Destination: Palm Springs

This beautiful boutique hotel is located right in the middle of Palm Springs and offers all of the retro Palm Springs vibes you could want. It’s an adults only accommodation with a pool and lounge chairs, as well as a delicious, and equally retro decorated restaurant attached. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, with luxurious amenities.

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The Casablanca Estate

This beautiful nine bedroom house can accommodate over 20 guests for the ultimate group getaway to Palm Desert. It has a pool, hot tub, waterfall, game room, large living room and kitchen, put put greens, baci ball, and horseshoe toss built into the property. There is also a swim up bar and grill area outside. The house is located in Bermuda Dunes, about 30 minutes from Palm Springs.

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Where to Eat

The Pink Cabana

This restaurant is attached to The Sands Hotel. The food is great, but the decor and ambiance is really what makes this place. It was designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, and has a fresh take on the tennis and racquet clubs of the 50’s and 60’s. They serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. The menu spans from classic American with an upscale vibe to charcuterie board and fries. It’s a good idea to make reservations ahead of time. For parties larger than 8, you need to call the number listed on their website.

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The Tropicale Palm Springs

This spot has great food and a really fun Palm Springs vibe. The menu is a bit all over the place, with Asian, Italian, and other flavors, but everything is delicious. They also have a cocktail menu with some really fun drinks on it. It’s definitely a good idea to make a reservation ahead of time, especially for larger groups.

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Pappy & Harriet's

A Pioneertown classic. Located about 25 mins from Joshua Tree NPS, this old western bar/restaurant has excellent food, fun cocktails, and a Wild West atmosphere. On some weekend nights they do live music. During the day they have a large outdoor seating area for outdoor dining. The menu consists of a mix of southwestern Mexican, burgers, salads, and bbq. They’re famous for their bbq, so I recommend trying it. Everything is delicious. The cocktails are also super good. My favorite is the Cactus Flower, but really, they’re all delicious. They don’t take reservations, but if you’re visiting on a weekday, you probably won’t have to wait long. They have an area at the back of the restaurant where you can sit and wait for your table with drinks you’ve ordered from the bar. I went on a Friday around 2pm, they told us the wait would be 30 minutes, and it was 10. On the weekends, waits will be longer, especially at peak hours.

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What to Do

Coachella Valley Vista Point

You can drive to this lookout to get an awesome view is Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, and the desert beyond. It’s a great spot to catch the sunset.

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Joshua Tree National Park

~1 hour from Palm Springs. Lots of fun, low-key stuff to do in the park. Check out my “Low-key Joshua Tree Visit” List for specific recs.

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Pioneertown

Get your fill of the Wild West here as an add on to your trip to the park. This little town has been used in lots of movies. It’s worth stopping in to take some photos and check out the little shops. A lot of the shopkeepers actually live here! This is also a great place to explore while you wait for your table at Pappy and Harriets. Leave one person behind to be called when your table is ready, and take turns exploring.

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Want an add-on? Check out my Joshua Tree guides!

Day Trip to Joshua Tree from Palm Springs

If you're looking for something fun to do on your trip to Palm Springs, consider taking a day trip to Joshua Tree! It's located about 50 minutes from Palm Springs & an excellent way to get your nature fix. This guide offers an itinerary with information about getting from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree, activities to do in the park, & a special spot to grab some food & drinks afterward! If you find this information helpful, any tips are appreciated for my work :)

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Itinerary

Joshua Tree National Park is a desert & nature-lovers dream playground. With giant rock formations to climb on & really cool trees (cacti) to explore, it's one of the most unique landscapes in California. This guide holds map pins & information for all of my favorite spots, activities, hikes, hang-out spots, camp spots, & more in Joshua Tree. Unlock it to use on one big trip, or multiple small trips - choose your own adventure! This is a living map, meaning that every time I return to Joshua Tree & do something new, I'll add to it, and you'll get all of the updates automatically! If you find this information helpful, any tips are appreciated for my work :)

Destination: Joshua Tree

Adventure • Nature • Camping

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Or want to explore more of California?

I've lived in California for 4 years, and have explored most of the state. Shop my guides, itineraries, and maps below ⬇

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