Palm Springs & Joshua Tree
A civilized hideaway next door to savage nature.
Palm Springs is 100 miles from LA which makes it the perfect hideaway for the rich and easily recognized. It also has a long history of tolerance for folks who don’t want their private lives getting more attention than their image on the silver screen. Lucky for us it is also an amazing treasure of 1960’s architectural brilliance.
The visitor center is in an old, suitably retro gas station where you can get tour maps with information about each of the more spectacular neighborhoods and that should keep you busy for most of an afternoon. I also downloaded the Palm Springs architectural tour app (Palm Springs Modern) which worked pretty well although the videos download on demand and this may make you wait a bit before you see the walk through of the private areas with no pubic access. I had the sense that Palm Springs was trying to get away from the fast food and tourist shops on the main strip and replace them with higher end restaurants and more unique atmosphere, but were only partially successful. There were many high quality restaurants available, but a bit more off the beaten path.
We stayed at The Willows which is a golden era of Hollywood guest house with discreet bungalows and thematic rooms. We were upgraded to the Rock Room thanks to our booking through Andrew Harper and the Hideaway Report. It didn’t hurt that we were traveling the week after Thanksgiving when everyone else in America was in a turkey coma.
Our room had a huge, actual rock in the bathroom and looked out onto what became our private swimming pool. Even in November, it was comfortable to swim or sit in the hot tub at night. We also had the hors d'oeuvres and wine every evening sitting by the fire and the light of a huge Christmas tree in the common area mostly to ourselves. We would return again in a second and spend even more time investigating the fine dining in the town.
Joshua Tree National Park is an easy day trip from Palm Springs — or an interesting night trip if you like to photograph the stars. It’s very popular with rock climbers so you may find some of the parking lots near the best climbing areas to be full with camper vans even if you get there early. And you should get there early — Joshua Tree can get hot and the weather can vary depending on where you are in the park. Also be aware that in the winter the days are short and you really don’t want to finish your hike in the dark. Be back at the trailhead by 4 PM.
Bring 2 gallons of water per person per day if you plan to be active. And watch out for the cholla— the beautiful bright yellow plants that look more furry than dangerous— and sneaky cactus spines. Add a comb and tape to your first aid kit for when you fall or step on them.
Several excellent and closer hikes to Palm Springs can be found on the Agua Caliente Indians’ tribal lands at the Indian Canyons.
The eerie beauty of the desert and the succulents make it all worthwhile. I love the ease of care and the colorful, alien flowers of succulents and my roof deck is full of them. Don’t miss Moorten Botanical Garden to get inspired for your own succulent garden.
