This marks our third visit as a family to Palm Springs, California which carries on a tradition that now spans four generations. Jeff’s parents, Tom and Mari, spend their winter months living there which follows a lifestyle set by Jeff’s grandparents, Peter and Arlene. And this Spring Break trip was extra special because we visited the same week as Jeff’s younger brother Matt and his family. My sister-in-law Sandy and I are great friends and it was lots of fun watch our kids play together in a place we all love so much.
Our list of reasons why we love Palm Springs is quite long so we’ll limit this post to a few of the things we did during our time together recently.
Golf is always part of the trip itinerary when we’re in town and Jeff, his Dad and brother Matt took every opportunity to hit the links. Escena is a lovely course just five minutes from the condo and also happens to have a stellar patio with a view of the mountains. We love meeting the guys at the course after their round for lunch and drinks on the patio.
Pool time is always a priority for both the kids and the adults. The kids are in the water from the time we finish lunch until they are forced to exit to reapply sunscreen. Usually the offer of snacks helps. The pool at the condo has the best view of the mountains and it is ideal for reading your book and laying in the sun while the kids play. This year Matt and Sandy taught me how to play Rummikube - super fun game to play poolside.
Happy hour is a way of life in Palm Springs and it just might be my favorite part of the day. There’s nothing better than a long afternoon spent in the sunshine followed by a cool shower to freshen up for 5 o’clock cocktails! Mari is always the ‘hostess-with-the-mostess’ and spoils us with yummy snacks on the patio.
Dinners are almost always al fresco and this year we had reservations at both John Henrys to celebrate our niece Zoe’s birthday and El Mirasol, a great Mexican restaurant that we’ve taken the kids to before. The atmosphere at John Henry’s is such a delight with a small outdoor patio filled with trees strung with cafe lights, small tables covered with white linens and the warm buzz of patrons talking over music. It was lovely!
Visiting The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is always part of our trip. The grounds are currently under renovations as they continue to expand their zoo exhibits. We missed out on the live shows this year we assume due to covid restrictions but are hoping the break in their regular programming has allowed for quicker construction so that the next time we visit we’ll be able to experience even more. The Living Desert is great for families and we enjoy our visit every time we go.
We also took a trip to the top of the mountain this year on the Aerial Tramway. The 2.5 mile round trip hike at the top of the mountain is a good morning activity with the kids with incredible views. The tram itself is a fun experience showing 360 degree views (it spins!) going both up and down the mountain. Our kids love it.
Most mornings in Palm Springs are slow going and filled with coffee and pastries. Sometimes Mari makes monkey bread or someone will run to Jelly Donut for apple fritters and sprinkled donuts. Jeff reads the actual real life Wall Street Journal that his Dad subscribes to and we all sit and chat together while the kids watch cartoons in their room.
This year we celebrated three of the kids birthdays: Zoe who’s birthday happened the week we were there but also Thomas’ and Natalie’s whos birthdays happen before Dad and Mari return to Michigan for the summer. They were spoiled with birthday gifts and cake. Mari completely outdid herself and allowed each kid to pick their own cake flavor. Needless to say, we had leftovers. Natalie received a pair of proper high heels (she loves them) and Thomas was very excited about his new wooden train accessories.
Another one of our favorite things to do is to grab coffee and cake pops from Starbucks Reserve and go shopping in downtown Palm Springs. This is usually a ladies trip with the kids while the guys are golfing in the morning. We always visit the cheesy souvenir shop to get the kids graphic Palm Springs tee shirts.
