48 Hours in Palm Springs

Arguments. Stress. Dylan and I were hitting some annoying newlywed bumps early this spring and it was really getting to us. In our first year of marriage we've learned this lesson and I think we've learned it well:

When times get tough, take a vacation.

With 48 hours to decompress from the stress of life, we just needed some sun, drinks, mid-century style and a weekend getting out of LA.



Hello Palm Springs!

FRIDAY

Visitors Center
1 p.m. After about 2 hours of driving from Los Angeles, Dylan and I finally arrived to Palm Springs. If you're driving in from Los Angeles, don't forget to stop by the Palm Springs Visitors Center on your way into town. The Visitor Center is in a former gas station designed by Albert Frey. It's a super cool building. Here you can find really nice modernist tour guide, A Map of Palm Springs Modern for $5.




Vintage Style at The Ace
1:30 p.m. Dylan and I are big fans of The Ace Hotel chain. The Ace Palm Springs is "nomad-chic" meets Howard Johnson. The rooms are roomier than the Portland outlet and the grounds itself is an bohemian oasis.



BYOB...Bring Your Own Bar
2:00 p.m. We knew we'd be drinking a lot, so we decided to bring our bar on the road. We chose our favorite spirits, bitters, fresh squeezed citrus juices, gum syrup and glasses for our party to go. Dylan negroni'd it up all weekend while I sipped on Seven Grand's refreshing Big Mak and Corpse Reviver #2's.



Pool Time
3:00 p.m. After a couple of drinks in the room, it was time to take this party outside.



I love lazy time. Nothing like a little R&R.



Visiting Mister Parker's
8:00 p.m. Dinner time at Mister Parker's at The Parker Palm Springs. This is what Palm Springs must have been like back in the 60s. Low ceilings, dim lighting, Liberace-esque piano, and nudie art work makes Mister Parker's so super groovy.


from top counterclockwise
1. Ris de Veau veal sweetbreads, wild mushrooms, leek coulis, gaufrette potato
2. Filet de Porc pork loin with rosemary spaetzle, brussels sprouts, glazed pork belly, honey apple cider sauce onion
3. Salade Frisée poached egg, crispy leeks, warm bacon vinaigrette, brioche croutons




Fireplace at The Ace
11:00 p.m. Spent the rest our first evening sitting by the communal fireplace at The Ace.



SATURDAY

King's Highway
9:00 a.m. Before starting our morning, Dylan and I fueled up at King's Highway, Ace Hotel's stylish redo of a 1950s Denny's.



King's Highway is "reinterpreting American peasant food for the desert with a focus on fresh, organic, and local ingredients." With items like Tequila Cured Salmon Lox and Bagel, Coconut Bread French Toast, Poblano & Chedder Grits, and Ricotta Hot Cakes with Maple Crunch Butter and Bananas, it's no wonder why this new diner has become one of the most popular breakfast spots in the desert.


1. Sage sausages
2. Chilaquiles scrambled eggs, chiles, ranchero, homemade corn tortilla chips

Joshua Tree Farmers Market
11 a.m. Before heading out to Joshua Tree National Park, Dylan and I hit up the town's quaint farmers market at Turtle Island. We ended up grabbing some super sweet and juicy navel oranges at one stand. I love desert oranges! * Turtle Island - 61705 29 Palms Hwy. The farmers market runs every Saturday from 8am-noon.



Joshua Tree National Park
12:00 p.m. Springtime weather at Joshua Tree was simply amazing even at high noon. Dylan and I spent the day hanging out in the back of our car and shooting all the beautiful wild desert flowers.



Casual Burgers at Tyler's
3:30 p.m. Tyler's is a little burger shack on Palm Springs' main drag serving solid old school-style burgers. Don't forget to fill up on their delicious lemonades and potato salads!



El Mirasol
8:00 p.m. There's a time and place for jumbo margaritas and Mexican combination plates and that time and place is Palm Springs. Loved our giant margarita and hard taco/enchilada plate. Yea, I said it.



SUNDAY

Sunday Brunch at Norma's
10:00 a.m. They give you a shot of their smoothie of the day as their amuse bouche once you sit down. LOVE!


from top counterclockwise
1. Potato Pancakes James Beard Award Winning Recipe with homemade cranberry apple sauce and sweet carrot payasam
2. Traditional Eggs Benedict
3. Norma's Sausage Links

I wish we had more people to eat with because the menu looks amazing and I want to try everything. Don't forget to hang out at The Parker after brunch. Jonathan Alder, can you please design our space too?



Sherman's Deli
2:00 p.m. After a couple more hours hanging out at the Ace pool, it was time to check out and say goodbye to our beloved Palm Springs. But before we took off on our 2 hour drive back home, we stopped by Sherman's Deli for some old school deli treats.


Pickled tongue and pastrami sandwich with cottage fries on the side.

We can't wait to head back to Palm Springs, but I think we're going to have to wait until it cools down. The next time we go, I will have to make time for some mid-century shopping and the Trina Turk boutique. So much to do in Palm Springs.

Thanks for reading!