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You don’t have to be from Los Angeles to take a weekend trip to Palm Springs. After all, January often requires a sunny jaunt to stave off the winter blues. But with a quick turnaround, planning your two-day trip to the area can feel like more trouble than it’s worth. Enter our streamlined itinerary. Half a day can be allotted for an architecture tour, a garden visit, and a hike, respectively. Stay in one of the area’s chicest hotels, where you can also dine to minimize the overall hassle. And for that final afternoon? Use it up on some well-deserved pool time. Who knows, when Coachella rolls around this year, you may opt to run away to Palm Springs instead.

When Hollywood stars were contractually restricted to a residential radius that allowed for spontaneous meetings, Palm Springs, just over 100 miles east, offered both escape and access, drawing A-list residents like Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra. Moneyed clientele met celebrated architects in an era when modernism was the rage, perfect for indoor-outdoor desert living, at least in winter when temperatures hovered in the balmy 70s. The city’s midcentury legacy has lately attracted a new generation of fans like Leonardo DiCaprio, who bought Dinah Shore’s 1963 Donald Wexler-designed house in 2014. The fashion designer Trina Turk was among the preservationists who enabled the Palm Springs Art Museum to convert a former 1961 bank into the new Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion. Though many travelers spend weeks reveling in Palm Springs modernism, surrounding communities from soak-centric Desert Hot Springs to Indio, site of the growing Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, expand the appeal of the valley, which, like the best midcentury modernist buildings here, effortlessly blends desert and design.

There are 9 cities that make up Greater Palm Springs: Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, each a little different but the hero is undoubtedly Palm Springs.

So in no particular order I now list some of the coolest things to do here…

Joshua Tree National Park

One of the biggest highlights is to take a few hours and drive out to see the remarkable Joshua trees, named for their reaching spiky leaves that the Mormon pioneers who found the place (after the Indians of course) thought reminded them of the Biblical Joshua finally arriving at the Promised Land. But as well as the trees are the extraordinary boulders that you can climb or just take endless photos of. Plan to spend a couple of hours just driving through so you have a bit of time to stop and take photos too. You need to pay $25 for a two-day car pass to the national park, or $80 for a year which gives you access to all the US national parks.

Pappy and Harriets in Pioneertown
On your way back from Joshua Tree, turn off to Pioneertown and plan to have a pint or a meal at this old saloon bar, Pappy and Harriets. It’s closed Tuesday and Wednesday, but at 5pm Monday when we arrived, there was a line out the door. It’s a big place too and live music is often played. They smoke meats out the back and the whole place was originally built as a movie set in the 1940s which is now a functioning little town.

There are 100 golf courses in Palm Springs!
Actually more than 100. If you’re a golfer check out this site palmsprings.golf/com to see all the courses, costs and book a tee time.

Try a date shake!
90% of all dates exported from the United States come from Palm Springs and if you want the best date shake in town, head to Shields Date Garden where they use date crystals and vanilla ice cream to make what is really dessert in a cup. A huge cup too for $5.95! It has a caramel kind of sweetness, or even a malt shake. Delicious!

Aerial tramway
Take a 4km ride in a rotating gondola up to 8,500 feet to the top of Mt. San Jacinto, along the Chino Canyon, where it’s 30 degrees cooler and even snows up here in winter. There’s a restaurant and bar up here and 60km of hiking trails. Or you can just take photos of the view and head back down. The ideal summer escape when temps in the city are up to 120 degrees!

Mid-century Modern architecture
The 1960s is still in full swing in Palm Springs and in February and October you can go into some of the best examples of these homes and twirl in circles at just how cool they are. The October event is the Fall Preview for the February event, but even that has become a 4-day event in itself with bus tours around the best neighbourhoods showcasing the 60s architecture and design and loads of exciting events including house tours.

But in February Modernism Week sees people coming from all over the world for the 11-day event which includes films, cocktail parties, lectures from architects and designers, double-decker bus tours so you can peer over the fences (!), and a nosey through some of the most amazing homes out here in the desert. Jump onto modernismweek.com for more info about what’s going on and to get your tickets. They sell out fast.

San Andreas fault line tour
This is a 1200 km fault that runs through the state of California on the edge of the Pacific Plate and North American Plate. But a tour is much more interesting than it sounds! I joined Bonnie of Desert Adventures in her bright red jeep. She’s a fascinating woman and utterly passionate about things like techtonic plates and snakes – which we had to be careful we didn’t step on. Actually we didn’t see any, much to my sadness. But there are rattlers out here, I know because Bonnie showed me photos.

These plates move against each other up to 30mm per year with no ill effects – unless you’ve built your house on top of it of course. But they’re about 120 years overdue for a big quake, she told me. I loved the edible leaves and berries out here from this salty grey leaf like a potato chip (below), to a the bitter taste of cresote to the seeds of the palm tree that the native Indians would use for all sorts of medicinal purposes and which I personally think scientists have a lot of catching up to do!

