A legendary Hollywood hangout in the fifties, retro Palm Springs is renowned for its Mid-Century architecture, world-class golf courses and laid-back SoCal vibe.
A hundred miles east of LA in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs is a popular place for a holiday. A weekend getaway for California's celebrity set, it has over 350 days of sunshine each year and is great for a golf holiday, a get together destination for the LGBT crowd, and popular if you want to escape the winter cold for a week away.
Palm Springs is not a big city. Its palm-lined streets are filled with fashionable boutiques, stylish hotels and kitsch tiki bars. On your holiday,h ead to the Uptown Design district, the largest collection of Mid-Century modern architecture in the world, and see Elvis' retro-style Honeymoon Hideout. Or you could venture downtown for the Palm Springs Art Museum and vintage Old Hollywood-style cocktails bars.
If your holiday is more than a few days here, explore the greater Palm Springs area, a string of desert cities in the Coachella Valley. Head south along Highway 111 towards Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage, both renowned for their quality golf courses.
Spend a day in Indian Wells, home to the Indian Wells Tennis Club and the BNP Paribas world tournament, while Indio, the small town in the far south of the region, attracts the Californian fashion elite to its legendary Coachella Arts and Music Festival each April.
Palm Springs is easy to explore. Hire a convertible sports car and drive through the desert plains towards Joshua Tree National Park, which lies 20 miles east of Palm Springs.
Drive north of downtown to soak in the natural thermal waters of Desert Hot Springs, or grab a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which travels from the desert floor to the frosty peak of the San Jacinto Mountains, where snow is not uncommon.
After a day of exploring Palm Springs shops and art museums, head downtown for cocktails and karaoke in a kitsch tiki bar or a romantic supper under the stars in an alfresco restaurant.
With endless sunshine, stylish Mid-Century hotels and a lively nightlife, Palm Springs is an ideal destination for a quick getaway or a longer holiday.