The Palm Springs area is a paradise for stylish sun-seekers, wellness enthusiasts and art lovers. Bounded by four mountain ranges, the desert landscape and views from the canyons are a glorious contrast. There are the cutest boutique hotels, hundreds of natural hot springs, great food, scenic hiking, and relaxing spas.
Historically popular with mid 20th century movie stars, the town can feel a bit like another era, especially the hotels. Classic palm trees line the streets, golf courses are on every block, and the sun is always shining (300+ days a year!).
Where to stay:
67670 Carey Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234
This gorgeous resort is fully committed to style, but doesn’t skimp on comfort and convenience. The 66 bungalows and suites of the hotel feature gorgeous modern art, a full kitchen, a desk area, private outdoor spots, and comfy beds. The rooms are remarkably spacious and it really cannot be overstated how much fun art is everywhere you look. There is also a beautiful pool with cute pink umbrellas that’s open 24 hours, poolside bar (get the Paloma, it’s delicious!!), and a delicious tapas restaurant that you can enjoy inside by the fire or outside by the pool.
The other great aspect of this hotel is the location. You are basically right across the street from golf courses on one side, and then great hiking and nature on the other. There’s also bars, tasty food everywhere, and shopping nearby. It’s very easy to access all the best of Palm Springs from right here.
Fun fact: The property first became a hotel when it was owned by the Elizabeth Arden Corp in the 50’s, and was developed to be a beauty retreat.
1620 S Indian Trail, Palm Springs, CA 92264
If you want to stay on the other side of town, a great option is the Villa Royale. It has a classic, fun, vintage vibe and a great breakfast. They have a nice private pool, a partnership with the spa next door if you need a massage, an intimate restaurant and bar onsite. It is adults only, so make sure to leave the kids at home.
Built in 1947, the recently remodeled hotel decor is colorful and eclectic, and the rooms are huge and surprisingly quiet. Overall a romantic and laidback vibe, perfect for a couple’s getaway or quiet solo journey.
Where to Eat:
73-061 El Paseo #172, Palm Desert, CA 92260
This is not your typical steakhouse – this is a creative, modern and sophisticated coastal kitchen (in the desert!). They havethe best chicken and waffles ever: imagine a fluffy waffle, perfectly fried yet juicy chicken, smothered in a rich and tangy butter buffalo sauce. Absolute perfection.
They also have a pretty good happy hour, raw bar and to die for dessert options. They make their tortillas from scratch and use mostly local to California ingredients. Their wine & beer list is diverse, and they serve fun cocktails, like their take on a whiskey sour made with freshly smashed blueberries and Old Forester Bourbon.
73-130 El Paseo Suite M, Palm Desert, CA 92260
Maybe you’ve been shopping all day and you’re craving something truly flavorful with a lively atmosphere and perfect margaritas. Located in the Shops on El Paseo, Mole favors reimagined traditional Mexican flavors, blending contemporary techniques with locally grown produce and Mexican culture.
The Roasted Beef Bone Marrow Elote is out of this world, and the Skirt Steak Tampiqueno is so tender and flavorful. The blood orange mezcal margaritas are to die for, and the house made churros stuffed with goat’s milk carmelo will hit the sweet spot.
Where to Play:
200 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
If you go to one spa on your visit to Palm Springs, you have to go to the Spa at Sec-He. Owned by, cared for and protected by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Spa at Sec-He incorporates respect and love for the natural resource of hot springs with state of the art, elegant facilities. The word Sec-He refers to the hot springs, and literally means “the sound of boiling water”.
The spa’s location on the hot springs is the original site that attracted people from all over the world to what eventually became Palm Springs. In the 1950s, the Agua Caliente tribe entered into a 99 year lease agreement with a developer to build a spa. In 2015, the Tribal Council did a huge renovation of the property to update the 1950’s infrastructure to protect the hot springs, and then added the Gathering Plaza, the Museum, and the Oasis Trail.
There’s fascinating history to discover alongside the 73,000 square feet of gorgeous spa, so make sure you check out the cultural center and museum while you’re there. At the spa, there are 22 private mineral baths, a cold plunge, countless treatment rooms, incredible massages, saunas, locally sourced food, a fitness center and more. You could really spend the entire day here trying different rooms and experiences.
It’s so serene and luxurious, the surroundings so beautiful and clean. The spa provides you with everything you need from a robe and a locker to aromatic shampoo and even sunblock. We also highly recommend enjoying the delicious Strawberries and Cream Smoothie by the pool.
1 Tramway Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262
If you want to see the incredible natural beauty of the desert, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will blow your mind. It’s the world’s largest rotating tram car, and takes visitors on a ten minute ride up the cliffs of Chino Canyon through Mt. San Jacinto State Park. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take the tram one way and hike the other, and really take in the view from the ground and the air.
The disparity in temperatures from the bottom to the top is crazy – even if it’s 110 degrees in the desert below, it will be chilly on the mountain. When you get up there, you can choose to hike around, enjoy one of the two restaurants, and a gorgeous observation deck.
Desert X is a site-specific, contemporary art exhibition that takes place in the Coachella Valley of Southern California, showcasing large-scale installations set against the dramatic desert landscape. Held every two years since its debut in 2017, Desert X invites international artists to create thought-provoking works that explore themes such as climate change, indigenous rights, social justice, and the environment.
The exhibits are found using GPS coordinates from the Desert X website and all within driving distance of Palm Springs. The open-air format allows visitors to experience art in unexpected and immersive ways—from mirrored structures blending into mountain ranges to sculptures rising from arid sandscapes. Free and open to the public, Desert X merges the natural beauty of the desert with powerful artistic expression, drawing art lovers, photographers, and cultural travelers from around the world.
Palm Springs is a great place to relax at the hot springs, have a massage, get in touch with nature, and stay at a funky boutique hotel. There’s a ton of great food, the most beautiful sunsets you will ever see, and there are often incredible festivals like the Palm Springs Film Festival or Modernism Week in October, where you can really dive into the midcentury modern architecture and vintage culture in the area. Despite the plethora of things to do, it still has a casual, relaxing and laid back energy that really lends itself to a spa vacation. Enjoy!