Staycationing has always been one of my favorite pastimes – as is clearly evidenced by Everything Palm Springs’ extensive hotel section! Thanks to a gift from a friend, I’ve discovered a new way to indulge in the hobby. You can read all about it below, along with four other desert happenings and sites I’m currently loving.
xo, Lindsay
STAYCATIONS WITH RESORTPASS
Staycationing has been redefined thanks to ResortPass, which offers day passes to a wide selection of resorts and their various amenities, with rates starting at a scant $25. And no, this is not an ad! My high school BFF gave me a ResortPass gift card last Christmas and I have had an absolute blast utilizing it throughout the year, first hitting up Tommy Bahama Miramonte for a pool day in March and then Casa Cody (pictured) in August. My experiences were fabulous, with ResortPass proving a spectacular way to explore the myriad gorgeous hotels the desert has to offer.
BAR CECIL
This chic establishment has been an Instagram staple of pretty much every California-based influencer’s feed since opening in 2021. I was admittedly late to the game, only venturing there for the first time last month, but am happy to report that the eatery is well-deserving of its frequent accolades. Not only is the space beautiful (a dimly-lit whimsical oasis of design with priceless art lining the walls!), but the atmosphere is insanely friendly (there is no stuffiness to be found here!), and the food in a class all its own. Serving both high-brow fare and comfort dishes, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!
ANTIQUE GALLERIES OF PALM SPRINGS
I’ve spent many a recent afternoon perusing the plethora of treasures at this whimsical antique emporium. The gargantuan space is teeming with retro artifacts ranging from glassware to furnishings to vintage menu art(I’m obsessed with this Racquet Club print), spread across two sprawling stories and more than 12,000 square feet! With an exhibition-hall-like atmosphere (the “galleries” in the name is not a misnomer!), shopping here feels a bit like visiting a museum. The employees are also extremely friendly and knowledgeable and the pricing is competitive – especially when compared to other area antique shops.
PAPA HEADZ
In search of a scrumptious burger? The popular Papa Headz food truck is now operating out of the walk-up window at Gabino’s Creperie in downtown Indio, with promises of offering “California’s #1 Burger and Fries.” And that lofty pledge is not hyperbole! Pristinely sized with everything freshly made on-site (you won’t find any frozen ingredients here!), the patties are smashed, crisped, and topped to perfection! They’re so tasty – and tasty-looking! – in fact, I dove right into mine as soon as it arrived – before I even had a chance to snap an appropriate photo, hence the half-eaten burger pictured. The fries are also not to be missed!
HWY 62 OPEN STUDIO ART TOURS
Artists across the Morongo Basin will be opening their studios to the public the first three weekends in October for the annual HWY 62 Open Studio Art Tours. With 183 local artisans participating, showcasing everything from hat making to floral design to custom ceramic tile work, the event (the largest of its kind in SoCal!) is sure to be a versatile adventure as one can only find in the hi-desert. And I cannot wait to attend! As organizers warn, though, “Even the most ambitious visitor, going all three weekends, could not see half of the artists out here.” So be sure to plan ahead with the free mobile app!