When you think of planning an unforgettable trip to Southern California, the desert may not be at the top of your mind.
You’re probably thinking Los Angeles, San Diego, or perhaps some sleepy beach towns along Orange County’s pristine coastline.
But there’s one oasis 2 hours from San Diego that doesn’t get enough hype. Well, unless you’re hitting up Coachella.
Palm Springs is one of California’s best getaways for winter sun and offers so much more than way-too-crowded music festivals and Joshua Tree National Park, as great as it may be to explore.
With year-round t-shirt weather and classy hotels, consider a SoCal trip away from the beach.
Instead, picture yourself gazing up at palm trees and out toward the mountains from a plush resort pool.
Palm Springs: A Desert Haven Where Everybody Is Somebody
Ever driven through the desert? It can be a great road trip or a nerve-wracking experience. Truth be told,
I’m not sure I’ve ever panicked more than when the dreaded ‘add coolant’ light came on in the middle of nowhere on a 100+ degree day.
But hey, that’s a summer problem.
Winter is an incredible time to visit Palm Springs, as temperatures are far more tolerable in the 80s compared to summer’s 110-degree days.
Visiting now to February is beyond warm enough to enjoy scenic hikes, glimmering hotel pools, and trendy restaurant patios.
Palm Springs is home to a variety of hotels, from dingy roadside inns and vintage classics to 5-star ritzy resorts that will have you forgetting all about the Golden State’s oceanside bliss.
As a popular ‘staycation’ hotspot, Palm Springs welcomes all walks of life and has become a hugely welcoming town for the LGBTQ+ community over the years.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad word about Palm Springs in general. Well, except for the scorching summer temps…
Palm Springs only has approximately 45,000 residents, but it’s busy enough for its own airport (PSP) with plentiful flights across the U.S.
But many opt for a road trip, especially coming from major cities like San Diego, Los Angeles and Phoenix for a nice escape from the buzzing city life into Palm Springs’ relaxing atmosphere nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Wide Range Of Great Stays: There’s Something For Everyone
There’s a reason Palm Springs sees the same faces year after year.
As one of Californians’ and Arizonians’ favorite hideaways, this desert oasis beholds some true treasures to spend sunny days poolside, hitting the links, and wining and dining.
For a relatively small place, there’s a wide variety of places to choose from. What used to be a common celebrity escape, you can stay in some of your idols’ favorite places if you enjoy a vintage vibe.
Celebs such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe once made Palms Springs their retreat.
Even global icons like Albert Einstein escaped to Palm Springs before more modern claim to fame as Coachella’s home base.
These are the top 3 vintage stays in Palm Springs with celebrity influence:
- The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn (Albert Einstein)
- The Parker Palm Springs (Gene Autry)
- L’Horizon Palm Springs (Marilyn Monroe and President Nixon)
For ritzier stays, there plenty in this category as well, including The Parker listed above:
- The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage
- Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs
- JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
The latter may be your best bet for the ultimate relaxing getaway. This winter, JW Marriott’s Spa Desert Springs wants to melt your stress away with their unique Spaliday Massage package blending cinnamon, clove, and fig oils creating a blissful holiday essence to set you right for the ‘most wonderful time of the year’.
Who needs Christmas markets anyway?
Palm Springs Unmatched Attractions
Whether you plan to spend your time outdoors or hopping around the town’s buzzing food scene, there are some unmissable attractions you have to check out.
The Daily Herald recently released ‘Six reasons‘ to visit Palm Springs, with two standing out among the rest.
With deep indigenous roots, you can experience the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza, recently named one of the greatest places in the world by TIME.
Home to an intriguing museum beholding one of the world’s ‘largest Indigenous archaeological projects’ and 22 hot spring tubs at the world-class Spa at Séc-he, this renowned site built by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.
Next up is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for those who aren’t up for a hike. A trip without a visit through the mountains is a disservice to yourself, and taking the tram is well worth the $35 ticket.
Then, of course, there’s popular Joshua Tree ($15 -$30 admission) with landscapes unlike any other National Park and just an hour drive from downtown Palm Springs.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.