Palm Springs • Travel Guide
You all know I love midcentury modern everything, so one of the biggest reasons I love Palm Springs so much is because you can pretty much drive down any given street and immerse yourself in midmod design. There is so much cool architecture on every corner that still is just as relevant today as it was when it was built in the 1950’s and 60’s. Not to mention enough great restaurants/hotels/ and shops to keep you real happy!
Here’s a little travel guide of my ultimate favorite spots in Palm Springs.
A few Tips:
Visit Palm Springs in the Spring or Fall if possible. Summers can be pretty brutally hot, unless you’re into that 100+ heat!
All of my stay reccomendations below are hotels, but there are also plenty of cool airbnbs in Palm Springs, like The Dazey Desert House or The Amado.
If you’re not eating or drinking, check out the Moorten Botanical Garden, The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (cooler than it seems!), visit the Palm Springs Art Museum, or take a drive down a random old neighborhood and gather inspo from the amazing curb appeal and architecture of the homes! Another option is to make a day trip to Joshua Tree, but that’s another travel guide for another day!
EAT:
Norma’s at The Parker: This restaurant is worth going to just to have an excuse to gawk at the design of the hotel itself! Jonathan Adler designed The Parker and there are sooo many cool retro mid century vibes going on I could hardly contain my excitement! Look for the giant breeze block wall and you know you’re headed into the right midcentury modern wonderland! We went to Norma’s for brunch and it was very busy, so make a reservation if you can! Also check out the rare occasion my husband Spenser let me photograph his cute self above. ;)
The Pink Cabana: Located at the Sands Hotel, which is about a 20 minute drive from Downtown Palm Springs, the Pink Cabana is eye candy and instagram bait galore! Their mediterranean/morrocan inspired food is just as good as the decor too! I recommend going for brunch on Saturday or Sunday!
SHOP:
The Shops at Thirteen Forty Five: A collaborative of about 10-15 different stores under one cool mid mod roof. You can find everything from vintage Morroccan Rugs, to locally made goods both old and new, tons of authentic midcentury modern home decor and furniture. While we were there they had a Stan Bitters feauture shop which is super awesome becuase Stan is from Fresno!
STAY:
The Ace Hotel & Swim Club: Definitely the “fun and hip” hotel of Palm Springs that draws a younger crowd. The second time I stayed at The Ace, we pretty much spent all our free time at the pool and it was glorious! If you’ve never stayed at an Ace Hotel before, get on it! Pretty much plotting my return as soon as possible!
Korakia Pensione: Staying at Korakia actually feels like you’ve transported to Morrocco without the lengthy flight. It’s such a peaceful place if you’re craving a more relaxing vacation. Highly highly recommend.