It is always nice to find an easy quick escape from one's everyday routine. Palm Springs and Palm Desert is an easy weekend escape from San Diego. This is a look at our itinerary for our weekend in Palm Springs. We went this weekend to celebrate my sister's birthday. We rented a VRBO, it was not the best so I will not recommend it. But really any house with a pool and well located you cannot truly go wrong. I would recommend staying in Palm Desert or Palm Springs so you are close to the attractions you will want to see and not driving to much during your weekend.
My kids favorite thing we did all weekend was the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Due to COVID you need to make reservations right now and I would make them on the early side so the animals are more active and it is not so hot. The cheetahs were walking around when we got there, and interacting so much. They were beautiful.
They had two enormous porcupines, which I also learned are the largest rodents, and the only rodents I think are cute.
We all got to feed giraffes, which was one of my highlights of the trip. For $7 for non-members you go a handful of lettuce to feed the giraffe. Tip keep feeding the giraffe because if you pause they stand up to move on to the next person. Such a smart way to raise money for the zoo.
The zoo is going through some renovations right now to a large part of the park and it looks like it is going to be great addition, I cannot wait to go back and check it out. The zoo has a carousel that of course the kids loved. The gardens at the zoo were also beautiful.
After the zoo we headed to Palm Spring put our names on the wait list at Farms and walked around the shops. We checked out a few of the art installations in the area.
Then we had a delicious brunch at the adorable Farm.
After brunch we headed back to the house for some pool time.
Due to Covid Rooster and Pig was closed for dine in eating, but we have heard so much about the food we ordered take out and it was worth it. I will definitely check it out again when they are open for in person dining.
The next day was our art day. We woke up and spent the morning enjoying the pool one last time before heading to the Palm Springs Art Museum. Again due to COVID you need to make reservations ahead of time. On the way to the museum we did stop off and picked up an iconic date shake to share it was a little sweeter than I remembered.
The Palm Springs Art Museum has collections of modern and contemporary art and traditional art of the Americas. The Palm Springs Art Museum's current permanent art collection contains 19th, 20th and 21st century works highlighting several art styles including contemporary California art, Native American, classic western, Mexican & European art and American photography.
The museum is constantly rotating their exhibits. The Palm Springs Art Museum has works from genius minds like Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Ansel Adams and many, many more. However, you’ll also find exhibitions from under-represented artists like Agnes Pelton whose abstract compositions are awe-inspiring.
The only location open during COVID at the moment was their main location.
After checking out some amazing works of art we grabbed some delicious poke at Poke Haus. Though this is a quick eat and a chain it has some pretty excellent poke. The octopus that I would never get at place like this looked so good that I had to order it and it was so fresh and perfectly cooked.
After lunch we headed to the Moorten Botanical Garden.
My favorite part was the cactarium, a conservatory full of only cactus from around the world, that were almost growing out of control. Felt a little like you were in a horror movie and they were going to come alive.
After the botanical garden we were ready for an art scavenger hunts of sorts. We downloaded the Desert X app and followed the map to find some amazing art. I was so sad when I learned I missed Desert X 2019, so I was not about to miss 2021. Desert X is a public and free art event that takes place in Palm Springs/Palm Desert/ Coachella Valley area every other year. It is like a treasure hunt of art. The installations are scattered around the desert and you have to drive around to find them. It ends May 16th, so do not miss it or you will have to wait until 2023. My favorite was located at Sunnylands Center & Gardens in Rancho Mirage called Women’s Qualities by Ghada Amer. She creates a garden using words that describes women, it is truly beautiful.
A bonus is the gardens surrounding the exhibit are also beautiful and there is some cool art inside and a cafe to have a drink.
We then head close by to another exhibit by Eduardo Sarabia called The Passanger, an arrow tip-shaped maze inspired by the trope of the journey that for generations has been closely bound to stories of the desert. The kids loved running through the maze in the middle of a desert. You may need a reservation for this one. If there is not a lot of people they will let you in or you may need to wait in line.
We then went to see Serge Attukwei Clottey's Wishing Well. Without looking at the background of the piece it may have less meaning. This was so interesting to me. The cubes are draped with sheets of woven pieces of yellow plastic Kufuor gallons used to transport water in Ghana. The piece was made by many villagers helping to put together the sheets. The Wishing Well refers to the wells to which many people around the world must trek daily to access water.
It was too hot when we went to Palm Springs, especially for my father to do any type of hiking.
If you go when it is cooler or want to brave a hike here are a few hikes I would recommend:
Palm Springs Indian Canyons
Hiking at the Indian Canyons just outside of downtown Palm Springs. It’s the reason Palm Springs has its name. Truly, the palm oases surrounding the city are out of this world and magical. Picture it: desert all around you and then in the canyon below there are streams and waterfalls and palm jungles. Until you visit, it’s difficult to understand how special this place it.
Palm Canyon Trail in Indian Canyons
This is the world’s largest California fan palm oasis, the aptly named Palm Canyon Trail in Indian Canyons. Visitors must pay a daily admission fee ($9 for adults, $5 for children), and hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last vehicles allowed in at 4 p.m.
Tahquitz Falls (Palm Springs)
It’s not always flowing, but if to visit after a rainstorm, the 60-foot Tahquitz Falls is gorgeous. Tahquitz Canyon sits on the west side of Palm Springs on the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians reservation, and the trail is a total of two miles with approximately 350 feet of elevation gain. To catch the best lighting, this spot is best shot in the late afternoon, but please note that hikers are not allowed to start the trail later than 3:30 p.m. Day use passes are $12.50 for adults and $6 for children, and Tahquitz Canyon is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Horseback Riding
Another fun activity to do in cooler weather is horseback riding. You can make reservations at Crazy Horse Ranch in the Morongo Valley, just north of Palm Springs, however they do book out weeks in advance in cooler weather so plan ahead. March and the beginning of April is a great time for a ride during a the desert bloom.
Comments