Glorious, heavenly Palm Springs. A delight throughout the year but especially in the autumn when the temperatures are hot in the day and cool in the evening enough for a hot tub and roaring fire outside. Stunningly beautiful desert for hiking in the day, fabulous vintage shopping, architectural midcentury wonders to tour or just seriously chilling by the pool with mountain-views, this city has it all.
TASTE
For breakfast eat sumptiously at Normas, The Parker, lunch by the pool, The Purple Palm or for old school at the Racquet Club and then dinner under the stars at SO.PA at L'Horizon. For groups of friends, Workshop Kitchen + Bar is fun as is Sandfish Sushi + Whiskey. For an old-school glamorous vibe hit Mister Parkers or Mr Lyons and dress like Marilyn.
EXPERIENCE
Desert hiking is fabulously refreshing and offers wonderful views - pack a big water bottle and head out and explore! A must for views means taking world's largest rotating tram car, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which is a fun way to get to the top! Afterwards check out the fabulous vintage clothes and furniture shopping at Flow Modern, Hedge, The Frippery, Iconic Atomic and Gypsyland. Following that head to the Palm Springs Art Museum or Sunnylands Estate for wonderful inspiration and then jump into your car and drive around the different neighbourhoods to see the beautiful mecca of midcentury architecture that is Palm Springs - an absolute must-do!
READ
A must-read is Palm Springs Holiday: A Vintage Tour from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea by Peter Moruzzi. This book portrays the sparkling city of Palm Springs in the 50s and 60s, with its blossoming midcentury Modern architecture, fabulous fly-in hotels, and a glittering nightlife. Another fabulous read is The Desert Modernists: The Architects Who Envisioned Midcentury Modern Palm Springs, which depicts the brilliant imagination and creativity of the architecture community. Also fascinating is fine art photographer Nancy Baron's The Good Life by Nancy Baron which examines Palm Springs identity as both small town America and an iconic resort town.
LISTEN
1960s cocktail party lists are a must! Zou Bisou Bisou by Gillian Hills, Agua De Beber by Astrid Gilberto and Night, Lad Madrague by Brigette Bardot and and the Choo-Choo-Cha-Cha by Rinky Dinks will definitely get you poolside-cocktail party ready!
