There are a lot of cool things about the winter (no pun intended), but getting out of the cold and into the desert is one of my favorite things about this time of year. Though Dallas isn’t typically a place to experience brutal winters, this year has been particularly cold. Our annual winter retreat is to Palm Springs for Valentine’s Day week with my amazing in-laws, and this year was even more fun that the last.
Things to do if you visit Palm Springs include:
- Shopping on El Paseo in Palm Desert (think Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue, Anthropologie, and Stuart Weitzman)
- Eat at Tommy Bahama (also on El Paseo, this restaurant will make you feel like you’ve been transported from the desert to the islands! Try the Macadamia Crusted Goat Cheese with Mango Salsa and Flatbread, or the Pain Chiller to drink.)
- Drive through the Indian Canyon neighborhood and stop by #ThatPinkDoor house for a photo. It really is just as stunning in real life as in the photos!
- Take a tour of the star’s homes in Palm Springs! Some of the highlights include Elvis’s house, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Leonardo DiCaprio (whose house you can rent, btw,) and Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. You learn so much history this way!
- Spend time laying out by a pool and soak in the sun. Palm Springs is all about relaxation and sunshine, so I spent some time out the pool with one of my new favorites, my PediPocket blanket. (It’s also perfect if you’re outside by the pool or fire pit on those chilly California nights!) This blanket is genius. It’s nearly 6 feet long, more than long enough to cover any person. There is a special pocket for your feet that keeps them warm, and your shoulders aren’t exposed to the cold, either. Mine folded up super small and is so plush and soft, it fit easily into my carry-on luggage and was a major lifesaver for the freezing cold plane. It’s machine washable, so as soon as my trip was over, I just threw it in the washer and it was go to go. (I’m seriously considering buying another PediPocket to keep at work…the office is so cold, I think it could change my life!)
- Stay a night at Casa de Monte Vista. This home is in the historic Old Las Palmas area of Palm Springs, which means it’s one of the original homes built in the late 1920s. According to their website, the property was “frequented by some of the most legendary luminaries from Hollywood, this Old Spanish Estate has the secluded and nostalgic atmosphere that Palm Springs is known for. Owned by Robert Stack in the 1950s, the property was a common gathering place for The Rat Pack during the 1960s.” I fell in love with this house and everything about it….the owner has kept the original old school vibe and has period appropriate antiques all over the property. (Expect to spend about $300/night….worth every penny.)
- Visit Joshua Tree National Park. This is pretty self-explanatory….it’s desert beauty at its finest. Bring your camera and plenty of water if you plan to hike!
There are plenty of other amazing things to do in Palm Springs, but this is my condensed list of a few highlights. The window shopping and people watching are spectacular, so if you do anything else on the list, you know it only gets better!
Photography: Jeff Hoferer
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