10 Reasons to Escape to Palm Springs in the Name of Self-Care
Updated: Feb. 07, 2019
This California hotspot is the ultimate wellness getaway.
Travel to Palm Springs for a relaxing and rejuvenating experience
I spent most of my 20s buying plane tickets and going on spontaneous adventures. It was thrilling. But a decade, a family, a mortgage, a job, and lot of responsibility later, it isn’t quite as easy to just up and go. So when my husband suggested we take a trip, just the two of us, for my upcoming birthday, I was one hundred percent onboard.
Until then, I hadn’t realized how run down I felt. On paper, my life wasn’t so terrible, but I could feel the tension of my day-to-day wearing on me. So we headed west to Palm Springs, and here are 10 reasons why you should too.
Sleep in style
Opening its doors in 1951, a stay at Holiday House feels like stepping back in time. Think midcentury modern furniture and original paintings and prints by artists like Roy Liechtenstein and Herb Ritts. Oh, and there are no TVs on the property, so your goal to cut back on screen time may actually come to fruition. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to start writing in a gratitude journal.
Pedal through it
Get a taste of the city’s rich, architectural history by downloading the Palm Springs Modern app and then saddling-up. (Most hotels have free bikes for guest use.) Stop at The Alexander Estate where Priscilla and Elvis Presley honeymooned for nearly a year and then head to the famous Kaufmann Desert House, an icon of the International style of architecture, designed by architect Richard Neutra in 1946.
Splish splash
During the week, hotel pools across Palm Springs are your oyster. Spend the day pool hopping from The Saguaro to The Ace Hotel & Swim Club to ARRIVE Palm Springs. It’s the perfect way to experience the hotel scene across town without breaking the bank.
And while you’re enjoying the sunny outdoors, make sure to load up the sunscreen on these easy-to-forget body parts.
Feast on this
Indulge all five senses with a visit to Workshop Kitchen + Bar, a converted movie theatre that boasts 27-foot ceilings, concrete walls and a market-driven menu that will shock your taste buds—in a good way.
View from on top
The world’s largest rotating tramcar takes you up two and a half miles for a bird’s eye view of the city and surrounding desert. Take a relaxing (and calorie-burning) wilderness walk or sit back with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon at Peaks, the fine dining eatery with an impressive view of the Coachella valley.
Lose yourself
Unplug, unwind and fall asleep under the stars in the middle of nowhere. Less than an hours drive from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree beckons with vintage boutiques, ride-up cowboy bars, and vast stretches of nothing—seriously, there are tumbleweeds. Find a beautiful off-the-grid Airbnb (there are lots to choose from) and invest in some “you” time (you deserve it).
Craving a truly spiritual getaway? Be sure to check out this U.S. town.
Pay homage to Joshua
Spanning an impressive 790,636 acres, Joshua Tree National Park has something for everyone. Simply drive the park’s paved roads with the top down (yep, you should rent a convertible) or do one of the scenic (but easy) hikes at Hidden Valley or Skull Rock.
Already thinking about a second vacation? Read up on why Jordan should be your next wellness getaway.
Bathe in sound
George Van Tassel built Integratron, a 38-foot high, 55-foot wide wooden dome, between 1957-1977 for the purpose of time travel, but likely it will only take your senses on a trip. Believed to be located at the intersection of powerful geomagnetic forces, visitors can partake in a 60-minute sonic healing session with the playing of quartz crystal singing bowls that are keyed to target the energy centers (or chakras) of the body. Don’t know much about crystals and their healing powers? Here’s your beginner’s guide.
Shake it up
Berkeley graduates Ben and Lucy Laflin started planting dates in the Coachella valley in 1912. Nearly a century later, the Oasis Date Gardens spans 175-acres and produces some of the region’s best certified organic medjool dates. While there are 16 date varieties to sample at the onsite café, don’t leave without ordering a classic date shake, made from blended medjools and vanilla ice cream. And speaking of date shakes, don’t miss our 5-minute Almond, Date and Espresso Shake recipe.
Spiritual retreat
Book a treatment at Two Bunch Palms where you can soak away your stress in a 600-year-old natural hot spring. The spa’s healers (therapists and aestheticians) offer guests treatments like craniosacral therapy, a chakra balancing massage, a detoxifying clay wrap or a classic mud soak bath.
If a vacation just isn’t in the cards right now, practice self-care at home with these simple and affordable ideas.
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