Thank you to Jaclyn Vercillo for this fun look at Palm Springs, California!

Palm Springs is about a 3 hour drive from Los Angeles and we love to head there for a quick retreat. California is so big, and has so many different types of destinations. My kids marvel at how each location is so different, but in the same state. Palm Springs feels like a desert oasis filled with lush palm trees while surrounded by beautiful mountains. This time the top of the mountains were covered in snow which was crazy for us! We were in 85 degree weather and our scenery was snow covered mountains!

This time we decided to stay at the Parker Palm Springs. It’s an iconic hotel, originally built as an estate, and designed by the very talented Jonathan Adler. The details and design of this hotel blew me away. It was exquisite and quirky at the same time. Many people come to visit the Parker since it’s so iconic and it has amazing restaurants. What’s great about the hotel is that only hotel guests are allowed past the lobby and restaurant area so you have the grounds all to yourself. And believe me, they are amazing! They have fire pits, hammocks, croquet fields, 2 pools, chess and ping pong, and lush gardens. They also have the most adorable lemonades stand offered only to hotel guests. They have yummy food, amazing lemonade, and adult beverages too.

There are so many great things to do in Palm Springs. Most people go to relax and soak up the sun, but it’s also known for golf and tennis. Traveling with kids we knew we would need a few adventurous items on our itinerary besides lounging by the pool. We decided to visit The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens are first day and we were very impressed. It’s beautifully maintained and they have amazing add ons like feeding the giraffes and camel rides. My kids also really enjoyed the model train exhibit and so did the adults! If you want a little more adventure you should wear your hiking gear and take one of the amazing trails there.

After the zoo we headed back to our hotel for some lounging before our dinner at the amazing French restaurant Mr. Parker’s. Heading to dinner the hotel had completely transformed into a big nightlife crowd. Palm Springs definitely has a night scene! Our dinner was fantastic and they even made my kids pizza so all were happy.

The next day we decided to hit the pool and before we took off for home we visited the Palm Springs Air Museum. To say it was incredible is an understatement. They had so much inventory from the cold war, WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. The museum was huge! Best part was that it is attached to the Palm Springs airport and you get to watch fighter jets and old bombers take off! And if you are really brave, you can take a ride in them!

Basically, Palm Springs has something for everyone. We met a lot of friends coming in for the weekend from cold places trying to escape the snow for a few days and enjoy the heat, a bachelorette party, a babymoon, family trips, couples retreat, and even single travelers just looking to relax.

We loved the Parker Palm Springs but we have visited many other hotels in Palm Springs and they all offer so many unique features that going to Palm Springs is always a new adventure!