LA’s The Place recently sent me to investigate the desert playground of Palm Springs and report for our readers. It encompasses so much as there are a multitude of enjoyable activities, wonderful lodging, excellent food and great service! First a little bit about the history of this desert oasis…
Beautiful desert sunset in Palm Springs.
Palm Springs was officially incorporated as a city in 1938 and has often been called The Playground of the Stars because of its close proximity to Hollywood. But the Agua Caliente Indians Cahuilla Tribe (pronounced Kaw-we-ah) first settled in the area 2,000 to 3,000 thousand years ago as they were attracted to the rich healing power of the natural spring waters.
They developed extensive and complex communities in Palm, Murray, Andreas, Tahquitz and Chino Canyons. Judge John Guthrie McCallum of San Francisco and his family were the first non-Indians to settle there in 1884.
Today Palm Springs hosts the most densely populated amount of beautiful Mid Century Modern Architecture in North America and being just over 100 miles away from Hollywood. It also has a rich History of Hollywood’s most glamorous Movie Stars, Film Executives and Moguls dating back to the Silent Film era. Far away enough for a rest or a tryst but close enough to get back to the studio when you were called!
It is said that Hollywood discovered Palm Springs as early as 1919. Silent screen greats like Rudolph Valentino, Theda Bara and Ernest Torrance were often seen in the area.
I was sent to explore Palm Springs on assignment for LA’s The Place Magazine. My first night was spent at the very classy Movie Colony Hotel where rock star Jim Morrison stayed in 1968 and I am told jumped from his 2nd story room into the pool below.
Movie Colony Hotel
For more on the Movie Colony Hotel visit www.moviecolonyhotel.com or call (760) 320-6340.
The beautiful hotel was designed by architectural great Albert Frey whose popular work resonates throughout the Palm Springs area.
Dinner one street over at popular Copley’s was terrific. It is the former guesthouse of film legend Cary Grant and you could almost feel his warm classy spirit welcoming us.
Copley's Restaurant is Cary Grant's former guest house.
The gourmet food was delicious and the service was excellent! For an appetizer I enjoyed my perfectly prepared ahi tuna tacos followed by an entrée of juicy scallops and fresh spinach. The trio of assorted homemade ice cream was a very tasty dessert. A terrific place to have a wonderful first meal in Palm Springs.
Visit Copley’s online at www.copleyspalmsprings.com or call (760) 327-9555.
Breakfast the next morning was at a fun place called Pinnochio’s in the Desert. My egg white vegetable omelette was tasty and supersized accompanied by delicious homemade potatoes.
 The European proprietors/hosts were very warm and friendly and there was plenty of champagne for those that enjoy a little bubbly (or a lot!) with their breakfast. Once again, very friendly service here too.
Find more information on Pinocchio’s in the Desert on their site www.pinocchiops.com or by calling (760) 322-3776.
Friends enjoying social hour in Palm Springs
When one thinks of Palm Springs many people envision golf courses, casinos and of course lots of people lounging by the pool drinking cocktails. But the city of Palm Springs also hosts many other unique things to do as well! Our first adventure after breakfast was the very enjoyable Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
To plan your trip or learn more about the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway check them out online at https://www.pstramway.com or call (760) 325-1391.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in transit.
Envisioned by Francis F. Crocker, a young electrical engineer in the 1930’s the tramway was nicknamed “Crocker’s Folly†by the local press and finally opened September 14, 1963. It has been a top tourist attraction safely transporting 12 million passengers along the mountainside for the past 4 decades.
The new tramcars, completed in 2000 are valued at $480,000 each and are the largest trams in the world. The views going up the steady 10 minute climb along the mountainside are truly spectacular and the lodge is very large and homey.
Shopping on Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.
Visitors can shop, have a snack, dine in the dining room, hike, go cross country skiing and also camp if they make arrangements. Palm Springs locals shared that they often escape the desert heat in the summer by taking the tram up to the mountains where the weather is a good 40 degrees cooler than below.
After our very enjoyable tram excursion we visited The Palm Springs Tourist Center where some of the nicest people in tourism work! The uniquely built structure, also designed by Albert Frey was originally designed as a gas station in the early 1960’s.
Ron Palmtag, the very knowledgeable Guest Services Manager for the Palm Springs Official Visitors Center and the Palm Springs Convention Center noted when you look at the exterior of the beige brick building it constantly changes, depending on how the sun hits it. In the distance you can see hundreds of beautiful windmills but locals shared it is known to sometimes get a little too windy in the area.
Downtown, lunch at trendy and chic Jakes Ready to Eat was very nice. Their 3 salad combo of curried chicken, egg salad and beet salad was very good. Then we relaxed across the street in a very nice sunny area known as “the corridor†where architectural expert Robert Imber warmly welcomed us before giving us his amazing Mid Modern Architecture Tour via his minivan.
Salad at Jakes Ready To Eat
Discover more about Jakes Ready to Eat at or by phone at (760) 327-4400.
Mr. Imber is an expert on the development and back story of Palm Spring’s beautiful homes and buildings and they say he knows where the bodies are buried too! He knows what he is talking about and can be contacted at [email protected] or call (760) 318-6118.
- Downtown Palm Springs.
Dinner that night at the recently opened Zin Café Med was exceptional to say the least and the service was great too! The eatery is owned and run by the lovely Mindy Reed who shared with us that the delicious recipes were the creations of her boyfriend and business partner, the late Chef Nicolas Klontz. When we commented how delicious everything was Mindy said, “They’re his Legacy.â€
As taught by his mentor Nicolas Klontz, Chef Lupe Calvo does a wonderful job! Bravo on the thin crust vegetable pizza, the calimarri tapos, the linguini with clams and the delicious tiramisu dessert!
For more on the Zini Cafe Med check them out online at www.zinicafemed.com or by phone at (760) 325-9464.
For part two of this article, please click here.
To read part three, click here…
Photo credit: Yuri Krasov Art and Entertain Me.
