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Greater Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley are not only a desert oasis, but a bonafide lifestyle. Visitors started flocking to this playground in the 1920s for rest and relaxation. Trust me, there’s a lot more to here than lounge by a pool (though let’s be honest… that’s okay, too!). From mid-century modern design to sprawling, otherworldly landscapes, it’s easy to see why Greater Palm Springs is a place to love.

PLACES AND STORIES TO LOVE

PLACES TO LOVE - Greater Palm Springs - Samantha Brown

A Lounging sort of lifestyle

Palm Springs is synonymous with mid-century modern style. What makes the homes here extra special is that they started out almost exclusively as vacation properties. These spaces were designed with a focus on fun over functionality. Some of the Palm Springs neighborhoods truly feel like stepping back in time, while simultaneously stepping into a Jetsons-like future. Michael Stern, writer and creator of The Modern Tour—the official tour of the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center—showed me a few of the most iconic designs in town. From pre-fab steel homes to Wexler designs, these unique dwellings will leave your jaw on the floor.

IF YOU GO

If you happen to be in Palm Springs over the weekend, you can do a little self-guided home snooping– er, I mean touring, by visiting open houses. Check out listings in Vista Las Palmas, Indian Canyons and Twin Palms, some of the best ‘hoods for this style of design.

ADDRESS

To book your own tour with Michael, visit The Modern Tour.

PLACES TO LOVE - Greater Palm Springs - Samantha Brown

A Pop of Color in the middle of the desert

The moment your plane touches down in Palm Springs, you can’t help but want to look and feel the part. There’s loads of consignment shops, thrift stores and vintage emporiums stocked with mid-century goods. Once I saw Gypsyland’s window display featuring a pink dog named Pucci, I knew I’d found my place. Shop co-owner Stephanie Santos fills her fun, eclectic store with art, furniture, clothes and more. Browsing here feels like walking into a mid-century time capsule, with Brutalist sculptures, Regency sideboards, and lots of funky clothes.

IF YOU GO

Throwing a party in the Coachella Valley? You can rent pieces from Gypsyland! Lots of people throw destination weddings and parties here. File this piece of info away in your memory bank. It may come in handy one day.

Address

Gypsyland
2675 N. Palm Canyon
Palm Springs, California 92262
(760) 641-8600

PLACES TO LOVE - Greater Palm Springs - Samantha Brown

A wild experience that’s fun for all ages

While the Coachella Valley allows you to experience the Sonoran Desert, the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is dedicated to the plants and animals of deserts all over the world. Over 450 species call this place home, and they all need to be fed! I helped prepare breakfast for a few of the herbivores and omnivores… when you watch the episode, you’ll see I will not be quitting my day job for a career in zookeeping. Other zoo highlights include an operating center, where visitors can look on as veterinarians care for animals; a giraffe feeding area; and my favorite, a meerkat exhibit.

IF YOU GO

Check out the cheetah run! Every day, you can watch the cheetahs run for their lunch. Though they don’t hit anywhere near 70 mph, it’s still fun to see these big cats up close and personal.

ADDRESS

The Living Desert Zoo
47900 Portola Avenue
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 346-5694

PLACES TO LOVE - Greater Palm Springs - Samantha Brown

Par for the course

Golf remains a favorite Palm Desert pastime. In fact, there are there are over 100 golf courses in the area, but the Desert Willow Golf Resort is unique for one thing: foot golf. I met up with Roberto Belestrini, the founder and chairman of the American FootGolf League. It’s played much like it sounds—it’s like a round of golf, except instead of clubs and a teeny ball, you play with your feet and a soccer ball. The rules are essentially the same: you tee off (aka kick that ball as far as you can!), putt and must play the ball as it lies. You swear and shake your fist just about as much, too! I was shocked to learn this sport is played in 40 countries around the world, and the US is home to over 300 footgolf courses.

LEARN MORE

Want to learn more about footgolf? Check out the sport’s official US website, with tournament info, league stats, gear and more.

