The Palm Springs & Coachella Valley vibe

Palm Springs sits in Southern California’s Coachella Valley: think towering mountains, endless blue skies and a string of low‑rise desert cities each with its own character. Palm Springs itself is famed for its mid‑century modern architecture: low‑profile homes, clean lines, breeze‑block walls and pops of colour that look like they have stepped straight out of a design magazine.

On my visit I joined a modernism architecture tour around some of the city’s most iconic neighbourhoods. It is a brilliant way to orient yourself and understand how the area evolved from an old Hollywood retreat to a global design icon. For anyone who loves interiors, photography or just a bit of people‑watching, this is a must.

Beyond the architecture, Palm Springs offers excellent dining, galleries, boutique shopping and that easy, unhurried pace that comes with desert living. It is also a fantastic base for exploring the surrounding Coachella Valley and the nearby national park.

High Desert escape: Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree & Pioneertown

Just over an hour from Palm Springs the scenery shifts to the High Desert, where the air feels drier, the light sharper and the sky impossibly wide. This is where you find Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree National Park and a growing creative community of small galleries, studios and independent restaurants.

Reset, Twentynine Palms

I based myself at Reset in Twentynine Palms, a calm, design‑led hideaway perfectly positioned for Joshua Tree. The feeling here is restorative: simple, modern spaces with warm desert tones, thoughtful details and an emphasis on slowing down. It is the sort of place where sunrise and sunset become anchor points to your day and the night sky takes centre stage once darkness falls.

Staying out here rather than in town means you feel genuinely immersed in the desert environment. It is ideal for those who value peace and quiet, boutique style and being close to nature rather than nightlife.

Joshua Tree National Park

From Twentynine Palms it is a short drive into Joshua Tree National Park, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet. Strange, sculptural Joshua trees dot the landscape, while vast boulder piles and smooth rock formations create a playground for climbers and photographers alike. Lesser-known fact: Joshua Trees aren't actually trees - they're giant yuccas that belong to the asparagus family!

Even a short walk delivers that feeling of space and silence that is so hard to find in day‑to‑day life. Stay for sunset and you will see the rocks ignite in shades of orange and rose, followed by a canopy of stars once the light fades. For clients who enjoy hiking, photography or simply being out in nature, Joshua Tree adds a powerful “wow” moment to a California itinerary.

Pioneertown & Pappy & Harriet’s

Another highlight of the High Desert is Pioneertown, originally built in the 1940s as a live‑in Old West movie set. Today its weathered wooden storefronts and dusty main street feel like stepping straight into a film, but with an artsy, bohemian twist thanks to local makers, studios and small shops.

At the heart of it all is Pappy & Harriet’s, a legendary roadhouse‑style bar and restaurant that has become one of the most iconic live music venues in the desert. Over the years it has hosted everyone from Paul McCartney and Robert Plant to Queens of the Stone Age and countless surprise sets and secret shows. The atmosphere is wonderfully unpretentious: picnic tables, fairy lights, smoke from the grill and a stage that has seen some very big names.

It is exactly the sort of place where you can arrive for an early dinner and accidentally stay all night, and it adds a brilliant “only in the desert” story to any trip.

Modern Palm Springs: Thompson Palm Springs Hotel & Palm Springs Surf Club

Back in Palm Springs, I had the chance to visit two stand‑out new names on the local scene: Thompson Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Surf Club. Together they give a glimpse of where the destination is heading: stylish, design‑driven and experience‑focused.

Thompson Palm Springs Hotel

Thompson Palm Springs brings a polished, urban‑meets‑desert feel to the city, perfect for style‑conscious couples or friends looking for a sophisticated base. Think clean architectural lines, warm natural materials and a pool scene that feels more “boutique resort” than party hotel.

Public spaces have been carefully curated with art and considered design touches, and many of the rooms look towards the mountains, so you never lose that all‑important sense of place. For those who love contemporary hotels and a buzzing atmosphere within walking distance of Palm Springs’ restaurants and bars, this is a very exciting option.

Palm Springs Surf Club

Palm Springs Surf Club is something entirely different: a desert surf and water playground that adds a fun, high‑energy twist to a stay here. Its wave pool feels almost surreal, with turquoise water framed by palm trees, the San Jacinto mountains as a backdrop and perfectly formed, head‑high barrels powerful enough to challenge experienced surfers. Combined with its open, stylish, resort‑style spaces, it is a brilliant option for families with teens, groups of friends or anyone who loves the idea of pairing desert sunshine with world‑class surf, without ever heading to the coast.

