A Leisurely Introduction to Palm Springs

Even if it's just for the 'Gram, you've got to stop at what locals call the "Cabazon Dinosaurs" to meet Dinny and Mr. Rex. You can even step inside Dinny's enormous brontosaurus belly to shop for dinosaur-themed merchandise and learn a little bit about history of these extinct creatures. A Creationist-themed Dinosaur Park is also part of the stop. The good news is that this iconic 1975-era roadside attraction is conveniently adjacent to Hadley's Fruit Orchards, where you can snag a great date shake, as well as the Cabazon Outlets, where you can snag a great deal on a new outfit for the weekend.

Hollywood elite and visionary designers flocked to Palm Springs during the 1940s and 1950s to leave behind a treasure trove of preserved mid-century modern architecture. Today, the city is yours to explore the style now called Desert Modernism, an interpretation of the Modernist or International Style, suited to the indoor/outdoor lifestyle of Palm Springs. Pick up a self-guided tour at the Tramway Gas Station, which has since become the Palm Springs Visitor Center. The 1960s-era gravity-defying building is an icon in itself, designed by famed local architect Albert Frey.

Grab a to-go lunch during or after your tour. You'll find the local's favorite Tyler's Burgers and several other sandwich options, in the center of town and historic La Plaza shopping mall, one of the first such multi-use malls in Southern California.

Explore over 3,000 varieties of desert trees, plants, cacti, and succulents organized geographically along a nature trail, representing over a dozen desert biomes around the world. This residence estate also hosts the world’s first "cactarium,” a magical oasis. Keep an eye out for the resident giant tortoise and the family home – known as the Cactus Castle – where Chester “Cactus Slim” Moorten and his wife, Patricia, planned landscaping projects for the Hollywood jet set, such as Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. The Moortens' son, Clark, now runs this charming desert arboretum.

Given the late afternoon temperature is not too intense, there are beautiful scattered palm oases just beyond Moorten's, at Indian Canyons, on the Agua Caliente Band of the Cahuilla Indians reservation. You'll have to pay a small fee to enter, but the three trails you'll find here are superb: Palm Canyon, Andreas Canyon, and Murray Canyon. You'll likely see flowing water in the middle of the desert, clusters of the only native palm found in California (the California fan palm or Washingtonia filifera), and shady spots for a picnic. Palm Canyon is a favorite, with an easy to reach palm oasis. Look out for centuries-old bedrock mortars and metates, towering skirted palm groves, and even bighorn sheep. Don't forget water, hat, and sunscreen.

In keeping with the mid-century vibe, head to The Ace Hotel's King's Highways restaurant for an early dinner, serving up refined diner food in a quirky Googie-style building. Check out the pool scene on the hotel side, and for post-dinner cocktails, hit the adjoining Amigo Room, a cool hideaway desert bar.

It's pool time! Head back to your hotel and check out your hotel's pool party scene. Tomorrow will be another day of desert explorations.