With all of it's brightly-colored mod architecture, cute cafes and palm tree lined streets- there's no question as to why Palm Springs has stood out as a fashionable destination for design lovers. Palm Springs Frequenter- Kristen Harkey takes us on one hot ride to California's charming little desert town.

Palm Springs has got to be one of the best places on this planet. I go at least once a year to get my fix. As a California native, the ocean has always been at my doorstep, which we all take for granted but when it comes time for a change in scenery Palm Springs always calls my name. With all the endless relaxation, great food, delicious cocktails and a great place to escape and catch some rays, how can I not be drawn to this desert paradise?

This small California town first came to light as "Hollywood's desert playground" where A-list celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope (to name few) would come to relax and escape from their constant showbiz hustle. These Hollywood elites began buying homes in the area and adding their own modernist flair thus making Palm Springs the iconic destination it is today. Drawing people in from all over the world- Palm Springs stands out as a fashionable city that embraces and preserves it's midcentury-architectural style and timeless elegance. Today, Palm Springs and the area surrounding it brings in even more attention with their very own famous music festivals- Coachella and Stagecoach, which take place in the Spring time.

So whether you are heading to Palm Springs for a music festival or just want a relaxing vacay filled with lots of sunshine and cold refreshments- here is my Palm Springs City Guide filled with all the best places in town that are well worth the drive (or flight).

Getting There

Although Palm Springs does have it's own tiny airport, flights in and out of there can be fairly expensive so I highly recommend driving. If you are traveling from outside of California and want to get there fast then flying is the best option for you. However, if you're feeling those road trip vibes then I would say Los Angeles (LAX) is the best airport to fly into then rent a car and drive yourself 2 hours to the east.

Driving From Los Angeles

As a local Californian I will tell you navigating the highways can be quite a challenge with traffic, especially getting out of LA so it is best to leave before or after the rush hour (typically 3-7PM in LA on the weekdays).

Definitely look up the best way to get to your final destination through an app like Waze when planning your route to Palm Springs. Many times other map apps can offer a whole lot of options that can take you on really windy roads that are scary and not recommended for those with weak stomaches. Or you can navigate the old fashioned way and trust my written directions-

From LAX: Head North on the 405 freeway, head east on the interstate 10 freeway, take a nice shortcut through the 60 highway (stay going east) which will then land you right back onto the 10 freeway and take you straight into Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Indio/Coachella Valley.

DO

What exactly is there to do in the extremely hot desert you ask? Well...a little bit of everything! You may be a little surprised to find out that there is actually a lot you can do in Palm Springs. A lot of people come to Palm Springs to relax but if relaxing by the pool isn't your thing there are plenty of other options such as- golf on some of the best courses in California, go vintage shopping, explore the art, check out the cutely designed mid-century houses, or even bike your way around the city. Whatever your niche, I'll bet Palm Springs probably has it.

Did someone say pool?

Almost year round it is very hot and dry in the desert. Even during the winter the heat sticks around for the most part during the day, although it will get very chilly at night. I would say the best time to adventure is either in the early morning or later in the afternoon when it is not the prime heat of the day. Enjoy the pool while the sun is at it's hottest (typically 12PM-4PM) so you stay cool! Important tip: Make sure to constantly reapply sunscreen and wear a hat or move into the shade when you feel overheated. Oh and drink lots of water and maybe even treat yoself to a cocktail- this will definitely help cool you down!

EXPLORE!

Don't be afraid to drive around or even bike around the city and explore! Even simply stopping on the side of the road to get an iconic photo of the ginormous windmills with the scenic background is fun. I personally like to pull over to check out all of the different cacti and succulents growing everywhere. Not to mention getting around Palm Springs is easy because the roads are flat.

A visit to #Thatpinkdoor

Palm Springs is known for it's adorable mod architecture. While walking around you will notice every house is different and most of the homes even have their own little touch. For example- a pink door!

This mod desert home clad with a Peptobismol-pink door is definitely a Palm Springs classic. The house even has it's own Instagram hashtag, which makes it trendy, right?

The house is located near The Ace Hotel but the exact address where you can find this lil cutie is at: 1100 East Sierra Way in South Palm Springs

Visit Moorten Botanical Garden

I've been to Palm Springs more than a handful of times and accidentally coming across Moorten Botanical Garden was by far one of my favorites of the many treasures Palm Springs has to offer. I highly recommend stopping here if you can.

The Garden is a close walk from The Ace Hotel. Admission is $5 for adults but well worth the walk along windy maze filled with cacti, succulents and the endless array of desert foliage ranging in all shapes, sizes and origin!

The best part, especially for those Instagram opportunists is the cactarium. Nothing like you've ever seen before- a greenhouse encompassed only with different types of cactus breeds. And the bonus? The lighting is to die for. The light is disemminated but considering it is bright in the desert almost year round you are always in good time for some killer lighting!

They also have an adorable greenery shop at the end with affordable prices ranging from $3-$10 so you can bring home your own little prickly friend!

Attend a music festival

Like you actually need an excuse to go to Palm Springs right? But if you are looking for one- a music festival like Coachella or Stagecoach are definitely a great way to escape. Enjoy your morning by the pool and then rally your friends mid-day to shuttle over to Coachella Valley and enjoy a line-up of musicians worth bragging about.

I'm personally not a Country Music fan but I've heard great things about Stagecoach from friends that have gone. I personally have been to Coachella 5 times so my days of camping are over. I definitely prefer the relaxing vibes of having a hotel room to go to at the end of the night.

