Spurred on by the fantasmic book I got for Christmas, 36 Hours: 150 Weekends in the US & Canada (make this book your Valentine’s Day present to yourself… or have me send your significant other a hint-y email that this is way better than cheesy heart-shaped jewelry), Mr. M & I bookmarked this past weekend for an overnight trip to Palm Springs.
Palm Springs is one of those places that Angelenos my age associate with childhood road trips… our collective National Lampoon’s Vacation experience, with our own parents filling in for Chevy Chase & Beverly D’Angelo. We all have memories of cannonballing into a motel pool in summer’s hundred-degree weather or eating ice cream under the sidewalk misters downtown.
Unable to pinpoint the last time we’d actually been back, Mr. M & I began to wonder: what do adults do in Palm Springs?
Days #11,619-20:
Adults Relive Childhood Fantasies
If you’re a product of the 80’s- or currently drop a lot of acid- one of your favorite, favorite movies has to be “Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure,” where Pee Wee’s beloved bike is stolen, and he ends up on a roadtrip to recover it. If you don’t know what 1985 Tim Burton masterpiece I’m talking about… this movie will either fill a hole in your heart you didn’t know existed or make you seriously doubt my lucidity.
There’s a part in the movie where Pee Wee watches the sunrise from inside the mouth of a giant T-Rex (above at 4:56 and 5:14).
Brace yourselves, Children of the 80’s.
The T-Rex EXISTS.
And he lives on the way to Palm Springs.
The Cabazon Dinosaurs were built in the 60’s & 70’s by an octogenarian sculptor. Both dinosaurs have open living areas inside (although you can currently only climb Dinny the Brontosaurus), and- be still, my beating heart- the T-Rex was built with a giant slide running the length of its tail. OMG!!
Adults Realize that Kid Stuff Has Grown-Up Appeal
Half the fun of a trip to Palm Springs IS the trip to Palm Springs.
What was once my mother’s stop-hitting-your-sister stopover (universally known among So Cal parents, as Mr. M has memories of being pushed out of the family van at the exact same pit stop) has become a non-negotiable detour on the way to Palm Springs.
Hadley Fruit Orchards (48980 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, California) is world-famous (okay, maybe just LA-famous) for their dates. Namely, road-trippers line up for date milkshakes- and, oddly enough, their signature ostrich burgers.
Mr. M & I bounded out of the car for a date-banana shake and realized that Hadley’s is a kind of dangerously enticing, slightly healthier, grown-up Willy Wonka’s Wonderland. My eyes got all googly, and I may have blacked out because before we knew it, there was $70 worth of dried soup mixes, homemade marmalade, figs, and fresh honeycomb from the orchard’s apiary in our cart. ($70!! Just because I want all the things does not mean I can HAS all the things.)
Adults Make it Edu-ma-cational
My mother-in-law Mama Betty told us that if we made one stop, it should be at the Living Desert (47900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert), a botanical garden + zoo hodgepodge just outside town.
The Living Desert showcased creatures from deserts all over the world, from Africa to Mexico.
I was especially pleased to see that nearly all the animals had state-of-the-art enclosures with tons of space to roam and multiple enrichment items (toys, mud pits, and treats) to keep their minds active. There’s little that puts me in a worse mood than a zoo that doesn’t make animal welfare a priority.
One of my favorite parts was getting to tour the new Tennity Veterinary Hospital. It is BEAUTIFUL and comes equipped with video cameras and full-wall windows, so visitors can watch any physical examinations and surgical procedures that are scheduled for the day.
Adults Eat As Many Dinners As They Like
Palm Springs used to be famous as a movie star hideaway for Old Hollywood types. While many of the retreats are still fancy schmancy homes, some have found new lives.
Mr. M & I ate dinner at Copley’s (621 N Palm Canyon), which is a restaurant in what used to be Cary Grant’s old estate.
We hopped across the street to the Colony Palms Hotel to check out their poolside Moroccan lounge… and ended up getting sidetracked into… more dinner.
Happily, when you’re grown-up, you can eat as many dinners as you like.
Adults Relearn How to Be Kids
Our hotel just so happened to have a fleet of cruiser bicycles available for guests’ use. While I imagined this to be a much-appreciated albeit thinly-veiled attempt to lure hipsters to the property, I hadn’t realized what a perfect biking town Palm Springs is.
I found a map of Palm Springs bike routes online, and Mr. M & I were off on our baby blue cruisers to explore the Tahquitz Creek Loop.
It took a little while to revert to riding a cruiser, but after falling like idiots while trying to come to a stop in front of Real Road Cyclists, we remembered that old bikes have coaster brakes that are engaged by pedaling backwards. Right-o.
It was SO much fun. And free! (I’m still working through the fact that I spent $70 on damn dried fruit. Free = good.)
Adults Appreciate Culture… and Brunch
Like San Francisco to the north, Palm Springs WORKS the Sunday morning brunch scene. Post bike ride, Mr. M & I made the pilgrimage to Norma’s in the Parker Palm Springs.
Although we came to the Parker sniffin’ for food, we ended up staying the rest of the afternoon to take in the tres-hip mid-century modern interior design.
Palm Springs is known for its mid-century modern architecture and design. Many of the homes and businesses in the city have been maintained or renovated in this style, which makes visiting the city kinda feel like hopping in a time machine set for 1960’s Cool.
