Your Guide to a Perfect 3-day Weekend in Palm Springs
Palm Springs is built on vacation-in-the-sun vibes, dating back to the 1920’s when Hollywood stars flocked to the desert valley. Here’s how to experience your own classic Palm Springs getaway.
Relax by the pool
Pack your most glamorous swimwear, oversized hat, and sunglasses. Lounging by the pool and sipping a cocktail is a quintessential Palm Springs activity. Most hotels and vacation rentals have pools, but you can purchase day passes for several pools and spas.
The courtyard pool at the Villa Royale
The Villa Royale offers an adults-only experience at this beautiful Spanish colonial-style 1940s hideaway. A day pass is $35 to enjoy the pool in the central courtyard. Be sure to stop by the Del Rey restaurant just off the courtyard for a menu of delectable and elevated tapas served amid plush decor.
Casa Cody, the oldest operating hotel in Palm Springs, offers access to its intimate pool and hot tub for $30 per adult. Enjoy craft cocktails and views of the bougainvillea and San Jacinto mountains while you soak in the sun.
For a truly unique and elevated experience visit the Spa at Sec-he - the only hot springs accessible within Palm Springs. Located on tribal lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the mineral water coming from this aquifer is estimated to be 12,000 years old! The spring’s name, Sec-he, means “the sound of boiling water” in the Cahuilla language. Both the spring and the waters are considered sacred, serving as a connection to the spiritual world.
A weekday pass is $125 (weekends are $145) and includes all the spa amenities, from an outdoor mineral pool and lounge to private mineral baths, cold plunge, menthol sauna, and salt caves.
Head to Desert Hot Springs, just 20 minutes north of Palm Springs, for more than a dozen inns and spas built around naturally occurring hot mineral water. Two Bunch Palms, The Spring Resort & Day Spa, and El Morocco Inn & Spa all offer day passes.
Get outside!
Far more than sand and cacti, Palm Springs is brimming with natural beauty. Nestled against the majestic San Jacinto mountains, stark and colorful rock formations tower over native plants, palm trees, burbling streams, and even waterfalls.
Getting into nature is surprisingly easy. Several of the most popular hiking trails are minutes from downtown. The famed “Cactus to the Clouds” trail, which leads to the top of the San Jacinto mountains, is accessed by the Palm Springs Art Museum, a block behind the downtown strip.
Tahquitz Falls are accessed via the Tahquitz Canyon trail, an easy 1.8-mile loop, just 3 minutes south of downtown. Hikers are rewarded with beautiful views and chilly waters at the 60-foot-high waterfall. The trail and falls are located on tribal lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Visitors enter at the trailhead visitors center. Admission is $12. The waterfall flows seasonally in the winter and spring.
Explore the scenic beauty of nearby Indian Canyons on horseback. Schedule a guided ride through Smoke Tree Stables. Wranglers lead visitors on a trail ride over a mountain ridge and through a stream in the palm tree oasis.
Take precautions and plan appropriately when hiking in the desert! Consider hiking early in the morning or after the heat of the day. Carry plenty of water. Hats and sunscreen are also a good bet, considering most trails have little or no shade.
Get high!
High above the city, that is! Ride the famous aerial tramway from the desert floor, 6,000 feet up to the pristine wilderness of the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Experience breathtaking views of the city and the entire valley on a ten-minute journey in the cable car up to the mountain station.
Every rider enjoys unobstructed views as the tram cars slowly rotate 360 degrees. At the top, you’ll find observation decks, a cantina for quick meals and snacks, a sit-down restaurant, a small natural history museum, a documentary theater, and over 50 miles of hiking trails.
Be sure to check the weather before you go and pack a light jacket or coat to be safe. It’s typically 30-40 degrees cooler than the desert floor! Depending on the season, you may even find snow at the top of the tram!
For a truly magical experience, plan your ride up the tram a few hours before sunset. Spend a couple of hours exploring at the top, then ride back down as the sun sets and the city lights begin to shine.
PS. If you’re looking for a different kind of high…. There are about half a dozen cannabis shops in the downtown area ready to serve you.
Explore downtown and take in the vibrant arts scene
Palm Springs prides itself on a colorful, energetic arts scene. Stroll the downtown area to view rotating public art installations, the graffiti yard, sculptures, and murals. Snap a photo in front of the giant Marilyn Monroe statue, pose by the ‘PS I Love You’ sculpture, and channel your inner Instagram model in front of the colorful wings by Juniper Table.
Experience a different side of downtown Palm Springs after dark, especially during Village Fest. Every Thursday night from 6:00 PM—10:00 PM, the entire downtown strip is closed to vehicles, and hundreds of tents and tables spring up in a combined craft fair/farmers market. Grab dinner or a tasty snack at one of the food trucks and stroll through blocks of unique gifts, artwork, clothing, and other offerings. Dogs are welcome, but expect a lively scene and crowded streets.
Treat your tastebuds
Bring your appetite! This city is graced with many excellent restaurants. For brunch, check out Farm, beloved for its refined menu and gorgeous sprawling garden-like patio. Boozehounds and Cheeky’s are also great brunch options that earned mentions in the Michelin Guide. Other Michelin picks: Tac/Quila, upscale Mexican cuisine from the Jalisco region; The Colony Club, inside the historic Colony Palms Hotel; and Workshop Kitchen + Bar, recipient of a 2015 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant Design.
To finish your dinner and satisfy your sweet tooth, try another local specialty, the date shake. Popularized by nearby date tree farms, many ice cream shops offer this classic desert dessert. For a fun take on the date shake (and a library list of other crazy milkshakes), try Great Shakes downtown.
