January is a great time to visit Palm Springs – sunny skies, cool weather for hiking and plenty of activities and special events like the annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. Kevin’s parents were visiting and knew they’d love it. Plus, you can do a nice combo of hiking in nearby Joshua Tree on your first day with some relaxation in Palm Springs on the second. Here are our recommendations.
Resort with all the Amenities: Renaissance Palm Springs
The glowing lobby at the Renaissance Palm Springs
Kevin and I tend to stay at the smaller resorts in Palm Springs. In particular, we love Casa Cody, Del Marcos Hotel and The Andalusian Court (with private hot tubs with most villas). These places book up quickly, so if going at busy times (like January) you need to act fast (which we didn’t!). This time, we went with the large chain of the Renaissance Palm Springs. I was a little nervous – especially since the smaller resorts offer such personalized service. But The Renaissance is great for a family trip, and just a quick 10-15 minute walk to the main shopping district (with regular shuttles buses as well). Plus, it has a lot of amenities like a large outdoor pool with fireplaces, hot tub, restaurants, a gym and a nice gift shop (and I love a gift shop!). Plus, you really can’t beat those views. It was a bargain if you don’t mind sharing the room – around $250 a night total, including all taxes, for the four of us.
Stunning views from inside the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel
Hotel gyms are generally pretty bad, but this one had natural light and clean new equipment (we sadly never used!)
Guiltless Brunch Spot: Palm Greens Cafe
There are plenty of brunch spots in Palm Springs, but if you’re looking for some healthier choices and full of flavor, you need to check out Palm Greens Cafe. Kevin and I love this place, which specializes in vegan and gluten-free meals. What you won’t find here are any preservatives, corn syrup or additives. Each and every item is made in small batches daily and you can tell. But they don’t compromise in flavor at all – trust me, you won’t find any cardboard-flavored options here. Entrees run mostly around $10-$15. Without a doubt, the best thing on the menu is the Chili Verde Bowl ($12). Luckily, I had a fork that I could poke everyone away from eating all of mine!
The Chili Verde Bowl at Palm Greens Cafe – a must order item on the menu – along with the chicken avocado Caesar wrap
Elvis Has Left the Building: Touring The King’s Honeymoon Hideaway
Kevin waits out front of Elvis’ honeymoon home located in the retro Las Palmas neighborhood of Palm Springs
Palm Spring has a long history of attracting celebrities, dignitaries and politicians. In fact, we just missed President Obama who headed straight to Palm Springs to unwind after his term in office. Elvis and Priscilla Presley also enjoyed the desert and lived in the honeymoon hideaway — a spectacular mid-century modern home — in 1966, 1967 and honeymooned here on May 1, 1967 right after their wedding. Originally dubbed “the house of tomorrow,” it was built by local developer Robert Alexander for his family.
Elvis’ living room – like walking into a time machine!
Tours are offered daily at 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm, and cost $30 per person. No advance reservations are required, and you can just show up. The tours last about 1 hour and are led by true Elvis enthusiasts where you get to see how the king lived and his — let’s just say — “unique” decorating taste.
Original Elvis items, including an old-time jukebox are throughout the home
What a view – the pool area in the back looks out at the soaring mountains
One cool fact is that it’s only 1 of 2 homes you can actually go inside and tour. The other, most famously, is Graceland in Memphis. Elvis also lived at 845 Chico Avenue in Palm Springs, but this home is not open for tours. For those ultimate fans, the Honeymoon Hideaway was recently put back on the market… you know, if you have $7 million dollars to burn!
Best Evening Entertainment: The Purple Room
Inside the intimate Purple Room, a hidden cabaret in Palm Springs
You’ll find national touring concerts as well as top comedians and entertainers performing at casinos and large resorts in Palm Springs. But our favorite spot still remains the Purple Room — a 1960s watering hole and supper club of the famed Rat Pack. An evening isn’t exactly cheap – quickly racking up a bill of $200-$300 for a party of four. But it’s a full night event with dinner, strong cocktails and a show. Performances are held nearly every night of the week, which could include live jazz, standup comedians, country and blues and of course, plenty of camp. It’s Palm Springs after all!
Kevin and his parents at the bar seats at the Purple Room
We went for one of their signature performances called The Judy Show, a “one-woman” parody of the greatest female icons of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Okay, some of the jokes went WAY over our heads. But even if you know next to nothing about Judy Garland, the over-the-top audience interaction will have you laughing. If you have stage fright, we’d recommend getting a seat at the bar (where we sat!). You’ll be in the safe zone there.
Watching The Judy Show from the safety of our bar top seating!
Dinner starts at 5:30 PM (though many patrons show up earlier than this) with shows starting at 7:00 PM. Seats cost $25-$30 each and entrées range from $22-$39. I also highly recommend making an advanced reservation on their website (as weekend performances often sell out).
If you’re an early-to-bed kind of person, this place is perfect. Most shows are just a little over an hour, so you’ll be back in your hotel room in no time. Or if you’re a night owl, it’s just getting started!
[…] Now you’re officially ready for Joshua Tree and all its stunning beauty. We also highly recommend you download the AllTrails app, which comes in handy when following the trail maps (for the navigationally challenged!). Looking for other travel ideas in Joshua Tree? Be sure to check out all of our coverage for your next Josh Tree adventure. Have a few extra days out in the desert? Consider spending a full day exploring the wild west film set of Pioneertown. Or visiting a hidden llama farm near Joshua Tree where you can put these cuddly creatures to bed. And of course, who could pass up a trip to Palm Springs to see where Elvis went on his honeymoon hideaway? […]