My Palm Springs Travel Guide

Palm Springs is a desert oasis. It's the perfect getaway to eat, drink, shop and get outside! Whatever you are looking for, Palm Springs has a lot to offer, whether it's a weekend trip or a week-long get away.

Photo: Palm Desert Cross Hike trail head, Desert X Art Installation

I've spent much of the last decade visiting Palm Springs. It's a second home to me, visiting my mom, who spends half the year here in the desert. I love the lifestyle - desert California eating, drinking, hiking and shopping. The sun shining and the heat on your back - it's the perfect place to find the sun during grey, wet northern winters.

Below is a travel guide that offers suggestions about where to stay (as polled by locals), where to play and where to eat!

I hope this helps make your stay in Palm Springs a little bit easier.

Happy desert travels,

Krista

Photo: White Water Trail, Cabazon

My Palm Springs Travel Guide

Where To Eat:

Photo: Azúcar Restaurant & Bar, Down Town

Down Town

Wilma & Freida - casual brunch, second location on el paseo

Cheeky's - Modern brunch/lunch

Azúcar Restaurant & Bar + Sugar High Rooftop patio overlooking San Jacinto Mountains (La Serena Villas)

Tyler's Burgers - burgers, hot dogs & malts in unique downtown building

Fisherman's Market & Grill - Casual seafood - offering full market & late night dining @ Shanghai Reds

The Original Las Casuelas - Mexican (a mariachi band plays on weekends)

Lulu California Bistro - Popular downtown American food served all day long

King's Highway - Trendy diner style menu, locally sourced ingredients (Ace Hotel)

*Mr Lyons Steak House - Steakhouse with a vintage vibe

*Birba - Global food menu - beautiful patio

*Norma's - Outdoor lunch/brunch (Parker Hotel, Lemonade Stand great for a drink but for hotel guests only)

*El Jefe - Tequila & Mexican Street food Cocktail Bar (The Saguaro Palm Springs)

*Reservoir - American fare in outdoor, modern setting (Arrive Hotel - try ice cream shoppe as well)

*Melvyn's - Local hot spot with Hollywood history from Frank Sinatra to the Rat Pack

*Chi Chi - California food in Spanish-Mission style setting (formerly known as Citron: Viceroy Hotel, now Avalon Hotel)

*Spencer's Restaurant at the Mountain - Elegant dining, excellent dessert

*Sparrows Lodge - fully renovated lodge with a retro vibe, serving local fare

Uptown Design District

Eight4nine - Modern fare with contemporary decor

*Workshop kitchen + bar - modern, seasonal fare in a former movie house - need reservation

El Paseo

Tommy Bahamas - a chain, but great salads

Fix - casual brunch/lunch

Daily Grill - casual brunch/lunch with local and Hollywood history

Cafe Des Beaux-Arts - casual brunch/lunch and cocktails

*Le Paon - Lounge

Palm Desert/Rancho Mirage/Thousand Palms

Sherman's Deli & Bakery - NYC-style deli and baked goods, kosher (open late-night)

Taqueria San Miguel - Mexican Cantina - authentic Mexican fare

Babe's Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse - BBQ & Craft Brew House (The Rivers)

*The Edge Steakhouse - Stunning Valley Views, fine-dining and seafood (Ritz-Carlton)

*Jillian's - Posh outdoor hacienda dining, fine food and wine

La Quinta

Cliff House - Great outdoor patio for Happy Hour

Cork & Fork Wine Bar - Tapas and wine pairings

*Heirloom - Great Lunch spot, pastries and salads made daily

* All asterisk restaurant's were recommended, but I have not dined at. Online reviews support the recommendations.

Where To Drink:

Photo: Azúcar Restaurant & Bar

Amigo Room (Ace Hotel) - a cave-like, desert ranch hand saloon (Ace Hotel)

Coachella Valley Brewery - local craft beers & growler fills

La Quinta Brewery - local craft beers & growler fills

*Purple Palm Restaurant - fabulous craft cocktails (Colony Palms Hotel, since 1936)

Photo: @mykuratedlife The Perfect Margarita, Thousand Palms

What To See:

Photo: The Pink Door, Palm Springs (photos no longer prohibited) via fodors.com

Joshua Tree National Park (pass required to enter)

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (be prepared for snow on top in the winter, it's the desert after all!)

Palm Springs Art Museum

Palm Springs Night Market (downtown on Thursday evenings 6:00pm - 9:00pm)

College of Dessert Street Market (the COD - Sat & Sun 7:00am - 2:00pm)

Fantasy Lanes Family Bowling Center - laser bowling for the whole family (Fantasy Springs Resort Casino)

Photo: College of the Desert Street Fair

La Quinta Old Town - Restaurants and boutiques with old village charm (La Quinta Brewing, Stuft Pizza, Nitroinfusions Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream & more)

Celebrity Home Tours or Mid-century Modern Home Tours by bus or on your own (Palm Spring Visitor Centre has maps for purchase if going on your own). See the outside of homes that once belonged to the likes of Elvis, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Liberace & many other celebrities in Hollywood, or see the architectural designed homes of Albert Frey and other talented mid-century architects.

Photo: Uptown Design District

Where To Shop:

Photo: El Paseo Shopping District

El Paseo Shopping District (from valet to chain stores)

Uptown Design District (antiques, mid-century modern shops & PS flagship of Trina Turk)

Cabazon Outlets - open air outlet shops, 20 minutes west of downtown - stop en route for giant dinosaur statue pics & Hadley Fruit Orchards (date shakes are a favourite)

Photo: Date Shake at Hadley Fruit Orchard, Cabazon

What To Do:

Swim

There are pools at every hotel, bring a towel and find a nice spot with an umbrella

Hike

Photo: Painted Canyon Trails

Easy Hikes (always check online before going on hikes for latest information & safety tips)

Indian Canyons

Thousand Palms Oasis in the Coachella Valley Preserve

Photo: The Thousand Palms Oasis

Easy to Moderate Hikes

Bump and Grind

White Water (cacti in full bloom in the spring)

The Palm Desert Cross Hiking Trail

Photo: The Palm Desert Cross Hiking Trail

Moderate Hikes

Painted Canyon

Araby Trail (pass one of Bob Hope's former homes)

Museum Trail

Golf

PGA West (great people watching spot in the lounge & on the outside club house patio)

There are many public courses available to play, especially in gated communities. Check individual courses online for updated info and "how-to's".

Tennis

ATP tournament in March annually

There's many public courts available locally in each community.

What's Happening:

Photo: Classic Club Golf

Classic Club Golf (& Bellatrix Restaurant) - Christmas decorations

Palm Springs International Film Festival (January, annually)

Modernism Week (mid-February, annually)

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (April, annually)

What To Try:

Brandini Toffee - All-natural butter toffee - a high school duo's entrepreneur project gone right!

Where To Stay:

(List poled by locals, as I stay with family. There are so many good hotels in Palm Springs and adjoining neighbourhoods, this is merely a sampling of what's popular and trending.)

Photo credit: Parker Hotel, @parkerpalmsprings

Ace Hotel and Swim Club

The Saguaro Hotel

Arrive Hotel

The Parker Palm Springs

Photo: Thousand Palms, home, overlooking the San Jacinta Mountains

*Disclaimer:

All stared (*) Palm Springs sights and eateries are recommendations that I have not been too, but are on my list for future trips.

While this is a personal list of my favourite Palm Springs places and activities, please look online for up-to date information on restaurants, hotels and hikes. They are subject to change after publication of this post.