Destination: Palm Springs

Updated: December 04, 2008

Sprouted up decades ago as a desert getaway for the rich and famous, Palm Springs has since become a mecca for connoisseurs of mid-century style and decidedly modern luxuries. Embrace the "sun-kitsched" lifestyle of this retro-cool desert oasis with Rat Pack-worthy hot spots and first-rate cuisine.

On this page:What to Do, Where to Eat, Where to Stay.

What to Do

  1. 1 PGA West
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    49-499 Eisenhower Dr, La Quinta, CA 92253 (map)

    Six world-class courses with luscious greens--it's a veritable swinger's paradise.

  2. 2 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Desert Hills Premium Outlet
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    48400 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA 92230 (map)

    Shop till you drop at this desert oasis of penthouse-worthy labels at bargain-basement prices.

  3. 3 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Cabazon Dinosaur Museum
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    50800 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA 92230 (map)

    Paleontology and kitsch collide at Cabazon's low-tech Jurassic Park.

  4. 4 El Paseo
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    73-990 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA 92260 (map)

    A shopper's oasis for chic boutiques and eclectic galleries that give Rodeo Drive a run for its money.

  5. 5 3.5 Star Rating: Average Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
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    1 Tramway Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (map)

    Witness jet-age engineering and stunning views on this ear-popping mountain journey.

Where to Eat

  1. 6 4 Star Rating: Recommended Melvyn's
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    200 W Ramon Road, Palm Springs, CA 92264 (map)

    Dry martinis and tableside steak Diane--traditional Continental dining that would make the Rat Pack croon.

  2. 7 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Matchbox Palm Springs
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    155 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (map)

    Crispy crunchy thin crust pizzas, steaks and cocktails are served on a lively outdoor patio high above downtown Palm Springs.

  3. 8 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Johannes
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    196 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (map)

    Cosmopolitan cuisine with a heavy Austrian accent in the heart of downtown Palm Springs.

  4. 9 4 Star Rating: Recommended Citron
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    415 South Belardo Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (map)

    Cal-French cuisine served in the Viceroy's retro-chic retreat.

  5. 10 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended L G's Prime Steakhouse
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    255 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (map)

    Classic, American steakhouse mini-chain elevates the desert to a dining destination.

  6. 11 3 Star Rating: Average Cuistot
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    72595 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA 92260 (map)

    Exquisite and unpretentious Cal-French fare for the desert gourmand.

  7. 12 4 Star Rating: Recommended Roy's
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    71959 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 (map)

    This sophisticated Hawaiian-fusion restaurant gives mainlanders an upscale taste of the islands.

Where to Stay

  1. 13 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Parker Palm Springs
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    4200 East Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264 (map)

    Quirky, irreverant and utterly luxurious, this historic property is where head concierge John will make you feel like a rock star, even if you're not. The landscaped gardens are impeccable, the feathertop beds are divine, and the saline pools don't leave you with the nasty smell of chlorine.

  2. 14 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Viceroy Palm Springs
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    415 South Belardo Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (map)

    This yellow-black-and-white boutique resort offers luxury amenities, including fine linens, bathrobes, plush down comforters and pillows, refrigerators, daily newspapers and more.

  3. 15 4 Star Rating: Recommended East Canyon Hotel & Spa
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    288 E Camino Monte Vista, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (map)

    Catering to a successful crop of vacationing gays in their late-twenties and up, East Canyon provides an equal mix of tropical romance, decadent relaxation and out-and-out playfulness.

  4. 16 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Orbit In
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    562 W Arenas Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (map)

    Lovers of retro and modernist designs (and a few hangers-on from an earlier era) flock here to lounge around, looking cool on the classic furnishings by Charles Eames while sipping poolside refreshments.

  5. 17 4 Star Rating: Recommended Hope Springs
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    68075 Club Circle Dr, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240 (map)

    Hope indeed springs eternal at this modernist desert oasis that overlooks the entire Coachella Valley. The brightly-colored adobe is comprised of just ten rooms that circle around a courtyard of curious cacti gardens and three mineral pools that range from 87-105 degrees Fahrenheit all year long.

  6. 18 2.5 Star Rating: Below Average Hotel Zoso
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    150 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (map)

    The staff affirms there's no affiliation, but walking through Hotel Zoso you'll swear you're at a Z Gallerie resort--chocolate-colored furniture, coffee-hued walls and whimsically designed crimson and black lacquer accents work their way through the sleek spaces of the four-acre property.

  7. 19 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Movie Colony Hotel
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    726 N Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (map)

    This retro retreat combines the architecture of master designer Albert Frey with interiors that unite a sleek, almost Scandinavian look with retro glam accents.

  8. 20 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Korakia Pensione
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    257 S Patencio Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (map)

    No phones, no TVs, no problem. Just steps from downtown Palm Springs, this Moroccan and Mediterranean hideaway attracts couples seeking a little rustic relaxation.

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