer.
On the way back to Palm Springs, you’ll pass the famous windmills. Nowadays, instagram influencers head out for some photos. While I don’t think this is necessary, driving by on Indian Canyon Drive is quite cool. Windmills for as far as the eyes can see. As an urban planning nerd, this was neat! If you’re interested in tours, check out this page.
We chose to eat most meals in the trailer but one reservation I wish we could have kept was at Workshop Kitchen. Make reservations far in advance. By the time we went to book one, there were only 9pm slots available and *this gal* can’t stay up that late.
CONCLUSION
Palm Springs was an excellent stop. Not only was the weather unbelievable (we were so happy to sit in the sun for hours on end), it gave us a nice taste of Southern California. Having great hikes within a quick drive of Downtown is our favorite type of place to visit. Indian Canyons far exceeded our hiking/nature expectations.
Having grown up in Florida, Palm Springs is a lot like Florida vacation spots. My recommendation for an ideal time in Palm Springs is staying at a beautiful resort with a pool, venturing out for a hike, and enjoying a meal Downtown. Otherwise, you could spend the rest of your time at your resort. It’s the type of city that makes for a perfect resort getaway so pick your resort wisely.
Shane described Palm Springs as Florida but with mountains instead of beaches. And he isn’t wrong…