My husband and I recently spent a weekend in Palm Springs as a getaway after our wedding. We were looking for something super low-key and relaxing after months of stressful planning. As California natives, we’re no strangers to Palm Springs but we’ve never experienced it like this!
Day 1
Afternoon
After mostly healing from a killer hangover, my husband and I jumped into the car around 3 pm to make our drive over to Palm Springs. Despite leaving so late in the day, we were blessed with easy Saturday afternoon traffic and made it to our hotel by 5:30 pm.
We checked into our digs for the weekend — Dive. This cute little boutique hotel was perfect. It is an adult-only, 11-room hotel with the cutest French Riviera-inspired decorations. Breakfast is provided and the pool is open 24 hours! It was exactly what we needed after months of being on the go.
We stayed in the King room with a tub and paid just over $400 for a two-night stay. Quite the steal for a boutique hotel, if you ask me!
Evening
Since we got to Palm Springs a bit later than intended, we dropped off our bags and headed straight to dinner at Boozehounds. When you walk into the restaurant, you feel like you’ve been plopped into a Tulum vacation. The interior design is so cute and perfect for pictures and the plants bring out a tropical feel. In regard to food, the Asian-inspired menu had so many great options! We ordered way too much but did not have any regrets! The menu is always changing so I’m excited to be able to go back time and again.
After a delicious dinner, we headed back to our hotel and turned in for the night. One thing I love about a boutique hotel is how thoughtfully designed the rooms are. It truly feels extra special when the hotel pays attention to the small details.
Day 2
Morning
After a great night of sleep, we took our time getting up and ready in the morning. One great perk about Dive was that it serves complimentary breakfast until 10:30 am. Although it’s nothing super spectacular, it’s nice to have the option to eat something quickly in the morning. Also, since the hotel is so small, we were able to pop out of our rooms at 10:15 am and grab breakfast to eat by the pool right before service ended.
After we finished breakfast, we left to explore the downtown Palm Springs area. It’s quaint and just big enough to enjoy a few hours out. As someone who has grown up in the Los Angeles area, I never properly explored Palm Springs. I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to see so many great places to eat and shop around.
We started with some coffee at Cartel Roasting Co. I got the CCL — a coconut caramel latte. Sometimes I regret getting the “fun” thing on the menu but the CCL ended up being really great! And, you could actually taste the espresso.
As we hung out we figured out what to do with the rest of our day. First on the priority list was food! After a few searches, we decided on Gabinos Creperie for lunch and some sort of TexMex for dinner.
Afternoon
As we drove down to Gabinos, my eye caught a cute little store and I made my husband turn around. Mojave Flea Trading Post is a collection of stores that sells everything from groceries to clothing. Now, if you know me, you know I’m a sucker for these tiny curated shops. I love browsing all the new small brands and taking a look at all the cute clothing and trinkets. I could spend HOURS browsing. And so, that’s what we did! I highly recommend you stop by, it’s a fun experience, even if you don’t buy anything.
After an hour or two of browsing, we finally made our way to Gabinos Creperie. This place came highly recommended and is especially known due to its appearance on Diner’s, Drive-ins, and Dives. I love Guy Fieri so I was super excited to give this place a shot — especially after having been on our wedding diet for so long.
We opted for the Chicken Pesto and Buffalo Ranch crepes and FULLY enjoyed each. I will say that they can be quite greasy so it doesn’t hurt to share if you’re not super hungry. Regardless, it’s a Palm Springs classic and I would not miss it!
After lunch, we jumped into our suits and spent the rest of the afternoon lazing around the pool and reading. I love that Palm Springs stays super warm so that you can swim around even when it turns dark. The pool at Dive is beautifully tiled and provides towels and umbrellas. There’s also a great snack and drink menu you can order from as you relax by the water.
Evening
For dinner, we got a great recommendation from the hotel staff. El Mirasol is a family-owned Mexican Restaurant serving up classic, hearty, dishes and incredible margaritas. After a full afternoon of swimming, the flautas and chile rellenos hit the spot. Best of all, there was an endless stream of chips and salsa (a marker of a great restaurant) and a small mariachi band playing music inside.
It was the perfect way to round out the night before heading back to the hotel and taking a bath in the claw-foot tub. Although it felt luxurious, I will say that taking a shower, post-bath, was a bit confusing. I would probably opt for a room with a shower the next time I visit.
Day 3
Morning
After a restful night, we took our time getting ready before check-out. We gathered our things and headed over to the pool to grab a quick breakfast. There’s nothing like a Palm Springs morning! Beautiful blue skies and the perfect temperature.
Check-out was super easy–we said our goodbyes and hit the road.
Afternoon
On our drive back, we made the usual Palm Springs stops. We had to get a date shake at Hadley’s and stop for In-n-Out for a quick lunch. Leaving Palm Springs around 11 am was perfect as we missed all the traffic going back and could travel at a leisurely pace.
Final Thoughts
Although Palm Springs doesn’t seem like the most exciting place to go for the weekend, there are a lot of hidden gems. And, arguably, due to its sparse entertainment, it is the perfect place to kick back and relax.
My husband and I are busy-bodies when it comes to traveling but going to Palm Springs forced us to slow down and just enjoy being in one place. I would highly recommend spending a weekend there with your loved ones or even yourself! If you need a place to log off for a bit, it’s the perfect place to visit!