The 4000+ wind turbines
When you drive into Palm Springs from LA you are welcomed by what looks like a sculpture park of wind turbines. I’m a bit of a geek and was awfully excited to be able to take a tour and learn about the developing technology of these gigantic machines, all out here in the valley and built all over the world. These wind turbines generate up to 7% of California’s energy and can be centrally turned on and off. If you’re a geek like me, jump to windmilltours.com to book yourself a tour behind the fences!

If you want to check out what else is on the 9 cities including the iconic Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals, jump on to The Estate Palm Springs Rentals and book now.

Palm Springs’ modernist masterpieces are celebrated in this week’s fall preview but the mountain haven for the Hollywood set is worth a visit any time of year
In the early 1920s, Hollywood stars adopted Palm Springs as a place to escape the travails of Tinseltown. They were wowed by the fine weather, laid-back vibe and views of the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains – plus it was close enough to comply with the “two-hour rule” stipulating actors under contract had to be on call if needed by the studio. The Oasis Hotel, built in 1924-5 and designed by Lloyd Wright (son of Frank), led the way with its modernist design. More resorts, such as El Mirador, followed. Celebrities decided homes were more important than hotels, though, and along with now-revered architects – including Donald Wexler and Richard Neutra – concocted bold exteriors and sumptuous interiors. The MidMod Design Tour ($100pp) is a new architecture trip with designer Lyle Boatman that uses digital tablets to contextualise the tour. Palm Springs Mod Squad (from $70pp) offers an interiors tour, while Palm Springs Historical Society organises walking tours (from $20pp). Tours take in properties owned by Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Cher, Sammy Davis Jr and Leonardo DiCaprio. Rent a bicycle (Bike Palm Springs, from $23), pick up a guide at Palm Springs’ Visitor Center and visit at your own pace.

Palm Springs is undoubtedly my happy place. I’ll never forget my first time visiting this desert oasis. It was love at first mid-century modern home. And, no, it’s not because Leonardo Dicaprio lives here most of the year. Dripping in old Hollywood glamour, retro vibes and sunshine— Palm Springs is one of the best places to visit all year round. Whether you’re coming for a birthday weekend, bachelorette, couple rounds of golf, spa weekend, to party at Coachella, explore architecture (see: Modernism Week) or just want to soak up poolside—Palm Springs is a guaranteed incredible time. I can’t go a year without multiple visits to this place (which is gonna be hard now that I’m in New York City and not just a long drive or quick plane ride away from the Bay Area) because it’s just that good. I’ve rounded up the best places to stay, eat and drink in Palm Springs.

Palm Springs was a wellness destination as far back as the early 1900s (all that dry heat), before evolving into a glamorous, Hollywood, Halston-wearing escape in the ’50s and ’60s. These days, both sides of its personality remain strong, as you can tell from its mind-boggling collection of healthy restaurants, preserved mid-century buildings, and retro diners. But the area continues to evolve every year as new generations discover the charms of this playground in the desert. Which is exactly why we’ve had our eye on the recent crop of hotel, restaurant, and store openings. Palm Springs (and nearby Joshua Tree, Pioneer town, and Yucca Valley) is unlike any other place in the world. It’s hard to believe that this convergence of past and present and style and wellness is only a couple hours from LA—depending on traffic, of course.

In the southern part of California, there are two places that attract travelers from all over the world: the desert oasis of Joshua Tree and the vibrant town of Palm Springs. Joshua Tree and Palm Springs instantly bring warm feels to my heart. While these two locations are far from being similar to one another; experiencing them together is the perfect blend of tranquility and lively spirit.

Joshua Tree is like no other place I have ever visited. From the awestruck sunsets to the calming presence of the Joshua Trees, themselves. Joshua Tree is a place where your soul and nature become one. This place allows your dreams to come alive and lets all your passions come forth from your heart.

CALIFORNIA, NORTH AMERICA, PALM SPRINGS, UNITED STATES

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES YOU MUST INDULGE IN AT JOSHUA TREE AND PALM SPRINGS

In the southern part of California, there are two places that attract travelers from all over the world: the desert oasis of Joshua Tree and the vibrant town of Palm Springs. Joshua Tree and Palm Springs instantly bring warm feels to my heart. While these two locations are far from being similar to one another; experiencing them together is the perfect blend of tranquility and lively spirit.

Joshua Tree is like no other place I have ever visited. From the awestruck sunsets to the calming presence of the Joshua Trees, themselves. Joshua Tree is a place where your soul and nature become one. This place allows your dreams to come alive and lets all your passions come forth from your heart.

