This southern California destination is the ideal place to indulge in year-round amazing weather, stunning scenery and a sense of vibrant adventure that’s hard to top. Its Sonoran Desert landscape has long been attractive to celebrities and travelers from near and far alike. Palm Springs is a pristine place that combines the best of shopping, dining, exploring and adventuring in a way that provides just the right balance between rest and rejuvenation. When you just can’t wait to leave thoughts of cold and snow behind, here are five reasons to plan a winter getaway to Palm Springs this year.
Planning a Palm Springs winter getaway begins with a focus on the outdoor adventure waiting to be experienced. It’s likely that the warm weather drew you here, so why not make the most of every moment spent under the blue sky and endless sun? Guests to Palm Springs will want to be sure to set aside time to explore the best of Indian Canyons where stunning desert scenery is best viewed from the hiking trails or on horseback. Tahquitz Canyon is a particularly breathtaking place to set your sights if you’re in the mood for a hike that includes moments spent encountering beautiful waterfalls as well.
In addition to land-based fun under the sun, you won’t want to miss a chance to hop aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway while you’re in town. This iconic feature of the city gives guests a chance to ascend 5,800 feet in 10 minutes while enjoying panoramic views from above. Once you reach the top, savor the fact that you can comfortably enjoy time exploring without a snow jacket required. The summit is a destination that also includes a restaurant and gift shops well-worth a look around when you arrive.
Palm Springs has a reputation as being a destination where celebrities once found and continue to find peace and solitude from an otherwise overwhelming experience in Hollywood. Big names such as Elvis and Frank Sinatra frequented Palm Springs and even held residence in this area at one time or another. This glamorous distinction makes Palm Springs a fantastic place to come and enjoy a Hollywood-inspired tour or two while you’re in town during a Palm Springs winter getaway.
Tours can be customized to preference with a variety of options ranging from walking tours, bus tours or bike tours available throughout the city. No matter what time of Hollywood tour you book, you’ll gain an interesting insight into the secret lives of Hollywood stars which includes a look at former and present homes that act as an oasis of peace for these famous celebrities. When you’re looking for your own luxurious accommodations in Palm Springs, the city is packed with vacation rentals options that will have you feeling like a celebrity in your own right in no time at all.
The Architecture
Those with a passion for all that is architecture will instantly fall in love with the many designs, styles, and concepts that can be observed during a Palm Springs winter getaway. Warm weather means you’ll have just the right setting at your disposal to wander the city streets taking in the Mid-century modern designs that adorn many of the streets to this day.
Architects have long used Palm Springs as an experimental playground to create living spaces that speak to a truly innovative sense of aesthetic. While visitors are free to roam at will and take in the sights, a stop at the Palm Springs Visitor Center is a quick way to pick up a map that includes designated routes for seeing some of the most stunning stops within a single afternoon or day. As an added bonus to your winter getaway, guests can enjoy Modernism Week in February each year. This celebration of architecture and design combines exciting events and tours with insightful presentations highlighting the very best of Palm Springs architecture for all who participate.
Palm Springs is a California hot spot known for its collection of taste bud pleasing stops. While the restaurant scene is tempting year-round, there’s something wonderful about a trip this direction in the winter that allows you to enjoy al fresco dining on a patio while friends and family back home are warming up indoors.
When you’re looking for a savory stop that includes an amazing view enjoyed at a table outside, head over to Norma’s at the Parker Palm Springs. Located at 4200 E. Palm Canyon Drive, this colorful and vibrant restaurant invites guests to come and take a seat on the sun-soaked patio and enjoy ordering up delicious breakfast fare all day long! Whether you’re one for pancakes or omelets, this is a place where the patio is the highlight and the sunshine takes center stage.
The Shopping
When winter hits at home, it’s tempting to cozy up and forget thoughts of going out and enjoying time browsing the boutique shops until spring. A Palm Springs winter getaway means visitors can shed those thoughts of hibernation and instead, head out in pursuit of all the fun to be found on Palm Canyon Drive! This bustling center of commerce is generally considered to be the very heartbeat of Palm Springs and proves to be a place where shopping and browsing never go out of style. Palm tree-lined roads make Palm Canyon Drive as fun to look at as it is to experience.
Shops are balanced out by galleries and restaurants and if you’re here on a Thursday evening, be sure to stick around for Villagefest when shops and restaurants stay open late for the general public and streets that were bustling with traffic get turned into pedestrian walkways for added convenience.
Author Bio
Caitlyn Knuth is a travel writer whose own adventures have inspired her to write about everything from the most delicious cafés in Paris, France to the breathtaking salmon runs in Juneau, Alaska. Working in association with Palm Springs Getaways, she enjoys writing and sharing about Palm Springs in the hope others will pack up and head out on California-bound adventures of their very own.
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