There are nine cities’ worth of experiences in the Southern Californian desert oasis of Greater Palm Springs, sure to captivate the imaginations of OutThere luxury travellers. Here, where the beauty of the Coachella Valley meets the chic elegance of high-end resorts and world-class amenities; timeless glamour and modern sophistication converge in a way that is effortlessly welcoming, inclusive and celebrating of travellers from all backgrounds.
Imagine waking up to breathtaking views of the rugged San Jacinto Mountains, spending your days indulging in rejuvenating spa treatments, exquisite culinary adventures and exclusive outdoor experiences… all under the rays of the warm, golden sun.
Picture a destination where you can truly be your authentic self and where people from diverse communities are celebrated, regardless of where they’re from, who they love, how they identify and who they travel with. Whether you’re a solo traveller, LGBTQ+ couple, diverse group of friends or modern family; Greater Palm Springs has much to offer.
And even if you’ve visited the destination before, there never has been a more compelling moment to rediscover the unparalleled allure of Greater Palm Springs’ nine cities, each with distinct personalities that provide everything a luxury holiday should: a blend of relaxation, opulence and adventure, all in a place where you know you can live your truth.
A good vacation lets you ‘do you.’ It should start with a heavy dose of escapism and self-care. In Greater Palm Springs, wellness in all senses, is at the heart of everything. Ask anyone that lives here; and they’ll tell you that they prescribe to its signature, sun-kissed, idyllic, Southern Californian lifestyle. Visitors can do much of the same: making the most of days here by dipping in a pool, basking in the sun, relaxing and unwinding at a day spa, or imbibing the power of the great outdoors, while reconnecting with loved ones, family and chosen family.
It’s a kind of ‘slow travel’, but not as you know it … and it can even be done over a long weekend. Naturally, the more time you have to spare, the better, but it’s guaranteed that you’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated by the time you get home!
Stay chilled
You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to places to stay in Greater Palm Springs. The eco-friendly resort, Two Bunch Palms Resort and Spa in Desert Hot Springs, offers a contemporary approach to hospitality rooted in wellness and a philosophy of allowing guests to define what wellness means for themselves. Bathe in therapeutic, mood-enhancing mineral waters from their 600-year-old natural spring, followed by healing treatments in their Desert Spa. And wellness here extends to mindfulness. We recommend the cacao ceremony which taps into your inner magic and helps you discover the power of intention. Their vision boarding and manifestation classes amplify this and help map desire.
Descanso Resort in Palm Springs welcomes gay male travellers and offers self-celebrating, authentic stays in casual refinement, with an upscale Hollywood Modern vibe. Because the resort is clothing optional, you can be carefree and let loose here. Similarly, Vista Grande Resorts – also in Palm Springs – has for four decades provided gay adventurers a secret garden sanctuary of earthly delights, allowing guests to celebrate life, love and personal freedom, 365 days a year. With a spectacular view of the San Jacinto Mountains, the resort is focused on exploring a lust for being alive. They’ve coined it ‘the art of being’.
For more active wellness, the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa is exceptional, offering a serene and rejuvenating escape matched with a state-of-the-art fitness centre that is well-equipped with modern machines and free weights, catering to all workout preferences. The resort features multiple outdoor pools, perfect for a leisurely dip or hydrotherapy. It is also a great choice for families, including LGBTQ+ and single-parent families. Not only are its family pools complete with a splash pad, but its HyTides Plunge Waterpark with lazy river and duelling water slides are great for kids of all ages (and kids-at-heart). Plus, its family-oriented service and international gold-star Hyatt sensitivity training means you can spend time on what matters most, without worrying about how others will perceive your brood. And nearby, is The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.
Visit Greater Palm Springs and participating hotel and charity partners are proud to partner with Kind Traveler to support the important work of Friends of the Desert Mountains and LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, advancing community and environmental impact in the destination. Through this partnership, they’re empowering a new generation of responsible travellers to positively impact the local community, through giving back.
Wellness days
The new Spa at Séc-He is a well-being game-changer, offering an immersive and experiential day out. Here spa bunnies can soak in hot mineral spring water that’s over 12,000 years old, which since time immemorial has been sacred to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Visitors can book a full day of relaxation in private mineral baths, spa treatment rooms and cryotherapy chambers, across this mammoth 6,780sqm / 73,000sqft complex.
Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa Oasis in Desert Hot Springs features more mineral-rich waters, ‘Desert Oasis’ outdoor soaking tubs, stone reflexology paths and Himalayan salt and ice rooms, designed to help soothe fatigue, aches and pains.
There are many other fantastic spas worth putting on your hot(springs)-list, including Miracle Springs Spa in Desert Hot Springs, Sunstone Spa at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage and Spa La Quinta at the La Quinta Resort and Club.
