Palm Springs is one of our favorite places to visit and a spot where HW Home’s founders, Jim Hering and Ron Werner, find relaxation and inspiration. Jim explains just what’s so special about this desert enclave and why it’s worth a trip.
Looking for a quick and affordable getaway this spring? If you haven't been to Palm Springs, California, or haven’t visited in awhile, 2016 might be a good time to visit. The city and surrounding area is undergoing a tourism renaissance, especially during some very special desert events.
The year kicks off with the Palm Springs International Film Festival and is followed in February by an exploration of the city’s notorious mid-century modern architecture during Modernism Week. March brings the BNP Paribas Open for tennis fans. April is all about outdoor concerts, with the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival followed by Stagecoach Festival, which brings some of the best country musicians to the valley.
But if larger, sanctioned events are not necessarily your speed, discover what millions of Southern Californians have known for decades: Palm Springs is a year-round city. And its inherent qualities allow for extreme relaxation. While the summer months can be very hot, it serves as a novelty of sorts when you are here for a long weekend. There is nothing quite like floating in a pool at midnight in 90-degree heat.
The cultural and shopping experiences are continually evolving, but more noteworthy are extensive new restaurants within the confines of this desert oasis. Workshop Kitchen, located on North Palm Canyon Drive, offers a unique dining experience more akin to what you would find in SoHo in New York City. Other new eateries include 849, SOPA, and Mr Lyons. Locals favorites, like El Mirasol at the Los Arboles hotel, PHO 533, and Serious Food and Drink, offer terrific food and less waiting time.
- (Photo courtesy of Workshop Kitchen and Bar Facebook)
The hotel experiences in Palm Springs are truly dynamic. My personal favorites are the smaller boutique hotels, which offer privacy, amenities, and a feeling of being home. Check out the following online before booking your next trip: Arrive, Los Arboles Hotel, Le Horizon, The Sparrow Lodge, Avalon, and East Palm Canyon Resort.
Finally, if you are in the mood to shop, you’ll find dozens of interesting design studios in the design district of North Palm Canyon Drive. Refurbished mid-century pieces abound. And with three to seven flights per day from Denver (a 1 hour and 40 minute flight), it is incredibly easy to get there.
Love the look of mid-century modern but can’t make time for a trip to California? We still have a few beautifully restored pieces in the Vintage Heritage collection by Stanley Furniture.
–by Jim Hering, co-owner and co-founder, HW Home