Plan

Best time to GO: December - April

Both Delta and Sun Country fly non-stop from Minneapolis in October through April, and often those flights continue well into mid-May. Navigating the Palm Springs airport is quick and easy because it's tiny.  We were through the Hertz rental car line with our checked bags and sitting poolside at our airbnb within the hour.  Alternatively, you could fly into LAX early and spend the day at Universal Studios or request tickets to The Ellen Degeneres Show. The drive from LA to Palm Springs is only an 1.5 hours, but be mindful of when you hit the road to avoid heavy traffic.

Rtip: Easily search for the cheapest airfare through Momondo. We are mesmerized by their interactive map feature that displays airfares all around the world.

Learn

The city of Palm Springs is surrounded by the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains on the south, and the San Jacinto Mountains to the west. This unique geography gives Palm Springs its infamous warm and dry climate. Boasting an average of 354 days of sunshine and around only 6 inches of rain annually, its enviable temperatures make it the perfect winter getaway.

Stay

Family Friendly Options

Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs and nestled against the San Jacinto Mountains the Kimpton Rowan has spacious rooms, a gorgeous pool and all the extra amenities you’d want for kids. If you are looking to use up reward points we adore La Quinta Resort in nearby Palm Desert. You can read all about how and why in our post about the five best hotels to use your Hilton Honors Points, here.

Rtip: The 4Saints at Kimpton Rowan has a rooftop restaurant with a fantastic menu and great views. If you are looking for an insta-worthy photo op, stop and get your a picture in front of the colorful wings made by artist Collette Miller.

Airbnb Options

If you're traveling with older kids you may find it easier to rent a house and we suggest you consider this stunning, mid-century modern airbnb they call, The Butterfly House.  Friends of ours enjoyed a weekend recently at the outdoor fire pit, in the Jacuzzi, and playing poolside at the full size bocce court. Another great option (keeping with the naming trend) is The Flamingo House which is a little smaller, less expensive and equally amazing in it's location and amenities. It’s hard not to mention a third option when you consider, Mod Mesquite. This gem of a property boasts stylish furnishings and an awesome “walking distance” location to everything. I’m thinking girls trip, part two. If you are not set on staying downtown Palm Springs, consider booking a couple nights at one of the impeccably designed, spectacular airbnb properties, known as The Joshua Tree House / Casita / Hacienda. These homes are located just outside the west entrance to the National Park and present an affordable opportunity to experience fine desert living in a truly magical setting.

Explore

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway / website

Because temperatures between the valley floor and the top of the mountain vary drastically, locals often make this trek in the sweltering heat of the summer just to enjoy the 30-40 degree drop in temperature. The ten minute tram ride will take you 8,500 feet up the San Jacinto Mountains to a glorious, evergreen forest. We purchased our tram tickets when we arrived at the Valley Station, but you can also skip the line and buy them on-line. We only waited about a half an hour to load, but I am told during peak season and on the weekends, it can take hours. It's an exhilarating ride, with the tram rotating 360 degrees. At the top there are several dining options, although I suggest you bring your own snacks. There is also a lounge (that offers alcohol), observation decks and 50 miles of hiking trails through pristine wilderness. Because most people don't venture beyond the ramp outside the Mountain Station, the trails are relatively quiet. We chose the Desert View Trail, a 1.5 loop (god I love loops), an easy excursion that pays off with breathtaking views of the Coachella Valley. If you go in the off-season, bring a jacket.

Home Tours / Modernism Week

Moderism week (its really 11 days) is a celebration of mid-century modern architecture and the vintage desert culture. There are over 350 events surrounding the event, including self-guided home tours. Although we did not plan our visit around this popular celebration, we happily took the opportunity to get a peek inside few iconic homes and marvel at their unique design and decor. These tickets sell out fast, purchase them on-line and in advance.

