Palm Springs: Do & See In 2023

It’s no secret former Vita Daily editor Sarah Bancroft loves Palm Springs; the city is a frequent escape for her family. Here, she updates us on all that’s new to do and see in this California desert oasis.

do. The new Modernism Museum in downtown Palm springs is a unique, immersive museum with time-travel vignettes like a classic RV and a modernist tract house. 

spa. If sound baths are your thing, or if you need a deeply hydrating facial after hiking the canyons, Grounded Bodyworks is your spot, now with two locations. The newest is at the new The Paloma Resort, conveniently located right behind Target and Trader Joe’s in Cathedral City.

caffeine with a scene. The tunes are pumping and the espresso machines are steaming early mornings at Cafe La Jefa while locals and visitors lounge on swings in the patio in the Flannery Exchange co-working space with souvenir shops. Come evening, an open-air space called https://barchingona.com (translation: badass woman) pours margaritas and Mexican wine (yes, and it can be very good!) from a retro pink and chrome RV. 

stay. Paloma means dove in Spanish, but if it’s peace and quiet you are looking for, new hotspot The Paloma Resort has quite the opposite. Just opened in September, it’s already a destination for group events like stagettes and birthdays with beer and margaritas flowing at the poolside tequila bar by 9:30 am. The rooms are huge and cheerfully painted and there are private bungalows and mature landscaping. The restaurant, Sol Y Sombra located in a former stage coach station from the 1850s, is known for its paellas. Fun fact: it is located on a what was once a date palm farm founded by two women in the 1920s and was also an Elizabeth Arden-owned beauty retreat in the 1950s.

get modern. “Back to the House of Tomorrow,” a new documentary about Elvis and Pricilla’s honeymoon lair in Old Las Palmas, premiers February 20, 2023 at the Annenberg Theatre, located in the world-class Palm Springs Art Museum. The house is composed of three circles and designed by William Krisel for the Alexander family (of Alexander Construction) who tragically died in a plane crash. The house recently sold to undisclosed owners but the film uncovers its storied past. The screening is part of Modernism Week, which also includes tours of Hi-Sun, a 1963 model home by architect Charles Dubois, also in Old Las Palmas. Recently remodelled, the owners kept the Polynesian feel that was popular at the time while maximizing the stunning mountain views. The whimsical Kirk and Anne Douglas Estate, recently refurbished by Roots co-founder Michael Budman and his architect wife Diane, is also on the program.