Just as a visit to Palm Springs whisks you back to the Rat Pack era, revisiting a childhood vacation spot is kinda like going back in time. You’re returned to a world where you’re used to being a kid. In fact, it’s not a huge stretch when you’ve spent the morning riding a beach cruiser with the sun in your face.
Carefree, a little giddy, free to slurp up date shakes and to ooh & ahh over giant dinosaurs and to hold out hope that maybe, just maybe, Pee Wee Herman will appear and want to have another Big Adventure, this time with me…
Palm Springs was like being a kid again.
A kid who appreciates a good martini, of course.
Details of the Day:
Palm Springs isn’t the place to stay in a sterile Marriott. Soak in the mid-century goodness and stay in one of the renovated retro motels. Because our stay was really last-minute and winter is high season, many of my top picks had been snatched up.
I booked us a room at The Saguaro Palm Springs, which was insanely hip but a little too Vegas-Spring-Break for my taste. (For me, Palm Springs says ‘lounging with a wine spritzer,’ not ‘poolside DJ spinning Juicy J at 10am.’ I might just be an old lady party pooper.)
You take some great pics! Looks like you had a blast. The little business set up is so cute, I actually really like the décor. I think my fave pic is the Technicolor cacti, looks sharp! ; )
I didn't think I was that into the mid-century modern, but darn if I wasn't won over by that decor! It's so fun & funky! :) Not sure I'm creative enough to pull it off in my own house though... or that I'd want a giant "Drugs" sign in the living room! (Ha! I can confirm that the technicolor cactus WAS sharp, as I got a little too close while trying to be paparazzi!) Thanks for stopping by, Missy!
Fabulous photos! Palm Springs is definitely on my bucket list
Thank you, Regan! Although I can't take all the credit... Palm Springs is a photogenic subject. :) I'd never thought much about Palm Springs as a real destination, but this trip convinced me that it's totally bucket-list-worthy! You'll have to let me know what you think when you go!
I actually relaxed by looking at these pictures. Like I was on vacation.
Aww, I'm so glad to hear that, Nadia! I love a good "vicarious vacation!" :)
These are awesome pictures! I want some of those pancakes, those look amazing! omg, now I'm hungry, haha
Ha, thanks, Natalie! Oh my goodness, the big-as-my-face pancakes were totally worth whatever zillions of carb calories I ingested. I'm with you... tonight might be a Breakfast for Dinner sort of night. ;)
Gorgeous AND I'm so jealous of your Pee Wee Dino!!! I would LOVE to go see that!!!!!! That movie is amazing!!!
I love that you know the Pee Wee Dinos!! I was beginning to feel like the only Child of the 80's who grew up wanting to watch the sunrise from inside a T-Rex's mouth. (Because isn't that the only way?) Thanks for stopping by, Rebecca!
It's a must that I see these giant dinosaurs sometime in my lifetime! When I was younger, I could do an awesome Pee Wee impression. I've been trying to remember how I did it, but am unable to do it now. This makes me sad... but I could still sneak into a Trex and slide down his tail. Who cares if he's off limits??? I must make it to this area at some point in my life. I'm so sheltered, hahahaha.
Ha ha! Even if it didn't live up to your standards, I still would've loved to hear your Pee Wee attempts! My favorite part of Pee Wee's Big Adventure is when he's riding his bike in the park and starts singing reeeally loudly: La LAAAA lalalala LAA!... I'm always tempted to do that when I'm feeling particularly happy on my bike. :) Those giant dinosaurs are So Cool, but they really play hard to get! Like most awesomely random things (like carhenge, which I've been wanting to see for forever), they're in the middle of nowhere. If anyone needs to get there, though, it's you!
It may not be Carhenge, but a few miles down the highway from Dinosaur Land in Florida is this awesome Airstream thing.... http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/17257 We didn't stop, but I managed some drive by photos (DAN, SLOW DOWN!!!!).
WHOA. This is so cool! I'd never even heard of the Airstreams before. Or the roadside America website, to which I'm fast becoming addicted. So... many... weird things to see... (or to snap pictures of while quickly driving by...)
This looks like a great trip! I haven't been to palm springs since I was a kid...going to have to get my hands on that book
Rachael, you'll have to plan a return trip to Palm Springs! I was really surprised by how hip it's become (in an accessible, laidback way). Plus, I'm sure the Wunderkids would have lots of fun... Living Desert was definitely kid-friendly, and it's hard to go wrong kicking it at the pool. The book is fantastic but a little dangerous... it's making for a LOT of weekend-wanderlusting. ;)
Miranda - looks like a fun trip with a lot of variety! Beautiful photos too. I will have to check out that book your aunt gave you next time I'm at a bookstore. It's always great to get little breaks.
Thank you, Michelle! Yes- definitely check out the 36 Hours book! I've also seen the same book series broken down by geographic location (eg, Northeast, Midwest, etc), so you can purchase only the itineraries that are most relevant to you. I totally agree with you- little weekend breaks can be incredibly rejuvenating and illuminating! Sometimes they're just what you need! :)
I think I have been to those dinosaurs before actually...a very long time ago when our family was on vacation...they look very familiar. I will have to ask I guess. Looks like it was a very relaxing time! And much warmer then here..hahahaha....
How funny! Considering the dearth of Giant Dinos these days, I'd bet these are the same ones you saw years ago! And yes- as guilty as I feel admitting it, Palm Springs was *much* warmer than your neck of the woods, Jenn. Sorry! I should never take positive temperatures for granted! :)