5 Unique Experiences In Palm Springs And Joshua Tree National Park

Palm Springs is the equalizer to Joshua Tree. It brings your body, mind and soul out of your calming state and into a state of energy, exuberance and playfulness. You come alive with the swaying palm trees and the colorful buildings. This town brings you back into the glitz and glam of when it was an escape for high-end celebrities like Cary Grant and Marilyn Monroe. The stars are alive in Palm Springs.

In both Joshua Tree and Palm Springs, there are amazing experiences awaiting you. It is my wish that you fall in love with these experiences just like I did, and you leave a little piece of your heart in these areas of southern California.

A mid-century desert marvel with two deep, saltwater pools, once a Westward Ho with a Denny’s, Ace Hotel & Swim Club has 179 rooms (some with patios and fireplaces), an organic spa, a roadside diner King’s Highway, a vintage photo booth and views of the mighty purple San Jacintos. There are fruit and flower trees everywhere and a relaxed California desert design ethos. You can attend events most nights, like DJ sets, drag trivia, the best bingo game night ever or comedy shows. Rent a bike and ride it downtown. Take a scooter to a show at Pappy & Harriet’s or, if you’re adventurous, all the way to the Integration or Joshua Tree or Leonard Knight’s technicolor Salvation Mountain. Or stay put and read a trilogy by the pool. The desert is home to freethinkers, wanderers, mystics and artists and The Ace has something for every single one of your personalities. Pro Tip: If you’re not staying here, definitely get a day pass for their pool one of the days. It’s not relaxing, but it’s great people watching and essentially a grown-up Vegas pool party (which is actually a lot better than it sounds).

Book The Estate Palm Springs and enjoy your stay.

Palm Springs, a city in the Sonoran Desert of southern California, is known for its hot springs, stylish hotels, golf courses and spas. It’s also noted for its many fine examples of mid century-modern architecture. Its core shopping district along Palm Canyon Drive features vintage boutiques, interior design shops and restaurants. The surrounding Coachella Valley offers hiking, biking and horseback riding trails.

Palm Springs is the perfect blend of mid century and modern. The city’s laid-back vibe and year-round perfect weather have enticed sun-seekers and celebrities for a century, and there’s something here for everyone, whether you’re looking to explore the city’s architectural history or discover your own private piece of paradise and soak in some rays (because nothing says chill like a cocktail in hand, Slim Aaron’s style, next to a sparkling pool).

Art & Culture
Downtown Palm Springs is a great place to start. Browse modern works by Picasso, Lichtenstein, and Warhol at the Palm Springs Art Museum; mingle over martinis at the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs, the only rooftop pool and bar in Greater Palm Springs; or slide into a booth at Johnny Costa’s and order the Steak Sinatra with linguine clams, a favorite of Ol’ Blue Eyes himself. You could spend an entire day just exploring Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District, a retail wonderland of vintage thrift stores and modern home and art furnishings.

Shop Local
The unique locally owned and operated businesses in Palm Springs are part of the charm and vibe that make this city such a popular place to visit. From tiki cocktail sets to architecture books, from caftan boutiques to classic mid-century furniture, this city has a high cool quotient. Uniquely Palm Springs Opens a New Window. lists the over 400 individually owned and operated places to play, stay, dine and shop.

Midcentury Modern
The city’s Hollywood roots still run strong, with the Palm Springs International Film Festival rolling out the red carpet each January (book a Palm Springs Celebrity Tour to visit the former homes of Golden Age screen sirens), while Palm Springs Modernism Week, held in February, fulfills every Mad Men fan’s dream with even more home tours, design lectures, and exclusive after-parties. Midcentury devotees will fall in love with the butterfly rooflines that dot the horizon and historic neighborhoods boasting more colorful, Instagram-worthy doors that you can count.

Outdoor Adventures
For the nature lover, outdoor adventure awaits in the Indian Canyons, where miles of trails meander through palm oases, across trickling mountain streams, and beneath crystal-clear waterfalls. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes you even higher up into the San Jacintos to experience breathtaking views of the valley floor below.

Located perfectly at 303 W. Via Escuela, The Estate boasts Instagram perfect spots throughout the property. With five bedrooms and four baths, there is enough space for any family or group looking for a desert oasis. Located in Palm Springs’ most sought-after Little Tuscany Neighborhood, Just three house off of Palm Canyon, the Estate is a quick 3 minute drive or 15 minute walk from fine dining and shopping.

Palm Springs sprouted into a resort destination in the early 20th century. Ever since, it’s been beckoning visitors with its arid landscape, golf courses, handsome midcentury vacation homes and excellent restaurant scene. While many will spend their weekend simply lounging by hotel pools, there are plenty of other things to do in Palm Springs. Seasonally, it becomes the epicenter of cool during Coachella and hosts highlights like the design-focused Modernism Week and the quirky Christmas light display Robolights. The oppressive heat keeps things pretty quiet in the summer, but no matter the time of year you can embark on fun home tours, visit botanical gardens and have loads of fun on one-of-a-kind tram rides if you just follow our very own guide.

