Palm Springs

It's an ideal weekend break for anyone looking for some accessible sun and relaxation. Palm Springs has plenty to do for all types of travelers and ages, whether you are looking to lounge, explore, enjoy the town or take in entertainment.

Getting (there and around)

A number of people that visit Palm Springs are within a few hour drive, but it is also a short flight from a number of West Coast cities. The airport is small and right down the road from the heart of town, which makes it much easier to get your vacation started as soon as you land.

The best way to get around likely depends on your accommodations and activities. Renting a car provides flexibility for the trip and ideal if you are going to be getting around a lot or taking excursions. It's incredibly easy to navigate from the airport to anywhere you might be staying. But if you plan on staying at your resort or rental with an occasional jaunt to town, it may be best to rideshare since most places are pretty close. In additional, parking fees at your resort might make the rental car less cost effective.

Staying

The accommodations will really depend on what type of experience you are looking for. If you are traveling with a group to party or family for a number of days, you may strongly look into renting a vacation home. Finding one in town will allow you to easily walk to restaurants and bars. But saving a little outside of town will still allow you to do some meals at home and save some money and energy. I haven't found any appealing hotels in the downtown area for poolside relaxation and solitude (even though my general default option is a downtown hotel in most cities). If you are staying in a downtown hotel in Palm Springs, you are probably spending more the time outside the hotel. But only do that option if all your activities are downtown. Otherwise, there are more affordable options in the surrounding areas.

If looking for more solitude, playing a few rounds of golf, and sitting by the pool, then consider one of the resort hotels outside of town. The Ritz Carlton at Rancho Mirage made my list of favorite hotels I have stayed at. One trip to Palm Springs, I had a list of things I wanted to do and explore, but after checking in, I never left the property. It was that relaxing. Sitting high on a hill of solitude looking over the region, it has an adults-only pool, a general pool, multiple restaurants and a view overlooking the region (it sits on top of the hill). It also has plenty of lawn games during the day and fireplaces at night to keep you entertained.

Doing

Downtown Palm Springs is fun and most of the things to see are within a half mile strip. It is flat and walkable and a good half day activity. Unfortunately, many of the shops have turned to national chain shops and it's not particularly authentic or interesting as a destination. That said, it is good to see and can be a good activity around a meal to dine out or spent between checking out of your hotel and leaving on a flight since it is just a couple miles from the airport.

Just a little under and hour away is one of the more interesting national parks- Joshua Tree. It is home to a fascinating range of desert trees, plants and terrain. Try and start out early in the day to get in a decent hike in the park or just enjoy a ride in the climate controlled car to see views and unique vegetation. Start at the west entrance and work through to exit to the south before heading back.

A popular activity is to do the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. It is a cable- gondola type ride for 2.5 miles/ 10 minutes that goes up into the hills to an elevation of about 8,500 feet for wide views of the valley. It's interesting, but it is not cheap at about $25. Something that I haven't been able to make work, but has been on my list is the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. It is one of the more popular attractions in the Palm Springs area (about 15 minutes away in Palm Desert) and seems interesting for all ages. The nice weather and predictable sun is attractive for outdoor sports like golf and tennis, and there are no shortage of places to play.

Eating

On one trip, I asked a local where he would recommend eating good Mexican food in town and he mentioned El Mirasol. It turned out to be my favorite local option to recommend. It's a perfect independent place for quality, authentic food with fun outdoor seating (some indoor seating but nobody seeking it). It's just blocks off the main road downtown and easy to get to and a fun, casual dinner scene when the sun goes down. If you are going to do Mexican food once on your trip, this is the one to go to.

While shopping or walking downtown, another recommendation for Mexican food is the Blue Coyote Bar and Grill. It isn't a destination if you are not already downtown, but it is good food with healthy portions. While I usually choose a burrito of some sort, my strong recommendation for lunch is the steak salad. The steak is perfectly seasoned and marinated and one of the better steaks I've had at a Mexican restaurant.

For higher end dining, the Ritz Carlton hotel has a number of restaurants and I would highly recommend State Fare Kitchen. It's a bit more of the upscale casual option at the Ritz, but the food was amazing and the outdoor seating was a perfect spot both for afternoon lunch and a nice dinner (I had my birthday celebration there and was sat next to a celebrity also recognizing a birthday, so others seemed to prefer it too). There is also a steakhouse at the property, but the steak was great at State Fare with what seemed like a better atmosphere and menu appealing to a diverse group.

Day Planning

Day 1: Travel, get settled and have a good dinner

Day 2: Relax and recharge

Day 3: Enjoy outdoor exploring

Day 4: Walk around downtown before heading out to the airport

#PalmSprings #WeekendTrips #California