Palm Springs está caluroso. Está teniendo su momento bajo el sol. Se está bañando en su propio resplandor. Y eso sin mencionar el interminable sol de esta ciudad desértica.
Como el punto ancla del Valle de Coachella, aproximadamente a dos horas en auto al este de Los Ángeles, Palm Springs ha sido tanto un refugio como un parque de diversiones para generaciones de Californianos del Sur, desde excursionistas hasta personas del mundo del cine. En años recientes, ha asumido una reputación internacional por ser genial para todos, gracias a su definitoria arquitectura y diseño modernista de mediados del siglo pasado, hoteles y restaurantes del completamente siglo 21, una activa comunidad artística y una escena LGBTQIA+ sin igual. Y a medida que más y más visitantes vienen a divertirse, la calidad de los restaurantes ha mejorado para estar a la altura (oh, y ese pequeño festival de música llamado Coachella, en la ciudad de Indio en el valle).
A pesar de todo, la naturaleza siempre da lo mejor, haciendo de Palm Springs un santuario para actividades al aire libre desde senderismo hasta tenis, pickleball hasta golf – y, por supuesto, relajarse junto a la piscina. ¿Y las fuentes que dan nombre a la ciudad? Aún burbujean, creando oasis en la superficie y spas para calmar el cuerpo y el alma – además de inspirar cócteles espumosos para mantener la energía bien entrada la noche.
Todo lo cual quiere decir que para una ciudad de su tamaño, alrededor de 45,000 personas, es bastante difícil superar.
¿Cuándo debo visitar Palm Springs?
Durante la temporada alta (aproximadamente de octubre a abril), las temperaturas son prácticamente perfectas. Las mañanas frescas y cristalinas se transforman en cálidas tardes soleadas y atardeceres impresionantes. Las ocasionales lluvias invernales ayudan a que las laderas se tornen de un verde exuberante y permiten que las flores silvestres exploten con color. Aunque Palm Springs se ha convertido cada vez más en un destino durante todo el año, puedes esperar un calor intenso para mayo, y entre junio y septiembre las temperaturas altas superan los 100℉ (38℃) casi a diario. En julio y agosto, las máximas alcanzan 108℉ (42℃), con picos ocasionales más altos. “Sí, pero es un calor seco”, dicen. Nosotros decimos que cuando hace tanto calor, querrás pasar las horas de luz en interiores – o en la piscina cubierta con protector solar impermeable.
¿Cuánto tiempo debo quedarme en Palm Springs?
Para algunos lugares, quizás “lo viste, te vas” funcione, pero para Palm Springs permite un día o dos extra solo para relajarte en ritmo más lento. Después de un par de días, podrías comenzar a reconocer a la gente – el tipo en la fila para tu café matutino, la pareja en el sendero, las personas junto a ti en el bar – y, sorpresa, ya tienes una comunidad. Algunos visitantes se quedan días, otros un mes – o toda la temporada turística.
¿Es fácil llegar y moverse por Palm Springs?
Palm Springs está obsesionada con la arquitectura modernista de mediados de siglo, y su aeropuerto (PSP), del notable arquitecto local Donald Wexler, ofrece una entrada majestuosa. Hasta hace poco, era servido principalmente por vuelos cortos desde LA, San Francisco, Phoenix y Denver, pero hoy en día, encontrarás vuelos directos desde hubs de aerolíneas en todo EE.UU. y Canadá.
Como alternativa, siempre que no haya tráfico, Palm Springs está a dos horas de LA o San Diego, lo que lo hace una parada fácil en un viaje por carretera en California.
Una vez que llegues, la mayoría de las personas se desplazan en coche, ya sea el propio, en un alquiler (la mayoría de las agencias están presentes en el aeropuerto), o en taxi o servicios de transporte compartido. Hay autobuses, pero el problema del “último kilómetro” es real aquí. Sin embargo, las bicicletas de alquiler y las e-bikes están ampliamente disponibles y tienen sentido en esta ciudad mayormente plana (aunque algo extendida).
Principales actividades en Palm Springs
Arquitectura y diseño
Palm Springs es uno de los principales destinos del mundo para la arquitectura.buffs, thanks to mid-century modern design, which largely characterizes the city’s appearance: sleek, simple lines, overhanging v-shaped roofs, high-set windows, sliding glass panels, and breeze blocks created to merge the indoor and outdoor surroundings in the desert weather. From the decade of the 1950s to the 1970s, architects such as Albert Frey, A. Quincy Jones, William Krisel, John Lautner, Richard Neutra, and Donald Wexler were universally recognized here, akin to how sports celebrities are in other places.
Nature…
While numerous guests are content lounging beside the pool with literature, a beverage, a companion, or a blend of all, if you seek a more dynamic holiday, Palm Springs is ready for you. The San Jacinto Mountains, bordering the city to the west and enveloping the south, offer seemingly endless trekking selections. The visually striking Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon, home territory of the local Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, justify the entry fee; the paths here are adorned with streams and genuine oases. Additionally, there are an abundance of city-maintained trails available at no charge. Amidst the cacti, mesquite, creosote, and abundant wildflowers, you might encounter bighorn sheep – they’re quite docile if you remain calm around them.