Let’s go outdoors
Take an open-top, Red Jeep tour through spellbinding landscapes to soak in the power of nature and experience a true sense of place. At the San Andreas Fault Line, a naturalist guide will walk you between narrow slot canyon walls, take you to a natural palm oasis and learn more about the Cahuilla Indians. You can also experience the destination’s Native American heritage and culture at the Indian Canyons while hiking alongside the picturesque Andreas Creek. At Joshua Tree, you’ll travel between two desert ecosystems to a land filled with Jenga-stacked boulders and Dr. Seuss-esque trees.
By hiring a car or taking other modes of transport, you can also experience the natural wonders of Greater Palm Springs easily. From verdant palm groves to rocky gorges; and from crystal waterfalls gushing from ancient canyons, to pine-strewed mountain peaks rising above sandy washes, there are many ways of accessing self-guided and ranger-led experiences across the region, allowing you to connect with the area’s natural and human history, indigenous culture and learn about the importance of safeguarding its wide-open spaces and natural resources so they remain accessible for generations to come.
Celebrating yourself is not just about down-pacing, you may also decide to ‘live it up’! In Greater Palm Springs there are festivals, Pride celebrations and community-centric events that foster inclusion and belonging all year round. Its culinary and bar scene will also have you supping and sipping, on amazing food and drink. Perhaps you may want to engage in some retail therapy; there’s plenty on offer there too.
Pride of place
Greater Palm Springs isn’t short of LGBTQ+ events all year round. The bigger celebrations in the calendar are unique, as they do not compete with other US Pride festivities that traditionally happen in June/Pride Month.
From late October to early November, Greater Palm Springs Pride celebrates the region’s LGBTQ+ resilience, strength and equality with a parade, festival and marketplace. Expect all kinds of revelry including block parties, festival entertainment and lashings of queer joy.
Every March, drag queens and bartenders battle it out in an iconic bed race that marks the height of Cathedral City LGBTQ Days. There are art events, markets, lively brunches and live music that celebrate the community.
Setting the bar
Get high on life with Greater Palm Spring’s fabulous bar scene … whether it’s craft beer, cocktails or mocktails. You can do it from the serenity of your hotel pool deck, but you can also get more social by going out and about. Check out the rooftop High Bar at the Kimpton Rowan hotel in downtown Palm Springs, or take flight at the jetsetting-themed PS Air Bar. Bar Cecil is a rather quirky, artsy and provocative Cecil Beaton-themed bar that celebrates the life of the bisexual renaissance man; and The Pink Cabana in Indian Wells brings colour and camp to a new level. For beer lovers, the Luchador Brewing Company in Cathedral City is a Mexican-inspired brewery that boasts a fantastic selection of beers and seltzers, all made in-house.
All of these are of course in addition to Greater Palm Spring’s plethora of LGBTQ+ nightlife and social spaces.
Shopping spree
Whether you love shopping unique local boutiques, designer shops, big brands or independent labels, Greater Palm Springs punches above its weight when it comes to retail therapy. From street fairs and farmers markets to chic boutiques and galleries, you’ll find the perfect souvenir (or suitcase full of souvenirs) from your time in the region.
Local stores include Brandini Toffee, purveyors of hand-made, small-batch sweet treats. They have stores in Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage. The Body Deli in Palm Desert sells ‘superfood skincare’, a breakthrough in skin rejuvenation technology that uses fresh, organic, living botanical, ‘good-enough-to-eat’ ingredients for cellular regeneration. Tru Self Care Boutique brings the duality of personal nurturing and fun together. Sisters and owners Sonia and Livia have curated artisanal, often handcrafted and colourful items from different regions in Mexico, as well as those of local artists.
There are many LGBTQ+-owned shops as well. Marquette is a clothing store that prides itself on selling ‘cool stuff for cool people’…. casual fashion items and accessories. PS Homeboys is a furniture and home décor store owned by a creative couple Jeremy Taylor and Niels Kosman, that embodies the timeless elegance and innovation of the Midcentury modern aesthetic. Just Fabulous is another queer-owned boutique that sells coffee table books, gifts and stationery. They’re also known for hosting celebrity book signings.
In Palm Desert, the El Paseo Shopping District is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, including big-name designer stores and smaller boutiques and art galleries.
For discerning travellers seeking the ultimate escape, Greater Palm Springs is a retreat where luxury is redefined and every moment is crafted to your tastes. There is so much to see and do, but first-timers will mostly marvel at its openness and inclusivity. But we’ll also urge those who have visited before to return and be reminded of why this legendary oasis remains an icon of diverse and experiential OutThere travel.
Explore Greater Palm Springs’ 9 cities
This article is in partnership with Visit Greater Palm Springs.
To help plan your next luxury trip to the inclusive oasis that is Greater Palm Springs, California speak to your travel advisor or head to www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com
Photography courtesy of Visit Greater Palm Springs, unless individually credited.
