Stay + Play + Eat + Drink: Palm Springs
While most of our retreats take place outside the United States, we decided to host our first domestic retreat in 2019. First up? Palm Springs, California!
We chose Palm Springs as our first domestic retreat for a variety of reasons: great weather nearly year round (avoiding those sweltering summer months, obviously); easy access with an international airport or a drive from LA; a variety of darling boutique hotels to choose from; and close proximity to Joshua Tree National Park. We also loved the area’s wellness and healing vibe, and after hearing so much about the Integratron (check out this place for a dose of woo woo wellness), we knew we had to incorporate their sound bath experience into the retreat.
Where to Stay
After scouting Palm Springs, we chose the Avalon Hotel and Bungalows for our retreat. It checked all of the boxes:
old school Palm Springs feel yet modernized
large property with beautiful courtyards for working out and plenty of places to spread out
a variety of room types, including bungalows that allowed us to channel Old Hollywood while making us feel right at home
restaurant and bar
spa
three pools (with poolside service!)
a hotel staff that truly cared about providing us with a fantastic experience
the Avalon’s enthusiasm over hosting a retreat!
Among the other hotels we scouted that we were obsessed with but that would be better for a stay than a retreat, these were our favorites:
If you are looking for less hotel, more rental home, our Fit & Fly Palm Springs team stayed at a four-bedroom, mid-century modern home we rented through AirBnB and loved it! While it was located in a neighborhood and required a rental car or Uber, the house was less than a 10-minute drive to downtown Palm Springs. The owners were easy to work with, and the house was adorable – plus the pool was the perfect place to spend the day or wind down in the evening.
Where to Play
Joshua Tree National Park - From rock climbing to stargazing, Joshua Tree National Park is a must-see. The least crowded time of year to visit is during the summer because of the scorching temperatures (no matter what time of year, don’t forget your SPF!).
South Lykken Trail - If you are looking for a hike closer to Palm Springs, the South Lykken Trail can be reached not far from the Avalon Hotel. Our local hiking guide, Shane Farnor, offers a wonderful hike with details along the way about local plants, animals, and geology.
Integratron - Featured in Vogue, GQ, and Conde Nast Traveler, this one-of-a-kind wooden dome hosts sound bath meditations. Tip: If visiting the Integratron is a must-do on your Palm Springs list, book your sound bath before you book your trip or you may miss out.
Aerial Tramway - Check out the world’s largest rotating tram and take in the spectacular views of the vista valleys below.
Palm Springs Door Tour - Experience the modernism and beauty of this desert town by taking the Palm Springs Door Tour (if you want to score the perfect pic, the best time to visit is two hours before sunset).
Pioneertown - A great tie-in with a day trip to Joshua Tree and/or the Integratron, Pioneertown was founded in 1946 by a group of Hollywood investors who wanted to create a living movie set with the appearance of an 1870s frontier town. More than 50 films and televisions shows were filmed in Pioneertown during the 1940s and 1950s.
Where to Eat
Palm Springs dining is fantastic, and it was hard to narrow the list down to just a few. We’ve listed them in alphabetical order with a few insider tips, but the last restaurant on the list, Workshop Kitchen + Bar, should not be missed.
Cheeky’s - Breakfast is served all day; Cheeky’s “World Famous Bacon Flight” should not be missed.
Farm - If you are more South of France than mid-century modern, Farm is the restaurant for you.
Le Vallauris - If you are looking for fine dining, Le Vallauris is the perfect special occasion restaurant. Request a table on the deck under the weeping fig tree.
Melvyn’s - Check out Melvyn’s to experience old school Palm Springs.
Norma’s - Norma’s gives us a good excuse to visit the ever chic Parker Palm Springs Hotel and take photographs.
Sandfish -Sandfish is all about the whiskey and sushi – and proves you can get quality sushi even in the desert!
Workshop Kitchen + Bar - This farm-to-table restaurant retrofitted a 90-year old movie theater into a James Beard Award winning restaurant design.
Where to Drink
Any of the restaurants above would be a great place to grab a drink, but here are a few more bars you should not miss when it’s cocktail hour in Palm Springs.
Whether you are looking for your own dose of wellness, a winter weather escape, or a girls trip (hello perfect place for a bachelorette getaway!), we can’t say enough good things about Palm Springs. The only question is, are you joining us for our next Fit & Fly Palm Springs retreat, April 25 - 29, 2021?!
To tide you over until your next visit, here are some Palm Springs-inspired Items to Shop below to bring a Palm Springs feel to your home or to pack for your next trip!
