PALM SPRINGS , CALIFORNIA
The city in Southern California is the ‘ it ’ destination for the famous and anyone else seeking a laid-back , retro-styled getaway full of fun and fresh air , says Katherine Alex Beaven
DAY 1 images : getty ; alamy ; the parker palm springs ; awl images
Palm Springs is a desert oasis that ’ s been attracting visitors for over a century . In the early 1900s , the native Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians became the first to tap into the town ’ s tourism potential by opening the area ’ s first official wellness resort . However , the explosive growth of Palm Springs began in the 1920s when this small town , located two hours from the glitz and glam of Los Angeles , became a favourite escape for Hollywood ’ s film stars .
For intimate access to one of Palm Springs ’ most celebrated mid-century buildings , check into the Parker Palm Springs . Originally opened in 1965 as a Holiday Inn , this property was soon purchased by Hollywood actor Gene Autry and quickly became a hotspot for Southern California baseball players — that ’ s until media mogul Merv Griffin scooped it up in the 1980s , turning it into a private playground for Hollywood ’ s most famous faces . This year , it celebrates two decades as a 144-room luxury boutique with design refreshes by Jonathan Adler . Soak in its impeccable style with lunch at Norma ’ s , where an all-day breakfast menu tempts alongside Frenchinspired plates like the Nicoise salad with iceberg lettuce , tuna , green beans and hardboiled egg , and croque Manhattan , a bagelbottomed twist on the croque madame .
After lunch , beat the midday heat with a trip on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway . Here , at a mile-and-a-half above the ground , the temperature drops to a refreshing 30C ( you might even need a light jacket ). As you glide up along the rocky Chino Canyon cliff edge toward the Mount San Jacinto Mountain State Park and Wilderness Area , take advantage of your 360-degree rotating trolley to gain a bird ’ s-eye appreciation of the landscape and layout of Palm Springs . On a clear day , it ’ s even possible to spot Las Vegas in the distance . For those visiting
WINTER 2024 • 15