Palm Springs: Relax, Rejuvenate and Indulge

Greater Palm Springs is made up of nine distinct cities, all in close proximity and each with resort offerings. From the sleek and stylish Parker in Palm Springs to the Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells and The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage, there is no lack of perfectly manicured gardens and pools where you can enjoy 360 days of sunshine a year. Whether you’re dining at the resorts or around town, the food here is truly top notch. In Palm Springs, we ate dinner at Spencer’s Restaurant, and it included the most spectacular surf and turf served under the stars – so delicious and romantic.

You can enjoy a manicure and pedicure or massage at almost any resort, but Greater Palm Springs specializes in health spas, where you can relax, rejuvenate and detoxify. In Desert Hot Springs, the water comes out of the springs at 60 CD and is cooled, then delivered to the pools. The water’s rich mineral profile has long been viewed as healing for the body.

We stayed at Two Bunch Palms, so restful and meditative with its grotto featuring two mineral pools and a waterfall, as well as its unique yoga dome where daily classes are conducted. At the spa, I experienced one of the most profoundly relaxing treatments, a Watsu, which is a shiatsu massage performed by the therapist in the first Watsu pool in California. I also relaxed in the mud baths, which are said to draw out toxins from the skin while also exfoliating. These spa treatments were like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and I see why celebrities and the entertainment industry professionals of Los Angeles flock here to rest, find privacy and get healthy.

Greater Palm Springs has tremendous shopping offerings, including the “Rodeo Drive of the Desert,” El Paseo, where you’ll find the best designers lined next to one another. It’s perfect for window shopping while enjoying the desert mountain views. Palm Springs also is home to the Uptown Design District, which has all sorts of neat galleries and mid-century modern home décor boutiques featuring bright colors and bold patterns. You have to stop at Trina Turk and bring home a quintessential Palm Springs souvenir for your wardrobe or your home.

The luxurious resorts, spa experiences, great food and shopping have been attracting the Hollywood elite for decades, and I can see why. Greater Palm Springs is a fabulous year-round destination that makes you want to return time and time again.