As summer draws to a close, I wanted to take a moment to look back on a weekend trip my family and I took to Palm Springs. We were only in the small resort town for two days, but since it was our first time there, it was a perfect opportunity to get a taste of what the city has to offer and leave us yearning to come back again.
Our first stop was Moorten Botanical Garden. The garden is home to a plethora of plants from various regions around the world, as well as home to the world’s first “cactarium.” As an amateur plant lady, I enjoyed strolling around the vast grounds and seeing marveling at all the unique species of cacti, trees, and so much more. There were also some plants for sale, so of course I had to bring some home with me.
Our next stop was the Palm Springs Art Museum. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the museum houses a wide array of artwork—from woven baskets, blown glass, ancient artifacts, and massive outdoor sculptures. The ticket also gave us access to the Architecture and Design center, just a few blocks away.
After lunch, we stopped by the Agua Calientes Cultural Museum to learn more about the people indigenous to the region, but unfortunately, the center was closed. (It turns out that a larger Agua Calientes Cultural Museum will be opening up at a different location in 2020.) We ended up walking around the Village Green Heritage Center to see what else we could find, and we stumbled upon Ruddy’s 1930s General Store Museum. It was interesting looking around the store and seeing some familiar items and brands that have stood the test of time.
Sticking with the theme of antiques, we headed to the Sunny Dunes Antique Mall and Antique Galleries of Palm Springs to peruse their eclectic collections of items from years past.
Before heading back to the hotel, we made a stop at Kreem Ice Cream + Coffee. I had come across this place on Yelp and was intrigued by their selection of unique ice cream flavors, some of which were vegan. As a lactose-intolerant Filipina American, their non-dairy ube ice cream was a dream come true.
The next day, we tried our luck at the casino; it didn’t take long for us to leave with only a net gain of $10. We then walked around downtown and checked out some thrift shops and souvenir stores before driving home.
Palm Springs left a lasting impression on me as one of my favorite places in California. Two days was not enough to see and experience everything that I had hoped to, but I’m already looking forward to my next trip back.
wander & wonder 