One of the reasons why we live in California and especially in the South is the biodiversity of this State.  In theory, one can visit the beach, the snowy mountains and the desert all on the same day. In January and April, we always try to spend a few days in Palm Springs.  Activities abound in this magical oasis of the California Mojave desert. Two hours away from Los Angeles, this small locale used to be the refuge of the Hollywood stars.  They were under contract with their studio and could not be more than two hours from Hollywood.
Today, the capital of glamor has become a paradise for golfers in a vintage setting and gay culture.  As in a movie set, the city carries you to the era of Sinatra.  Everything seems a little retro in a weird way with pastel colors.  It attracts lovers of heat, but the climate varies between purgatory and pleasant.  Between October and May, it’s beautiful and hot, and the temperatures range between 23 and 30 degrees C with a cool breeze at night.
The City attracts lovers of heat, but the climate varies and is pleasant.  Between October and May, it’s nice and hot, and the temperatures range between 23 and 30 degrees C with a cool breeze at night.

The Palm Springs area includes the following cities: Palm Springs,  Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Coachella, Indio, Palm Desert, and Rancho Mirage.

Palm Springs is a mythical city in Southern California.  An oasis-like green setting located in the heart of the Coachella Valley.  It’s close to Los Angeles and its registered 354 days of sunshine per year.  From the 1920s to the 1960s, the cream of the Hollywood stars vacation in Palm Springs.

In the middle of this desert of blinding brightness, they built haciendas in Spanish colonial style and modernist houses by young architects whose names were still unknown such as Lloyd Right, Frey, Neutra.  These incredible achievements are a part today of the architectural richness of the city whose atmosphere seems frozen in time.

Frank Sinatra’s back yard in his Palm Springs California holiday home.

The fashion of the vintage has remained.  Today, we explore Chino Canyon; a neighborhood hung on the hillside that was the experiment laboratory of modernism.

We can visit homes of the stars of architecture like Twin Palms for example, where the home of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner is located.

Several hotels “mid-century” embark you on this journey in time.  In the city center, they display the ritual pool in the middle of a patio and colorful furniture of the 1950s.

This ancient and fascinating oasis is nestled in the hills of Cahuillas tribal land. Open to the public, you can hike in the many lush oases.

The geometry of the city is simple, and it is easy to walk.  All activity is concentrated around two main arteries where the vintage shops, art galleries, and specialty antiques abound.  The tourist season extends from January to May when temperatures are milder.

The surroundings of the city also deserve a visit, including the Indians Canyons, former land of the Cahuillas Indians.

Many hikes are organized in the midst of colorful landscapes.  The cable car that climbs Mount San Jacinto and Joshua National Park offers impressive views of this mosaic intertwined with 120 manicured golf courses whose green contrasts with the desert sand and the purple of the canyons.

Downtown Palm Springs California is lively with shops, restaurants, pubs, bars, art museums and plenty of sunshine.

The cable car that climbs Mount San Jacinto and Joshua National Park offers impressive views of this mosaic intertwined with 120 manicured golf courses whose green contrasts with the desert sand and the purple of the canyons.

If you like shopping, Just Fabulous is one of my favorite stores.  The well-organized gift shop presents fresh pieces from Jonathan Adler (a local half god who designed the Parker Palm Springs).  Another one of my favorite stores is Rifle Paper Co.  It’s one of those places where wants to buy everything.

Trina Turk flagship store is located in Palm Springs, but while I appreciate his colorful caftans, the other store next door to is more my thing.  On the other hand, I really want to buy this Chair shell on the left.

Palm Springs has many varieties of restaurants.  If you are a vegetarian and you like fresh dishes and organic salads, you’ll be in your element at the Palm Greens Cafe.

Palm Springs shopping is fabulous. The statue is of singer Sonny Bono, the former mayor and congressman of Palm Springs.

Everyone loves Cheeky, and now I understand why.  The décor is trendy, and burgers are delicious.  The mist has a smell of spa, and they serve Blue Bottle coffee that is perfect down to the last drop.  There are always lines, but Monday at 11:00, we only waited 15 minutes.

Koffi, a local coffee roaster, makes an amazing latte.  I still dream about it, and I’d love to have one now.  We stopped again before leaving.  Just behind, there is a small garden where you can enjoy your coffee next to a metal statue of Don Quixote.

If you like to eat classic subs (hoagies as they are called in New Jersey), the Sandwich Spotis the only place in Southern California that can make a sandwich of the same quality on this side of the country.  They also sell Izze sodas, which are delicious natural sodas.

Yet the King’s Highway restaurant at the Ace Hotel serves excellent burger and the chicken sandwiches.

Norma’s restaurant of the Parker Palm Springs transports me to Los Angeles.  The chocolate shakes with coconut, and chocolate nuts are fantastic.

Hadley Date Shake in Palm Springs for your California Vacation and Holiday

Before leaving Palm Springs and if you like dates, a stop at Hadley to enjoy a date shake is mandatory.  Hadley is a roadside store that sells snacks from their own orchards.

If you want to visit Palm Springs, remember off-season prices are very interesting, and the hotels reduce prices of the rooms.

Below you will find some exciting events in Palm Springs.