Palm Springs - The Perfect Destination for a Weekend Getaway
Being based in Los Angeles, Palm Springs is one of our favorite destinations for a quick weekend getaway. It’s generally known to be a very family friendly, pet friendly, romantic, and relatively affordable spot with lots of great food offerings (and accommodating to a multitude of dietary preferences!) and tons of Mid-Century Modern design and architecture. It’s an awesome place to relax and unwind away from the city, and it’s only a quick 3 hour drive! Dave and I have visited many times, for special occasions, and for no occasion at all except that we wanted to enjoy the warm desert climate and lounge by a pool! We’ve stayed in a ton of different hotels there, ranging from more moderate to very high end, and from party vibes to quiet and romantic vibes. ⛱
Here are some of our most memorable stays:
Parker Palm Springs ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - This spot is ultra luxe and ultra cute! This place feels very private, with a small pool, giant chess set, and a spot to play Petanque. It’s also dog friendly! I enjoyed their lemonade and lemony color scheme. The bungalows are delightfully decorated as well as romantic. Cons: This place is expensive and can attract a somewhat pretentious clientele.
Dream Home Vacation Rentals, Luxe Farmhouse, Indio ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - If you want to get away for a private, poolside retreat, this is the way to do it! Avoid the crowds and noise and book a private vacation rental with all the amenities (games, grill, pool, upscale furnishings, romantic vibe)! The downside is, this property isn’t dog friendly, so you’ll have to leave the pup at home, but if you want to really unplug, this is your chance to do it! Bonus: This very spacious rental can accommodate a large extended family, perfect for a family get-together or gathering of friends, which is also helpful for cost-sharing purposes. This luxe rental isn’t cheap!
Casa Cody Bed and Breakfast ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 - We booked this place last minute when we needed a place to stay in Palm Springs the night before an early morning photoshoot in the desert. We were blown away by it’s charm! With a small, private pool, a quiet atmosphere, and romantic, private bungalows, this place checked all of our boxes! It’s also dog friendly!
The Saguaro Palm Springs ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️💫 - Dave LOVED this spot, I did not. It is certainly cute, with it’s colorful decor, and is conveniently located near the main-drag with bike rentals for getting around, has a spacious pool, and is dog friendly. But, the dog friendly rooms and the hospitality at the front desk left a bit to be desired, and the pool was a bit rambunctious for my taste. This is a great spot to go if you’re looking for a loud party weekend! During the summers they book a DJ on Saturday afternoons and the pool will be filled with co-eds on floaties sipping boozy beverages. 🦩
Best Western Plus Las Brisas ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - We stayed here on Coachella weekend, so while we spent the majority of our time at the festival instead of the hotel, we did really enjoy the pool, and they had an excellent breakfast buffet!
Palm Mountain Resort and Spa ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - Dave and I came here for a quick, last-minute getaway. Being freelancers, we sometimes lose track of the calendar, which was the case on this particular weekend, when we decided on an impromptu trip not realizing it was a holiday weekend! Most of the hotels were either booked solid or very pricey, but this place checked the box for our only requirement - a pool. The pool was nice; a bit crowded, but again, was a very hot holiday weekend. The room was a bit outdated, but the staff was very friendly, and the hotel was very centrally located, walking distance to some great restaurants!
While we usually spend our time in/around Palm Springs just relaxing or sipping drinks by the pool, greater Palm Springs has lots to offer as far as sightseeing and recreational activities go!
Things to do around Palm Springs:
Hiking/Recreation/Sightseeing/Natural Wonders:
Coachella Valley Preserve
Joshua Tree National Park
Indian Canyons
Tahquitz Canyon - waterfall oasis!
Painted Canyon
Desert Hot Springs - get a day pass to one of the local spas!
Tourist Attractions:
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens - you can feed a giraffe!
Cabazon Dinosaurs - stop for a roadside photo but skip the Creation Museum
Shopping:
Be sure to check out the many art galleries, antique shops, and furniture stores!
Roadtripping destinations nearby:
Salton Sea
Salvation Mountain
‘Palms to Pines’ Scenic Byway 74 to Idyllwild
As a reminder, most of the year it's pretty hot here, so be sure to bring proper proper foot protection for your dogs! The desert flora in and around Joshua Tree tends to be spiky and problematic for doggy and human feet (no flip flops!). Even if you don’t plan to do any hiking or outdoor activities, please don’t underestimate just how hot the hotel grounds and sidewalks will be! The Saguaro has fake grass/turf around the pool area, which gets very hot and can easily burn a dog’s paws, and even just a quick walk from the parking lot to your room or along the strip for dinner or a Starbucks run could be very dangerous for a dog without boots. Boone doesn't love wearing his shoes, but he appreciates keeping his paws protected and he looks darn cute wearing them! And everybody loves a stylish pup! 🐶
And of course, it wouldn’t be a proper Palm Springs vacay if we didn’t indulge in some delicious eats!
Some of our favorite Palm Springs restaurants:
Giuseppe’s Pizzeria - Delicious Italian food (including vegan and gluten free options!), great service, and a dog friendly outdoor patio. This is a popular spot during the dinner so either make a reservation or be patient if it’s a bit crowded.
L’Olivo - Italian and Seafood with gluten free options! Romantic, cozy atmosphere with old-school, Italian mom and pop vibes.
Great Shakes - This spot is the cutest dessert spot and is very popular - guaranteed to have a long line - so don’t come starved! They’ve got a zillion flavors to choose from, including vegan options. The shakes come with a mini donut around the straw - perfect for highly Instagrammable photos!
Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill - This unassuming little dinner spot serves delicious meals and has huge portion sizes! You’ll be leaving stuffed! The patio is dog friendly, and the margaritas are delicious. Expect it to be busy!
FARM - Cute and healthy spot for brunch with outdoor seating (dog friendly!).
Lulu - We like this spot for brunch or dinner. The space is indoor-outdoor, open air vibes, with misters on the patio to keep you cool. They have vegan options, lots of drinks, and delicious crepes! Dogs are allowed on the patio.
Are there are great Palm Springs restaurants, hotels, or activities you’ve loved but we’ve missed?! Send us your favorite recommendations so we can check them out on our next trip to Palm Springs! Cheers to adventures! 🌴
