Palm Springs is one of the most iconic destinations in California. With the Art Deco style luxury rentals, funky design and architecture, tall palms, and mountain backdrops, and more pools per square capita, it’s no wonder why this town has been the go-to escape for the LA crowd for decades. It’s truly a paradise where the weather is perfect and sunny 300 days a year!
Palm Springs is located roughly 2-3 hours (depending on traffic) from Los Angeles, and it’s the perfect long weekend getaway. We took a flight to LAX and then rented a car to drive there and back!
Keep reading for how to spend the perfect long weekend in Palm Springs.
Where To Stay In Palm Springs
We stayed at 2 places in Palm Springs. One was the inspiration around the whole weekend trip!
Trixie Motel
Superstar drag queen Trixie Mattel decided to buy an old run down motel in downtown Palm Springs and turn it into the pink paradise. With only 7 rooms, each curated with a theme, this motel is the exclusive hot spot to stay in Palm Springs. With the pink building, lobby, pool umbrellas, and staff in pink polos it was no surprise that I wanted to stay here. There is even an HBO Max show staring the Trixie Motel (each episode is dedicated to one of the fabulous rooms).
Upon arrival they will give you the code into the locked gate (only guests are able to enter and take pictures). As soon as we arrived I was in heaven! It was exactly how it looked in pictures and more! We were greeted by their amazing staff and lead to our room: Yeehaw Cowgirl! It was SO FREAKING CUTE!
One thing I loved about Trixie’s was the attention to detail. Since it is so small they really took the time to think of everything. The towels were so soft, the sheets felt so nice, everything smelled delicious with her signature scent. Really no detail was left out.
It is 100% on the pricier side, but it was completely worth the experience!
The Saguaro
After our night at Trixie’s we headed to the other side of town to stay at the colorful Saguaro Hotel. This hotel is so intsagrammable it is amazing! The decor was so fun, full of neon lights and color everywhere! It exudes vibrancy and is a work of art in its own right. It is a short drive to downtown so the location was great.
While the hotel itself was a little run down, and it was full of bachelorette parties and girl’s weekends, the pool truly made up for it. They had a pool party on Saturday with a DJ and it was the best way to spend a sunny day in Palm Springs!
Day Pass to the Saguaro Pool Entry Fee starts at $35/person.
What To Do In Palm Springs
See a drag show
Palm Springs is very LGBTQ+ friendly. Many drag queens are reside in Palm Springs, and they are known for their drag brunches and shows. Seeing a drag show is a must do in Palm Springs. Toucans is a famous drag bar with shows nightly. Get your tickets in advance. We went to Illusions drag show and it was so fun! They send you the location 24 hours before the show and we had a blast!!
Whether you are celebrating a bachelorette party, birthday, girl’s weekend, whatever the celebration may be, be sure to check out a drag show!
Stop by the Palm Springs Art Museum & Walk around Downtown Palm Springs
Making a trip to the Palm Springs Art Museum is one of the most popular activities to engage in when visiting downtown Palm Springs. The entry fee is $14, and the structure itself is a work of art, carved out of the rocky mountainside. However, if you are there on a Thursday, the museum is free from 5-8pm! That’s what we did and it was way worth it!
The Palm Springs Art Museum as 12,000+ objects that of the modern and contemporary eras. This is a must for a hot day in the desert! Be sure not to miss the ‘History of Suspended Time’ installation out front by artist Gonzalo Lebrija.
You will be greeted by a massive Marilyn Monroe statue. Be sure to snap a pick with her and then continue your way to N Palm Canyon Dr so take a stroll through downtown Palm Springs. Sprinkled with boutiques, restaurants, galleries, and vintage shops it makes for a great walk.
Explore the Desert X Installations
Desert X is a yearly exhibit that was created to “present international contemporary art exhibitions that engage with desert environments through site-specific installations by acclaimed artists from around the world.” Each year the installations change and you can follow the map to visit all 12 exhibits.
- Download the Desert X App to get the addresses of all the different installations
- As there is a lot to see and you might not get to everything, research and plan where exactly you want to go.
