When you ask most Angelinos where they head to on the weekends to get away from the hustle and, well, let’s be honest, traffic of Los Angeles; most respond by saying Palm Springs.
Palm Springs, California, the former hideaway for old Hollywood as it was the furthest away from the studios the stars could live while under contract and required to be on set within two hours notice is now one of the most popular gay travel destinations in the United States.
I was lucky enough to travel there as a guest of the Tourism Board to check out the city for a weekend as I had only heard great things but never had an opportunity to visit. For this weekend, my birthday weekend, I was accompanied by my friend Brad whom had also never visited the Valley city.
Once the 111 freeway takes you into town the first thing you notice is the breathtaking mountain views. Having previously lived in Phoenix, Arizona, another popular desert city, I didn’t expect the view to be as awe inspiring as it was. You constantly find yourself staring at the sight at every red light. Aside from that, the city, is more town-ish in feel. From the way I had previously had Palm Springs described I had expected a bigger city feel but was surprised to find it more of a quaint, small town feel. The kind of town where all of the residents probably know each other.
We had stayed at the Warm Sands Villas in the Warm Sands area of town. At the hotel we were greeted by Frank, one of the hotel managers. He quickly checked us into our room and showed us around the property. We were staying in a deluxe room which featured a living room seating area, full kitchen, oversized flat screen television, a bathroom with a small vanity area. Honestly, the deluxe rooms were amazingly spacious and the full kitchen allowed us the added flexibility to keep our own beverages cold in our room and not have to eat out as often as we may have had to.
As Frank took us on a thorough tour of the property and we walked past the pool, that small town/friendly vibe arose once again as a hotel guest offered Frank a beverage. The hotel guests seemed to have been enjoying themselves and wanted everyone around them to do the same.
There was one aspect of the property that took me by surprise, however. The pool area was clothing optional. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with that. Brad and myself were just taken back a bit as we rounded the pool and noticed a guest comfortably sunbathing. For both of us, this was quite the new experience. I had never been to a location which allowed guests to dress down, if you will, such as this. Although our initial reaction was shock, we quickly found that most resorts in Palm Springs are in fact clothing optional and the more time we spent around the pool, though we never de-robed, the more comfortable we got with the idea.
Once we got settled into our rooms we ventured out to explore the city. Our first stop was LuLu’s Bar & Grill. Just opened recently, LuLu’s features an all day happy hour with a full happy hour food menu. The décor was quite modern and colorful and the drinks were strong. Perfect. Our server was quite attentive and everyone was very friendly.
From LuLu’s we walked to the Art museum. Who knew a town such as this would have an art museum? The $12 entry fee granted access to an extensive Picaso collection, “A Blast From the Past” a look at 60s and 70s era art, and comic art. The building itself seemed very new and the layout of the exhibits was easy to follow once you chose a starting point. It was recommended to head to the top floor, the 3rd, and work our way down back to the main entrance. Though we seemed to go all over the map we were able to view all the location had to offer in a timely, relaxed manner.
Following the museum we strolled along Palm Canyon Drive which housed many shops, restaurants and attractions. We shopped around for about an hour before heading over to Rio Azul for dinner. This mexican food restaurant offered an extensive variety of both food and drinks. The prices, I believe, were fairly set having entrees ranging from $10-$17. We dined in the “lounge” area, which is located across from the bar and found it to be a comfortable atmosphere surrounded by other patrons seeking the same laid back dining experience. The service, like the service we had received at LuLu’s, was very attentive and friendly.
After dinner Brad and I headed back to our hotel room to formalize a game plan to explore Palm Springs’ nightlife. We had figured if many guys from Los Angeles talk so highly of Palm Springs as a weekend getaway and the daytimes in the summer are quite warm, everyone must come out at night, right?
Correct we were! But, before heading out we spoke with Warm Sands Villas‘ night manager, Dan, who gave us an amazing run down of the city’s nightlife and hotspots as well as other attractions we could visit on our stay. Dan was very knowledgeable, friendly and conversational. Taking his advice (and two free drink vouchers) Saturday night was spent at Hunters and was a fun filled experience. We were surrounded by guys of various age ranges and backgrounds all out to have a good time. The bartenders were amazing as well, talkative (but not overly), energetic and willing to celebrate with you. One of them bought me a drink for my birthday and every time I visited him for a refill asked if I was having a good time and if there was anything he could do (secretly thinking, “yeah! Keep the free drinks coming!”).
While at Hunters, still on a trek to identify what makes Palm Springs such a popular destination, we talked with a few bar goers. Brad & I met with a group of friends visiting a friend who lived in the Valley from Las Vegas. Though the weather was the same as their home city, they said they came to Palm Springs because it was close enough to drive, had a free place to say (with their friend), and was a quick and easy escape. Another group who all attended high school together were using the desert locale as a meeting point for a short summer reunion. Of the group one was from Los Angeles, another from Tampa, Phoenix and a Palm Springs resident.
We partied and danced the night away until about 1:15am and headed back to Warm Sands Villas.
The next morning at the crack of 11am, we finally got moving and met a friend out for Brunch. Afterwards, he took us on a tour of the surrounding cities such as Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, ending our tour back in Palm Springs at Bongo Johnny’s for $1 mimosas. Of course, because I was the one driving back to Los Angeles that afternoon I didn’t partake in the indulgence but had an amazing time in a very casual setting.
All said and done, what did I think of Palm Springs? Well, I think the town is a place where folks gay and straight (or as Dan put it “co-mingling”), come to relax during the day and party at night. During the day, probably because of the heat of the summer, the streets are bare and everyone stays poolside (with or without clothing) until the sunsets and the temperature drops. Then, amazingly because of the size of the city, everyone gathers together at particular hotspot to drink, chat and let loose.
Would I go back to Palm Springs? Yes. In fact, next time, I want to take the tram ride up to the top of the mountains where I’m told the temperature is cooler and the views are stunning.
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