• Take in the views aboard the Palm Springs Aerial TramwayTrek a couple of minutes onto Tramway Road as you roll into Palm Springs and you’ll come across this classic canyon-hugging gondola ride. Board a rotating car inside an angular 1963 station and after 10 minutes and a double-digit temperature drop, you’ll find yourself facing the entirety of the Coachella Valley below. Linger with a stop at the mountaintop restaurant, café or lounge, or hike deeper into the San Jacinto Mountains.
• Make a pit stop at the Palm Springs Visitors CenterEven if you don’t need any information from the official Palm Springs welcome center, this distinctive spot is worth a stop to admire its architecture. The Space Age structure opened in 1965 as a gas station. When Albert Frey and Robson Chambers’s retro design was slated for the wrecking ball in the ’90s, it was saved and turned into a visitors center.
• Feed a giraffe at the Living Desert Zoo & GardensTrue to its name, this zoo looks just like a living slice of the Sonoran Desert. Located a couple of miles outside of Palm Springs, the largely outdoor locale is broadly split into North American and African environments. Explore the grounds to find an assortment of wild cats and hoofed mammals, as well as giraffe feedings ($7) and camel rides ($6).
• Take flight at the Palm Springs Air MuseumThis air museum showcases primarily World War II as well as Korea- and Vietnam-era combat aircraft. You’ll find more than 40 flyable and static planes across three warehouses, from the B-17 flying fortress to the F-4 fighter jet, as well as a couple of aircraft on the tarmac, like the C-47 and PBY Catalina Flying Boat. The museum also offers a limited number of high-priced flights aboard the C-47 Skytrain and P-51 Mustang.
• Admire works at the Palm Springs Art MuseumThis mid-size museum houses a collection of contemporary paintings, sculpture and art glass from the likes of Henry Moore, Robert Motherwell and Helen Frankenthaler as well as West Coast artists like Sam Francis, Mark di Suvero and Edward Ruscha. Exhibitions often focus on the cultures and themes of the desert: Modernism, Native Americans and the American West. The museum also operates a satellite location in Palm Desert as well as an architecture and design center in downtown Palm Springs (both are free).
• Hike to a waterfall oasis at Tahquitz CanyonFlowing water? In the middle of the desert? Indeed, this two-mile loop leads to a 50-foot waterfall tucked into Tahquitz Canyon. The falls are located within the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians reservation, so you’ll need to pay a $12.50 admission fee. On the plus side, the fee keeps the trail impeccably maintained, unlike many of L.A.’s graffiti-filled waterfalls. Ranger-led hikes are also available.
• Look at prickly plants at the Moorten Botanical GardenThough only an acre in size, this botanical garden is packed with prickly varieties of cacti and other desert plants. The family-owned garden dates back to the 1930s and harbors more than 3,000 specimens of desert plants from around the world, grouped by region.
• Explore the massive estate at SunnylandsSunnylands, the former winter retreat for the wealthy Annenberg family and a popular summit space for decades of presidents, resides on a 200-acre plot of irrigated desert in Rancho Mirage. Though much of that space is occupied by a nine-hole golf course, 12 acres have been dedicated to public gardens and a visitor center with a rotating selection of artwork from the Annenberg collection. Tours of the mansion are available but regularly sell out months in advance.
• Pose in front of the Cabazon DinosaursThese 100-ton Brontosaurus and T. Rex sculptures once beckoned motorists on their way to Palm Springs to a 24-hour diner. Today, they guard the entrance to a Creationist-themed dino museum with an interesting take on the facts. At the very least, pose for a photo with Mr. Rex and walk into the gift shop housed inside Dinny the Brontosaurus’s belly.
• Window show at art galleries and antique and furniture storesYou can barely walk a block along Palm Canyon Drive without stumbling upon an eye-catching gallery, antique or furniture showroom. Palm Springs and midcentury modernism go hand in hand, and you’ll find plenty of galleries (notably a showroom from retro-inspired artist SHAG) and furniture stores dedicated to the jetsetting aesthetic.
• Take a DIY architecture tour through Tennis ClubPalm Springs is brimming with handsome midcentury modern homes. Keep in mind that most of these are private abodes, so you can’t exactly knock on the front door. But cruise around some notable neighborhoods, from Tennis Club to Araby Cove, and you’ll spot plenty or architectural gems along the way. Highlights include the Del Marcos Hotel, Elvis’s Honeymoon Hideaway and the Edris House.

Palm Springs Rentals –  Rent Luxurious Vacation Houses in Palm Springs.