Visit the Palm Springs Art Installations
The Palm Springs Public Arts Commission has a new initiative called the Neighborhood Grant Program to add art in every neighborhood and also support artists. Be sure to follow along closely as they add new installations all over Palm Springs! We visited one during our visit.
- Installation: ‘Popsicles’ by artist John Cerney located on 605 Sunny Dunes Road.
- Pro Tip: Follow the Visit Palm Springs Instagram account as they’re always sharing the new installations.
Visit the Moorten Botanical Garden
If you’re a fan of succulents and cacti, this is one of the top things to do in Palm Springs. The Moorten Botanical gardens boast some of the world’s most amazing cactus collections in the “Cactarium”.
Apart from the cactus collection they have a wide range of interesting plants and arrangements. You can also purchase your own succulents on the way out (all shapes and sizes).
Where To Eat in Palm Springs
Breakfast/Brunch
Norma’s
If you are looking for a boujee brunch, Norma’s is your place. Located inside the Parker hotel, their shaded patio is to die for. The greet you with a shot of their smoothie of the day. You just feel like you are important when you eat there.
Honestly, I thought their food was just okay for the expensive prices, but the ambiance made up for it.
Cheeky’s
If you are downtown Palm Springs and see a super long line out the door, then you know you have reached the infamous Cheeky’s. One of Palm Springs most poplar breakfast places. All I have to say is bacon flights. This place doesn’t take reservations, but if you go early or on a weekday you may be in luck!
Lunch/Dinner
Azucar
Mexican modern cuisine and cocktails with a roof top deck and a fabulous aesthetic. This place is just stunning, the aesthetics are a 10/10. Can I just take a moment for their Frida Kahlo wall? We had the most delicious dungeness crab stuffed poblano pepper, and paired with a watermelon margarita – talk about a spectacular meal!
The Tropicale
A great lunch or dinner spot that is loved by locals is Tropicale. It is a festive eatery with a neon-lit exterior and retro tropical interior that features an eclectic menu & patio. The drinks were delicious. We both had mojitos (watermelon and pomegranate) and they were refreshing and beautifully presented. We split the Pupu Pupu platter – coconut tiger shrimp, Thai chicken satay, korean beef skewers, crispy tempura green beans and shanghai ribs. It was a nice change of pace crowd from the loud bachelorette parties.
Eight4Nine
We ate here on my actual birthday and it was AMAZING! Eight4Nine is a contemporary restaurant serving new American food with fun pops of color. This place is perfect for a girl’s night or date night! We had the pasta limone pappardella – lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, lemon extra virgin olive oil, ricotta, basil, toasted walnuts, buttered Maine lobster tail. It was TO DIE FOR!
El Jefe
Located inside the Saguaro hotel, El Jefe is a fun, quick stop for a Mexican food craving! They have some great specials: Taco Tuesday from 6-9 p.m. and happy hour Monday-Friday 3-6 p.m. This was a great lunch stop in the middle of our pool day! The hibiscus margarita is a must try!
Other restaurant recommendations in Palm Springs:
- Farm – the name speaks for itself, farm to table in an Secret Garden setting. Does a set tasting menu each night.
- Birba – Italian restaurant on the casual side with a great patio.
- The Pink Cabana -Located inside the Sands Resort & Spa, The Pink Cabana makes for an incredibly fun way to spend the day at the pool or enjoy a meal! The decor is inspired by the tennis clubs in Palm Springs in the 50s & 60s
Cocktail Bars in Palm Springs
- Bootlegger Tiki – A fun spot in Downtown Palm Springs with creative handcrafted cocktails served amongst tropical decor and tiki torches. The drinks usually feature rum, fruit and a tropical umbrella. Amazing happy hour!
- The Purple Room – Some of the best live music and people-watching in the city! Check the website for weekly entertainment schedule.
- Toucan’s – Fun gay bar with lots of live entertainment! Check out their website for info!
Palm Springs is a great weekend getaway! Grab your girlfriends, gay best friend, mom, sisters, S.O. and head west to this fun town with perfect weather!
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