SHOP

There's a ton of really great vintage shopping in Palm Springs. Head to The Frippery for some cute and curated vintage clothing or walk down Historic Palm Canyon Drive where you find plenty of boutique like shops in the heart of downtown Palm Springs.

EAT

Palm Springs knows what they are doing when it comes to food. Over time I have witnessed the transition they have made to really up their game in the restaurant industry. I will say with conviction that brunch is definitely a Palm Springs favorite- there are a lot of great options!

Cheeky's

Cheeky's is the town favorite but there is always a long line to even get your foot in the door. Last time I was there the wait was well over 2 hours and with my overwhelming need to eat ASAP, I never made it in. I could see why there is a long line though- anyone with a menu that offers "flights of bacon" are well worth waiting for.

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Jake's

Jake's next door to Cheeky's is also good for brunch, they also serve up some delicious varieties of bacon to tease the pallet. I tried the pesto and maple bacon, which were both delicious. The service was also really great, the wait staff were very friendly and the food did not disappoint.

Birba

I haven't been but I have also heard that Birba is really tasty. They serve up variations of flatbread pizzas with interesting toppings so I know I will check this place out the next time I am in town.

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For the Caffeine addicts

If you are looking for a rad coffee joint- KOFFI is the spot. KOFFI has a couple of locations around Palm Springs but I went to the one right next door to The Ace. Brewing up small batch roasts and serving up some interesting coffee concoctions- this place is definitely worth the drive.

DRINK

Just like their food game is strong, so are their cocktails. Here are some of the places I got to drink at that are worth checking out:

El Jefe

Did someone say Tequila?! El Jefe is a very quaint yet super quirky and laid back tequila bar located at The Saguaro (the rainbow hotel). If you enjoy a well-crafted margarita like I do, this is your spot!

The Ace Hotel and Swim Club

I really enjoyed coming here. The bar inside was super hip and mod but there was no one in there since everyone was outside enjoying the pool! The bartender kindly transferred our cocktails into plastic cups and we headed to the just as amazing outdoor area! I really enjoyed the laid-back vibes here and though I didn't get a chance to try the food it sure looked and smelled delicious.

STAY

There are many great hotel options in Palm Springs. Palm Springs is more of the 20-something crowd and tends to have more pool parties and late night shenanigans. If you are looking for more pure relaxation I would head up the freeway 20 minutes to Palm Desert which is more family friendly and resort vibes. Or if you want to personalize your stay, Palm Springs has some super rad Airbnb's you can find!

The Ace

As I mentioned earlier, The Ace is very laid back and has a good vibe. This place is exploding with photo opportunities. Definitely recommended for the IG goers. On the weekends they have a lot of events such as bands and DJ's by the pool as well as pop-up shops. The energy here is great, the staff is always friendly and the people watching is a plus- overall a great time.

I recommend booking a patio room, which has a fireplace built in. If you don't stay here you can still pay for their day club which is about $10 to get in for the day and use their pool facilities which includes full access to their pool bar, which of course is a must!

The Saguaro.

This hotel also known as "The Rainbow Hotel" is adorable in it's own super quirky and fun way. It's definitely more of a party hotel on the weekends but is also right in the middle of everything in Palm Springs and super easy to get to the places listed above.

I mean every square inch of this place is colorful and cute. So many photo opps.

PALM DESERT

Palm Desert is definitely more on the luxurious side but is still a great place to relax and do absolutely nothing in, which is sometimes kind of the point right? Just like Palm Springs there are also a lot of great places to stay in Pam Desert.

JW Marriott Palm Desert

I have stayed here a handful of times and it definitely does not disappoint. It is definitely priced on the higher side but the value of what you are getting in return is top notch. You literally never have to leave the resort while you are here, it has everything you need. The property has sweeping views of the Valley and you can even take a cute and free gondola ride in their man-made river that runs throughout the resort (even in the lobby!)

A post shared by JW Marriott Desert Springs (@desertsprings) on Oct 5, 2017 at 4:16pm PDT

La Quinta Resort and Club

I stayed here for work a few years back. La Quinta is definitely an impressive resort, however, it is very quiet. The staff is very friendly and they serve up some great food but in my opinion not really my cup of tea. Maybe when I am older and retired I will enjoy it more! It is a beautiful property though but it is definitely catered towards couples and corporate events.

TIPS

Chill out babes you're in relaxation land! But also this-

Pack the Least You Can

It will be hot! So you really won't need much. Take a backpack or a small roller bag with a bathing suit (or two), maybe a few dresses and a sweater to keep you warm at night. Of course don't forget the sunscreen and face protection! You shouldn’t need much more for your time relaxing by the pool and exploring the desert.

*If you plan to adventure- don't wear white! The desert is the desert so if the wind picks up the dust will get you very dirty.

Have nowhere to go, nowhere fast?

If there is one place you are going to ask for an extended check-out time at a hotel, Palm Springs is the place to do it! Most hotels are pretty accommodating, especially in a nice place like Palm Springs. They want you to leave wanting to come back so almost always you can squeeze an extra hour or two (or three) into your check-out time and use those valuable hours by the pool for one last tanning sesh before you hit the road.

If you're looking for me I'll be by the pool sippin' on my Pina Colada. But not to worry, I will never desert you ;)

Been to Palm Springs? Tell us about your favorite spots in the comments below!

Spotlight Destination: Palm Springs, Baby!