Sprawling sun-kissed palm trees aligned with the infamous main street in Palm Springs California.
During summertime, the sun beats harshly down on the main street in this desert city with temperatures easily reaching into the hundreds. The summer is, coincidentally, an off-season for Palm Springs because of the scorching heat. It, however, serves as the perfect weekend vacation hotspot for many Southern Californians.
There are numerous hotels right along the main street with a number of resorts (yes, with massive pools) just a little farther out. Although Palm Springs can appear small, the town’s downtown carries a lively atmosphere. Palm Canyon Drive, a road that runs from uptown to downtown, not only beats in the heart of the city, it also houses a variety of eclectic stores which attract visitors and a large gay community.
When I was recently in Palm Springs, I came across a boutique called Greetings that had eccentric cards and random, funny household items. Downtown Palm Springs has an assortment of restaurants that provide diverse food options. Whenever my family goes to Palm Springs, we prefer to dine at a Mexican restaurant called: Las Casuelas Terraza, it never fails to satisfy our Mexican food cravings. There are also some incredible steak houses near resort hotels. Travelers can easily stroll down Palm Canyon Drive and discover a collection of restaurants to choose from.
One of the most distinguished features of Palm Springs rests with the Hollywood symbols that are infused within the Downtown scene. Palm Springs has a walk of stars right along Palm Canyon Drive! There are a multitude of stars with famous celebrity names imprinted in cement all along the main drag. It is not uncommon while walking into a restaurant to see Elvis Presley or Marilyn Monroe’s names on it.
In Palm Springs, Hollywood stars appear not only on the ground but also up in the air. I recently discovered a larger-than-life statue of Marilyn Monroe while walking down Palm Canyon Drive. The massive sculpture depicts Marilyn Monroe in the classic American image of her holding down the iconic white dress. The theme of the art is “Forever Marilyn” because she frequently vacationed in Palm Springs.
If the Hollywood characteristics do not draw you to Palm Springs, the inviting hotel pools and lush golf courses should. I love stopping at Desert Hills Premium Outlets, a huge outlet mall about a half of an hour drive from Palm Springs. The misting restaurants, old school Hollywood decor, and the shopping always makes Palm Springs a short yet perfect getaway.