ADDRESS

Desert Willow Golf Resort
38-995 Desert Willow Dr
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 346-0015

PLACES TO LOVE - Greater Palm Springs - Samantha Brown

Drive it like you stole it

Most of us haven’t had driving instruction since our freshman year of high school. That all changed for me at the BMW Performance Center. Here, expert driver Adam Seaman showed me how to properly adjust my mirrors and fix my seat height. Then, we did all that stuff from car commercials that come with a DO NOT ATTEMPT warning. As a mom who normally drives a minivan to and from the grocery store, learning to drive like I stole it was the most fun I’ve had on the road in a long time!

IF YOU GO

Forget the stunt driving, I learned so many valuable real-life skills! I highly encourage anyone who drives to sign up. And yes, they have classes for teens, where they teach useful things, like how to handle a skid, panic situations and more.

ADDRESS

BMW Performance Center
86-050 Jasper Lane
Thermal, CA 92274
(888) 345-4269

PLACES TO LOVE - Greater Palm Springs - Samantha Brown

There are many easy day trips from the Coachella Valley, but the one that tops my list is Joshua Tree National Park. Sprawling over the Mojave and Colorado desert, this beloved park’s energy is the thing of legend. Designated as a National Monument in 1934 by FDR, and a National Park in 1994, this 1,235-square-mile park features excellent hiking, mountain climbing, and panoramic views featuring its namesake plant, the yucca brevifolia, more commonly known as the Joshua tree.

I met up with George Land, a park ranger whose enthusiasm for the national parks began as a child. He brought me to Keys Ranch, the pioneer homestead of William and Francis Keys that was inhabited until the late 1960s! I can tell you with absolute certainty that I wouldn’t have lasted an hour living at this ranch, but fascinating to learn about those who did.

DID YOU KNOW?

U2’s album, The Joshua Tree, actually has nothing to do with the park… the band snapped a photo with a Joshua tree in Darwin, California, located 200 miles away. In other music trivia, rocker Gram Parsons body was stolen from a mortuary and cremated in the park in 1973. Read all about it here.

ADDRESS

Joshua Tree National Park
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277-3597

PLACES TO LOVE - Greater Palm Springs - Samantha Brown

Luxurious serenity, near all the action

There are a lot of lovely hotels in Greater Palm Springs, many of them boasting a thumping soundtrack and see-and-be-seen pool parties. 25-year-old Samantha would’ve said, “Yes please!” These days, I crave serenity. There’s no better place for that than El Paseo, the first new luxury hotel in Palm Desert in over 30 years. Imagine sipping on a cool poolside cocktail, or practicing your short game on their putting green. There’s also a fabulous restaurant with room service and a spa (can I get an amen!). Many of the spacious rooms come with a private balcony overlooking the mountains, perfect for enjoying your morning cup of coffee.

It’s also worth noting the proximity to El Paseo, the area’s notable shopping, dining and entertainment hub. Walk out the door and you’re there!

IF YOU GO

Looking for something different? Book your stay in the hotel’s vintage 1950 Airstream Trailer.

ADDRESS

Hotel Paseo
45-400 Larkspur Lane
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-340-9001

PLACES TO LOVE - Greater Palm Springs - Samantha Brown

A daytime date in the desert

You could easily assume Shields Date Farm is just a kitschy roadside attraction… and you would be so, so wrong. For almost a century, Shields has been a place where people come to learn about (and eat!) dates. I met up with owner Heather Raumin to learn about what makes dates to special. Did you know palm trees are male and female, that they grow palm dates, and that they’re hand pollinated? These tasty gems require a lot of work, which really makes you appreciate every delicious bite. For the best date experience, belly up to their 1960s shake counter for a delicious date shake. The building also features an old school movie theater that continuously plays their proprietary film, The Romance & Sex Life of the Date.

 

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Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley are not only a desert oasis, but a bonafide lifestyle. Visitors started flocking to this playground in the 1920s for rest and relaxation. Trust me, there's a lot more to here than lounge by a pool (though let's be honest... that's okay, too!). From mid-century modern design to sprawling, otherworldly landscapes, it's easy to see why the Coachella Valley is a place to love.

IF YOU GO

Enjoy the desert sunshine with a walk through Shields 17-acre date grove and botanical garden.

ADDRESS

Shields Date Farm
80225 US Highway 111
Indio, California
(800) 414-2555

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