A Sun-Kissed Adventure in Palm Springs: Exploring an Oasis in the Desert

| A winter getaway to Palm Springs |

My husband and I recently went on a getaway to Palm Springs, and I couldn’t contain my excitement, hello palm trees, here we come! The sunny weather, palm-lined streets, and the promise of relaxation had us yearning for a break from winter. Opting for a getaway in mid to late January was a perfect choice, as that’s when we typically seek refuge from the chilly weather.

DAY 1

The flight from Western Canada to Palm Springs is a quick and easy trip. Direct flights are offered daily from Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver, with each flight taking about 3 hours.

When we landed in Palm Springs, we were surprised by the airport. Most of it was outdoors! The airport is small, so getting our bags and rental car was easy. We didn’t have to take long walks in this airport.

Since we arrived around 5:00 pm, our destination that day was the hotel. We ended up booking a golf resort instead of a traditional hotel. The boutique hotels in Palm Springs had a lot of character, but the allure of a separate bedroom, a kitchen, and multiple pool areas on the property was too tempting to resist!

 

DAY 2

The previous night, a winter storm hit the area, causing road washouts and low clouds. Initially planning to hike, we adjusted our plans due to the weather and decided to drive around the city instead. Our first stop was the Palm Springs Visitor Centre on North Palm Canyon Drive, close to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, to gather information and get a sense of the surroundings.

The staff at the visitor centre were incredibly helpful, offering shopping recommendations and suggesting we wait a few days for the trails to dry up before hiking. We were amused when they mentioned there was snow at the tramway and suggested we head up to see it. We just came from snowy weather, so we decided to skip it!

Heading to the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon, northwest of Palm Springs, we indulged in some shopping at California’s largest luxury outlet destination. As the weather improved, we explored downtown, discovering a variety of shops and eateries. We wandered around and ended up at Zin American Bistro, where I enjoyed a delightful tuna and avocado melt sandwich for lunch.

Afterwards, we admired the Walk of Stars and captured photos of the impressive Marilyn Monroe statue outside the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Earlier that day, we purchased a map of architectural locations at the Visitor Centre. We spent the remainder of the afternoon driving through the Old Las Palmas neighborhood. If you are an architecture fan, you need to drive through this neighbourhood! We loved the mid-century modern architecture and even passed by Elvis’s honeymoon house.

DAY 3

Due to heavy rain making the trails muddy and washing away some roads, our hiking plans had to be cancelled. Instead, we opted to explore the Salton Sea, a renowned yet peculiar tourist spot. Despite its somber atmosphere, we appreciated its unique charm. It was disheartening to see this once-beautiful lake transformed into a desolate area due to agricultural practices. The high saline levels caused by runoff from fertilizers led to the demise of fish. The remnants of a past era starkly contrasted with the lake’s natural beauty. In the 1950s, the area was bustling with tourists, a far cry from its current state. Moving on to Bombay Beach, we encountered abandoned homes and deteriorating structures, creating an eerie and eccentric vibe, with local artists adding to the area’s quirkiness.

Although we initially planned to visit Salvation Mountain, we redirected our day trip to Old Town Quinta. We relished strolling through this charming district, showcasing Spanish-inspired adobe architecture that paid homage to the region’s heritage. Exploring the boutique shops, art galleries, and savoring delicious food made our visit truly delightful!

DAY 4

We set off to Joshua Tree National Park for some exploration and hiking. It took us about an hour to drive from our resort to the West Entrance. Since it was mid-week in January, we didn’t face any wait times at the park entrance (it tends to get crowded during peak seasons). On busier days, the Twentynine Palms entrance serves as an alternative. There is one more entrance, the south entrance. Most people don’t access this entrance as all the star attractions are at the north end of the park.

Our visit to Joshua Tree was fantastic! We selected three spots to explore: Hidden Valley, Arch Rock, and the Cholla Cactus Garden. Hidden Valley, a 1-mile loop trail, is surrounded by massive boulders, Joshua Trees, and diverse flora and fauna. The next stop was Arch Rock on our list to explore. This stop was fairly busy, but it was an easy walk to the arches. The highlight for us was the Cholla Cactus Garden!

The Cholla Cactus Garden features a stunning ¼ mile loop. The term “Cholla” refers to various shrubby cacti with cylindrical stems made up of segmented joints, commonly found in hot desert climates.

 

Following our time at Joshua Tree National Park, we visited Pioneertown. This background story is that this ‘town’ was constructed as a movie set for Western films in the 1940s. You can explore the rustic facades of saloons and shops, although many were closed due to it being mid-week in January. Nonetheless, it’s a worthwhile stop for a quick visit.

DAY 5

During our final day in Palm Springs, we dedicated our time to exploring the botanical gardens, vintage shops, and lounging by the pool. We had the opportunity to visit two gardens that offered contrasting experiences: Sunnyland Gardens and Moorten Botanical Gardens. Sunnyland Gardens, a historic estate, featured well-maintained landscapes that beautifully showcased desert flora. The estate’s mid-century modern architecture and expansive lawns provided a serene and elegant atmosphere. In contrast, Moorten Botanical Gardens had a more laid-back and eclectic feel with a bohemian charm. If I had to pick just one, I would recommend Sunnyland Gardens, as it turned out to be a delightful surprise and a highlight of our trip.

 

 

As our time in Palm Springs came to an end, we couldn’t help but reflect on the unique and unexpected discoveries that defined our trip. There was so much more to see and we will be back for another trip! Next time, we plan to visit the Palm Springs Art Museum, the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, and hike the Indian Canyons.

 

TIPS

If connecting thru Calgary, Vancouver or Edmonton
if you are booking a connecting flight and checking bags, make sure to allow for this in your layover times as you will need to clear customs in Canada before boarding the plane . We connected through Calgary and, since we had a checked bag, we had to wait in a small room until our name appeared on the screen, indicating that our bag cleared customs. This added about 20 minutes to our time. Therefore,

If staying at a Golf Resort
While the resort offered a tranquil retreat, we hadn’t fully anticipated the lack of nearby amenities within walking distance. We noticed that with many of the golf resorts. Our choice of accommodation, Westin Desert Willow Villas in Palm Desert, offered a serene escape. The grounds are beautiful and meticulously manicured with desert flora. It was relaxing and beautiful, we just thought we could walk to more things.

If visiting the Palm Springs Art Museum
It gets busy on weekends, so be aware of this. If you want to save some money, visit it on Thursdays from 5 to 8 pm as it is free.