From my visit, it is clear that this is not just a simple waterpark; it feels like a curated lifestyle venue, with attention to design, atmosphere and food as well as the waves themselves. It is the sort of place that can easily become the “highlight day” of a trip.

Classic desert luxury: La Quinta Resort & Club

To round off the trip, we stayed at La Quinta Resort & Club in the Coachella Valley, a historic property that feels every inch the desert grande dame. Whitewashed casitas, flower‑filled walkways and swathes of green lawns sit beneath rugged mountains, giving the whole place a cinematic quality.

With multiple pools, an excellent spa, tennis and outstanding golf, there is plenty to do on site, yet the atmosphere remains relaxed and unhurried. It works wonderfully as a “switch off and recharge” finale after time exploring Joshua Tree or road‑tripping the coast.

For families, the space and facilities are a big plus; for couples, the combination of heritage, scenery and comfort makes it a very romantic choice.

Golf in Greater Palm Springs

Greater Palm Springs is a golfer’s dream playground, where lush fairways meet sunny skies and breathtaking mountain backdrops. Legendary course designers such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye and Greg Norman have taken the stunning desert landscape and turned it into a golfer’s oasis, filled with world‑class courses that cater to every skill level. Whether you are chasing birdies or simply soaking in the mountain views, the courses here offer a mix of beauty, challenge and fun.

There are over 100 golf courses across Greater Palm Springs, which makes it one of the premier golfing destinations in the United States and a natural choice for a winter‑sun golf escape. With year‑round sunshine and dramatic desert scenery, it is easy to see why the region has earned the nickname “Golf Capital of the West”. Courses range from relaxed public and municipal layouts to prestigious private clubs and full resort‑style experiences, so there is something to suit everyone from keen golfers to those who simply enjoy a leisurely round in beautiful surroundings.

Many of the area’s leading resorts, including La Quinta Resort & Club, offer on‑site or nearby courses plus excellent practice facilities, tuition and 19th‑hole hospitality. For golfing couples or groups of friends, it is very simple to build a tailored itinerary that combines tee times with spa days, pool time, dining and day trips into the desert.

Palm Springs & the celebrity story

Part of Palm Springs’ enduring appeal is its long‑standing love affair with Hollywood and music. For decades this has been a discreet desert hideaway for the famous, and you still feel that golden‑age glamour when you wander its streets.

Icons like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Marilyn Monroe, Steve McQueen and Liberace all had homes or spent significant time here, escaping the spotlight in favour of sunshine, martinis and poolside parties. You can still see echoes of that era on architecture tours and at certain landmark properties, from Sinatra’s former estate to the modernist house that Elvis and Priscilla rented for their honeymoon.

The tradition continues today. Modern‑day names such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Kylie Jenner, Justin Bieber, Dakota Johnson and many others own homes or regularly retreat to the area, especially around festival season and the cooler winter months. It gives the city a subtle star quality: you never know who might be behind the sunglasses at the next table, yet Palm Springs retains a relaxed, unshowy feel that keeps the focus on good living rather than paparazzi.

For those who enjoy a touch of celebrity sparkle with their sunshine, this backstory adds another layer of interest to exploring the neighbourhoods and hotels.

Who this region is perfect for

Based on my time in Palm Springs, Twentynine Palms and the wider Coachella Valley, I would particularly recommend this area for:

• Design lovers and culture seekers - Mid‑century architecture, contemporary art spaces like Superbloom, the character of Pioneertown and venues such as Pappy & Harriet’s make this a dream destination for anyone who loves aesthetics, music and storytelling through place.
• Nature‑focused travellers - Joshua Tree National Park, desert hiking, big‑sky sunsets and clear‑night stargazing offer a powerful natural counterpoint to the cities and coast.
• Golfers and active travellers - More than 100 golf courses, Palm Springs Surf Club, hiking and unique experiences like hot laps at the BMW Performance Center West mean there is far more than pool time on offer.
• California repeat visitors - For those who have “done” the classic Highway 1 route or Los Angeles and San Francisco, Palm Springs, the High Desert and the Coachella Valley bring a fresh and memorable new chapter to the story.

Planning your Palm Springs & Coachella Valley escape

The joy of this region is how easily it can be woven into a wider California adventure: a few nights in Palm Springs, a couple of desert nights near Joshua Tree or Pioneertown, and a finale at a resort like La Quinta works beautifully, or it can be paired with the coast or Las Vegas for a very different twin‑centre.

If you would like to bring this mix of sunshine, style and desert stillness into your own California journey, I would love to share more from my trip and create an itinerary tailored to you.

Contact me today to start planning your Palm Springs and Coachella Valley escape.