Hiking Joshua Tree National Park / website

Mild Winter temperatures allowed us the opportunity to comfortably explore Joshua Tree National Park. On my last trip (See Roam Guide) the unseasonably warm temps, hovered around 100 degrees, making exploring the park (or anywhere really) more difficult. We left early morning from Palm Springs, entered the park at 29 Palms and starting our day hiking the Ryan Mountain Trail. This trail is steep, but reaching the summit gives you 360 degree views of the desert, the mountain ranges along the horizon, and the distinctive Joshua trees dotting the landscape. Post hike, we made a stop at the iconic Skull Rock formation and explored the surrounding area a bit. We exited the park at the West entrance, to hike 49 Palms Oasis. If your time is limited, this is a great option. It’s a three mile (round trip) trail that sits just outside the park, so it’s free. The trail follows sections of an old Native American pathway, climbing up/down 300 ft. before you descend into a beautiful palm grove that creates a welcome canopy of shade. From there, we headed into the town of Joshua Tree for a slice of pizza a Pie for the People and “the girls" browsed the fabulous vintage goodies at The End next door. We also stopped at The Station, a darling reclaimed 40's gas station to look at souvenirs and to buy local olive oil at the aptly named Wonder Valley Oil Shop that’s attached. Our adventures ended with a stop at Pioneertown, a wild west film set built in the 1940’s by Hollywood movie makers, with a four-block-long “Mane Street” that has cute shops and restaurants, like popular Pappy and Harriets.

Rtip: We missed it, but you shouldn’t, look for the World Famous Crochet Museum.

Hiking in Palm Springs 

We mentioned in our first Roam Guide that Indian Canyons offers several varied trail options through a lush oasis of amazing fan palms. The Tahquitz Canyon hike will take you on a two mile, easy loop to see a 50 ft waterfall for $12. Alternatively, you can hike for free and see the same waterfall from above on the South Lykken Trail, accessed before the entry to Indian Canyons. This moderate hike is 3.5 miles roundtrip, climbing 1,100 feet in elevation to a lookout. At the top you will be get an incredible birds eye view of Palm Springs, Mt. San Jacinto, and the Coachella Valley. Get there early for the best street parking, quiet trails ,and to avoid the hottest part of the day. In the wet season you will see gorgeous desert blooms blanketing the cliffs and if you're lucky you may get a glimpse of the endangered Peninsular Big Horn Sheep standing along the ridge line. If you prefer not to make this hike alone or want to learn more about Palm Springs and its unique landscape, I highly suggest booking with Hike Palm Springs. David and René are  experienced hikers and knowledgeable guides that turned our hike into a fantastic learning experience. Even my teens enjoyed it immensely, and that my friends says it all. 

Shields Date Garden / website

On Highway 111 just outside of Palm Springs a giant wooden knight appears, pointing travelers to the Shields Date Garden, one of the best-known roadside attractions in the area. Here you can sample all kinds of dates, and a variety of other snacks, purchase cheesy tourist stuff and order the popular Date Shake at their old-fashioned ice cream bar. We made the trek to try the shake, and it was good. Really good. You will see signs all over for Date Shakes, but this one is made from date crystals- a Shield's patented invention, making it what some consider the best around. It was a glorious 75 degrees and sunny so we took a walk around the property, shakes in hand. The Shields gardens are packed with giant palms, citrus trees, desert plants, water features and 20 life size statues documenting the life of Jesus. Yes, you heard me correctly. The magnitude and detail of this art installation, which came from a biblical garden in Vancouver, is a sight to see. 

Sunnylands / website

Speaking of historic home tours that sell out quickly, one of the properties I really wanted to see was the Sunnylands estate, built in 1966 for the Annenbergs (think TV Guide & The Saturday Evening Post). Considered the Camp David of the West Coast, the home tours sold out well in advance of our visit, but we did spend the afternoon strolling the grounds that are open to the public. In the center of the Sunnylands gardens is a large green space, with yard games and sports equipment available for anyone to use. After a very long and very dark Minnesota winter it felt spectacular to run around, on perfectly manicured grass, with the sun shining and the birds chirping. We even took our shoes off. 

