Considered Hollywood’s playground, Palm Springs is basically the ‘Hamptons’ of Los Angeles where most residents get away to relax in less than a 2 hours drive. An architectural lover’s dream, Palm Springs boasts beautiful museums, mid-century modern architecture and Spanish villas set amongst the San Jacinto Mountains. Hollywood’s legacy Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Leonardo Di Caprio, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Cable, Ronald and Nancy Reagan to name a few have had a residence here.
Casa Elizabeth Taylor, Palm Springs: Thao Nguyen and Christine Philip
Talk about #DesignEnvy. This gorgeous desert city is a mecca of arts and culture, outdoor adventures, and an understated elegance of glitz and glamour. Clean lines, simplistic design, and integrated indoor to outdoor living spaces are the distinctive aesthetics that make up this desert oasis. Palm Springs has a bit of mystery as you enter the premises- this is where you escape business and land into a bit old wild west mixed in with trendy vibes. Los Angeles residents and international artists are no stranger to Palm Springs, as Coachella takes place nearby. Besides fancy art galleries, people come to Palm Springs to relax and to get pampered.
Traveling with my own Rat Pack, here is how we spent a solid 72 hours in this ultimate desert playground:
Stay:
Casa Elizabeth Taylor: You can now rent Elizabeth Taylor’s Palm Spring getaway. Take a look at her personal style, original artwork, and personal possessions as you relax in this massive 4 bedroom estate with an integrated outdoor paradise, also referred to as “The Jewel of the Desert”.
Casa Elizabeth Taylor, Palm Springs
Casa Elizabeth Taylor, Palm Springs
Casa Elizabeth Taylor, Palm Springs
Casa Elizabeth Taylor, Palm Springs
Casa Elizabeth Taylor, Palm Springs
Casa Elizabeth Taylor, Palm Springs
We also managed to stay a couple nights at the beautiful Korakia Pensione, a Moroccan inspired paradise featuring luxurious facilities. You will begin the day with breakfast in the courtyard, then you will find yourself relaxing in the library lounge, or exploring downtown on one of the hotel’s complimentary weekend bicycles. There’s an outdoor theater playing old black and white movies in the evenings – where we saw Casablanca.
Bocce Court at the Korakia Pensione, Palm Springs.
Korakia Pensione, Palm Springs.
Korakia Pensione, Palm Springs, Outdoor Theater
Palm Springs, Korakia
Korakia Pensione, Stone Tub, Palm Springs.
Korakia Pensione, Palm Springs.
Do
Downtown and Uptown Palm Springs create a walkable mainstreet, with hundreds of art, antique shops, vintage and trendy clothing boutiques. Dining is amazing, creative, and alfresco. There are plenty of Film and music festivals; Artists, artisans, entertainers, and food vendors appear every Thursday night in the heart of the city to create a weekly Villagefest, an evening street fair that visitors enjoy.
Dine
Spencer’s Restaurant: Beautiful Outdoor dining with the perfect blend of stylish elegance and comfortable informality: 701 West Baristo Road, Palm Springs CA 92262 (760) 327 -3446
Cheeky’s: Breakfast and lunch are served on a terrace by a restaurateur not afraid to feature both acai berry juice and bacon. With Cheeky’s, they’ve struck the perfect balance: foodies and non-foodies, young creatives and old school traditionalists, jet setters and homebodies, Palm Springs natives and urban dwellers just dipping in for a weekend escape. 622 N. Palm Canyon Dr., 327-7595
Norma’s: Indulge your inner child at the Parker’s Jonathan Adler–designed diner, where you can enjoy haute versions of comfort food all day long. 4200 E. Palm Canyon Dr., 321-4630
-CP
12 comments
That place is a dream and now on my list! Such a good read!
Wow lucky girls! We would never have afford staying on one of these amazing places! I am not very much into luxury but once in a while I love staying in a place where I can feel like a queen and not like a jungle woman like I always do when we are wild camping somewhere!
I agree with you, these properties are insane! I always wonder if they will put some Palm Beach properties on airbnb. That will be fantastic, and a total ripped on my credit card.
Such a beautiful environment. There seems peaceful and relaxing with a sense of fashion going on
This looks so good. Your trip must have been fun, I didn’t know you can rent Elizabeth Taylors house.
Oh wow, this looks like such an amazing place to stay. I love that pool. I’ve never been to Palm Springs before.
I have seen the Taylor home on a show before. It would be a fun experience that’s for sure. I would love to sit in an outdoor theater on a warm night and watch a film.
Love that you’re calling it The Hamptons of the west! What a great comparative! The photos are absolutely lovely.
The Hamptons of the west is the perfect comparison! I enjoyed reading about you all trip. I love elegant properties so this definitely captured my attention.
wow, looks like a super luxury resort, which I think, I would not have managed to be at. Watching out casablanca in the outdoors would have been such a beautiful experience. Photos are perfect.
Several friends have visited there and says it is another world. The design and luxury could be easy to get used to. I’ve always loved anything Elizabeth Taylor.
Maybe it was the Hamptons once upon a time. I am not sure I would call it that now. Interesting comparison though. It can be very beautifuil there during the right season.