City Guide Volume 15: Back to Palm Springs!

April 2025

Why go back to Palm Springs one year after my last visit? Because different company means a totally different experience! And for some reason, going to the desert REALLY feels like getting away, to me.

I needed a break from my day-to-day (work, kids, dogs, dishes… you get the point) and decided to head back to Palm Springs for some sunshine and warmth in early February, when it's still cold at home in St. Louis. A good friend from New Orleans said she'd meet me there.

During my trips to Palm Springs, I'm lucky to have a friend's condo to stay at. However, I would absolutely recommend a stay at The Trixie Motel to anyone visiting! 

Sound familiar? You might recognize it from the reality TV show on Discovery+, opens in a new tab about how drag icon Trixie Mattel, her boyfriend, and a bunch of celeb guests renovated the old motel and turned it into something gorgeous! 

The Trixie Motel was actually our first stop, for snacks and sips at Barbara BarBarbara Bar inside! It's the kind of place where you instantly adore your server, and you talk to whoever is sitting at the other tables. It's a pink paradise! Make sure you make a reservation. 

The we tried Gabino’sGabino’s which is a little hidden gem - you order from a window in an alley (how amazing is that?) and 15 minutes later, you're presented with the most insane crepe you've ever had. Something about the crispy cheese on the crepe…it's heaven!

The Moorten Botanical Garden, opens in a new tab and Cactorium is always on my list because it's so inexpensive ($7!) and spectacular. If you're a plant person, don't miss it! 

We had a fun time shopping at Antique Galleries of Palm Springs, opens in a new tab, and found some cute stores nearby like Plant This, opens in a new tabPlant This, Townie Bagels, opens in a new tabTownie Bagels, and a gallery with eye-popping work from Jaco Moretti.

We drove 45 minutes to Joshua Tree and visited the National Park, opens in a new tabJoshua Tree National Park. We hiked a little and also took some time to relax and do watercolor landscape paintings, and needlepoint. 

When we left the park to shop we stumbled into a fun little store, The Station, opens in a new tab, with an amazing collection of Handker! 

It was 5 dreamy days of desert relaxation. 10/10 I could live in Palm Springs! Could you?