On the city’s periphery, the 2.5-mile (4km) Palm Springs Aerial Tramway rapidly elevates you from the desert base to 8,516 ft (2,596m) in just 10 minutes – the temperature decreases by approximately 40℉ (20℃), so bring a warm outfit in winter, or enjoy some relief from the sweltering heat during summer.
For conventional sports, myriad choices for golf, tennis, and pickleball are scattered across the town.
…and nurture
Should you favor nature of the more indulgent variety, dedicate a day at the Spa at Séc-he. The natural hot spring that christens the city has, over millennia, provided comfort to the Agua Caliente, the spa’s proprietors. It was heralded as one of the country’s premier spas following a recent renovation. After “taking the waters” in a secluded, bubbling mineral bath, choose from a wide selection of additional mind, body, and soul treatments: salt cavern, flotation chamber, zero-gravity seating, cryotherapy, or sessions from facial care to hot-stone therapy. Certainly, there’s also a swimming pool.
Or culture
The Palm Springs Art Museum positions itself as the Coachella Valley’s leading cultural center; within its collection are creations from artists like Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois, and Mark Bradford, alongside extensive arrays of photography, sculpture, and works by West Coast, modern-day indigenous, and queer artists. Elsewhere in town, the museum preserves mid-century modern residences and the Architecture and Design Center with meticulous care.
The rejuvenated Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, adjacent to the spa, provides an in-depth yet approachable narrative of the Native American tribes in the Coachella Valley. Desert X, the biennial showcase of challenging installation art throughout the Valley, is anticipated to return from March 8 to May 11, 2025. For those to whom aircraft are the pinnacle of culture, interact closely with smaller ones to fighter jets at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
And all that style
Compelled to adopt that Palm Springs aesthetic? Venture to the Uptown Design District. Interiors shops such as Modern Way and Bon Vivant cater to both designers and everyday individuals. The Shag Store showcases the work of the city’s unofficial artistic representative, Shag (also known as Josh Agle), whose sharp lines and vibrant colors epitomize local chic. For bold, stylish wearable art, Trina Turk and her adjacent men’s boutique, Mr. Turk, set the benchmark.
Further along Palm Canyon Drive, amid the international chains and souvenir outlets at the town’s core, Destination PSP distinguishes itself with bespoke clothing, homeware, and gift items radiating local flair. Weekly, every Thursday evening, this area of Palm Canyon transforms into Villagefest, a bustling street fair featuring a variety of local merchants and groups.
And for those who favor outlet shopping, there are a couple of outlet centers in Cabazon, merely 10 miles from town, with around 200 shops offering a range from home essentials to apparel and sportswear.
My favorite thing to do in Palm Springs
First, coffee. Either at home or at Koffi nearby. Subsequently, I grab a buddy for a hike before the day’s heat sets in. If it’s a non-working holiday, dining at Farm and Escena Grill with friends is delightful, perhaps followed by a walk along Palm Canyon Drive to window-shop stylish designs.
By sundown, when the sun dips behind the hills, my neighbors congregate at the poolside (cocktails may be part of the gathering), ending with a meal at Mr. Lyons or El Marisol and, if in the mood, a nightcap at one of Arenas Rd’s clubs.
How much money do I need for Palm Springs?
In Palm Springs, options exist for nearly all financial plans. Budget-conscious travelers will discover various motels and vacation rentals, alongside chain and informal eateries to help manage expenses. Unlimited wealth offers limitless luxurious options.
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Room for two in a mid-century modern establishment: starting from $229
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Iced latte at Koffi: $5.95
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Cocktail: $15
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Main dish at a casual Mexican eatery: $22
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Dinner and a drink for two at an upscale eatery: $120
What to pack for a trip to Palm Springs
Sunscreen, a hat, and a bottle for refilling water! Even when temperatures aren’t particularly high, the sunlight is intense, and these items will be essential. Aside from those, the desert ensemble is of your creation. Palm Springs offers the liberty to embrace colors that might usually raise eyebrows: yellows, oranges, turquoises, and sages, inspired by the scenery. Shorts and smart sandals suit most of the year, though bringing a couple of “dress to impress” outfits for a formal evening is recommended – and a jacket or shawl for evenings when winter temperatures plummet. Additionally, if you plan to explore the landscape, hiking shoes are suggested – you wouldn’t want to damage your sneakers or risk an ankle injury.
The best day trip from Palm Springs
Roughly an hour’s drive east from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park presents a dual-desert experience in one locale. Here, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts converge, each brings distinct flora, cacti, and wildlife. The iconic Joshua Tree, a member of the yucca family with its extended arms, is said to symbolize the prophet Joshua gesturing a route through the desert. Here, it signifies countless paths for daylight trekking and climbing (like the Joshua tree forest at Black Rock Canyon, the oasis at Cottonwood Springs, or views at Keys View) or camping overnight to revel in some of California’s prime stargazing opportunities.