Moorton Botanical Garden / website

Grab a map and take the trail through the Moorten Family's beautiful estate, thoughtfully landscaped with thousands of desert cacti and plants from all corners of the world. Don't forget to peek at the desert turtles, born on-site, and the Insta-famous "Cactarium", a quonset style greenhouse with an overflowing display of cacti. This place is worth a visit, or in my case, two. If you have younger kids or animal lovers with you, consider visiting the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, where you will find 450 species of animals in their natural habitat, along with immersive botanical gardens to explore. You can even sign up to feed a giraffe. 

Golfing

Before our trip I did some research on the best golf courses for beginners in the PS area. Although my husband and son can handle a more challenging  course, I wanted to make sure we could all go and not slow anyone down. Indian Palms Country Club and Resort, is a par three with 27 easy to moderate holes, and the condition of the course gets rave reviews. We never did go 'real' golfing, much to my husbands dismay, but we did have a fun game of miniature golf one evening, under the Palm trees at Boomer's.

Devour

Elmer's / website

Big menus and big portions, the all- day breakfast here is worth the trip. Order a German pancake and bacon, and if you are there for lunch the Prime Rib French Dip will seriously melt in your mouth. Perfect for families and teens with big appetites.  

Peninsula Pastries / website

Don't let the strip mall location turn you away, everything here is baked to perfection by the Parisian owners. We stopped in for some pastries to take on our road trip to Joshua Tree. The Chocolat Croissant and the Pecan twist were my favorites, but I suggest you sample as many as you can. Get there early, because, as with all good things, they just don't last. 

Jake's / website

Located in the Uptown Design District, Jakes’ offers huge portions of delicious food and attentive service. Go for brunch, sit on the the patio and sip on the Horseradish Bloody Mary. Alternatively, you can find more hearty, American food, just a few blocks down at John's Restaurant, recommended to us by locals, but unfortunately, we didn't have time to try. 

In & Out / website

If you are in California with teenagers, I believe you are required to stop at SoCal's iconic hamburger institution. Whether you're a fan or not, your kids can be the judge. If you want to try another local favorite, only open for lunch, check out Tyler’s Burgers.

Farm / website

We mentioned our love for brunch at Farm in our last Guide to Palm Springs, and nothing has changed. The Chicken and Waffles are still to die for, my husband says they are some of the best he's ever had and the savory crepes are heavenly. I think about both of them often. Not to mention the gorgeous garden setting, reminiscent of Southern France. They don't take reservations, so get there early. The next time I find myself in Palm springs for brunch, I plan on trying the Eggs Benedict at the popular Wilma & Freida's Cafe.  

La Perlita Mexican Food / website

This family-run eatery serves up delicious traditional Mexican fare, huge Margaritas and all the chips and salsa you want. Not only is  food is outstanding, the staff is accommodating and attentive. If you are in the mood to have lunch outside or by the pool, they make ordering to-go fast and easy. 

Rtip: If you can, make reservations for brunch or grab a drink at the Parker, another Palm Springs institution.

Take

A few great dresses, a belt bag and comfortable shoes for waking. If you plan to hike, you’ll need to wear appropriate footwear, lots of sunscreen and bring water — no matter what time of year you go, it’s the desert people. And, as always take a good book, this one opened my eyes and my heart.

Shop

We did a lot more shopping on our girls trip to Palm Springs, so if you’re interested in knowing where to find gifts, clothing boutiques and souvenirs check out the full PS Roam Guide here.

Palms Springs Vintage Market / website

Here we found row after row of vendors selling vintage, retro and mid-century modern merchandise. My daughter and I enjoyed the great selection of vintage clothing and jewelry, but there were antique treasures of all kinds. I only wish I had a way to bring more home with me. If you find yourself in Palm Springs the first Sunday of the month (October- May), you must take a walk through this unique treasure trove.  

Rearview

Next time we'll do some hiking at Coachella Valley Preserve, a 3,709 acre protected area, located east of Palm Springs.