This post is sponsored by Palm Springs but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
A few days ago my girlfriend and I were talking about the craziness of the holidays. We both agreed we could use a little break from the hustle and since both our husbands are off work for the week, we took advantage of it! We headed out to Palm Springs for a quick girls-only day trip. I love Palm Springs because there is so much to do, the sun shines 360 days per year, and it’s not too far. It took us about an hour and a half to get there, which is totally doable for a day trip or weekend getaway.
As we headed East though the valley towards Palm Springs, we spotted thousands of windmills that line the highway. They are such a sight to see and are an iconic symbol that we were getting closer to our destination. We stopped to take a closer look at these magnificent turbines that convert wind into energy and are responsible for powering Palm Springs and all of Coachella Valley.
Once we got into town we were welcomed by this giant Palm Springs sign. This sign is actually right next to the Palm Springs Visitors Center which has everything from information, to souvenirs, and logo apparel. From there it is only a few minute drive to the downtown area.
We both agreed that grabbing a coffee should be our first stop in Palm Springs. We headed to Koffi, which is a locally owned coffee shop with a few locations around town. The one we visited is actually their original location! We enjoyed vanilla lattes and split a muffin in their outside courtyard with some live music and views of Mount San Jacinto. There were so many cute places to sit and families hanging out, I could have stayed for a few hours!
Once we were fully caffeinated, we headed down the street for some window shopping. The main downtown area and uptown design district span the length of several blocks along Palm Canyon Drive. They are full of cute boutiques, consignment stores, art galleries, and a ton of restaurants. Some of our favorites that we stopped into include Balboa Candy Shoppe, The Cocky Cactus Gift Shop, Oooh La La (they had some of the cutest stuff for kids too), and Just Fabulous. Overall, I really loved how the downtown area is super pedestrian friendly and has so many small, unique businesses.
As we headed back to our car, we saw the cutest restaurant, Workshop Kitchen and Bar. A friend of ours had actually recommended this place to us so we decided to pop in for their Sunday brunch on the patio. Their waffles are to die for and they also serve Stumptown coffee which is one of my favorites! I think they are only open for brunch on Sundays (we got lucky), but I am sure their dinner menu is just as wonderful!
From there we hopped back in the car and ended up driving around a few neighborhoods to check out the unique architecture in Palm Springs. Most of the homes here have a very modern design. I also love that many of these modern houses have bright colored doors, it’s so fun! There are tours and even a whole week dedicated to Palm Springs’ modern architecture history, check it out here.
We did a little more exploring before finally stopping into our favorite hotel, The Parker. This resort is the perfect mixture of Palm Spring’s 1950’s history and modern architecture. It offers tennis, multiple pools, fire pits, hammocks, and more all behind multiple white walls and dense hedges. Their eclectic decor and vibe is so different from any other resort I’ve ever stayed. If you are looking to stay overnight in Palm Springs, I highly recommend The Parker!
There is a restaurant inside The Parker called Norma’s, known for their exceptional “California-fresh” menu. It is seriously sooo good and one of my favorite places to dine in Palm Springs. The best part is, you don’t have to be a guest of the hotel to dine at this restaurant. They offer valet up front or you can self park on the street and walk in. Check out their famously decorated lobby and then grab a burger or salad.
We enjoyed our food on their outside patio, which of course is also decorated super cute. I didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable by photographing them eating, so I will share Norma’s inside dining area below. This part is still just as chic and eclectic.
We had such a fun day eating and shopping our way through Palm Springs. There is so much more that I already want to go back and see. I also think it would be so fun to come back with the family soon and make a whole weekend of it! If you are thinking of taking a trip out to Palm Springs, I highly recommend it and you can check out everything they have to offer here.