Page 102 - 2019 Travel Guide to California

PALM SPRINGS
Where hip meets Mid-Century Modern
»DINE, SHOP,
GALLERY HOP!
Visitor Information
visitpalmsprings.com
MODERNISM WEEK festivities at the Sinatra
House, above; taking a snapshot of a Mid-
Century Modern home, below; hiking in
Indian Canyons, opposite top; pool view at
Parker Palm Springs, opposite bottom.
Sun-kissed, relaxed and surrounded by
spectacular mountains, Palm Springs has
long been a hypnotic hideaway for a
celebrity A-list. In the swinging 1950s and
’60s, it was a favorite retreat of Frank Sinatra
and other Hollywood stars who partied
poolside in their Mid-Century Modern bun-
galows. Today, the glamtastic desert oasis
has reemerged as a hip Hollywood play-
ground thanks to exciting developments—
from buzzing bars and great restaurants to
stylish new (or renovated) hotels—that have
reenergized Palm Springs with an irre-
sistible retro-chic vibe and global appeal.
A spectacular redevelopment plan has
put a new luster on downtown Palm Springs,
highlighted by the light-drenched Kimpton
The Rowan Palm Springs hotel, and a pedes-
trian walkway aiming a visual spotlight on
the world-class Palm Springs Art Museum.
And Hyatt’s exciting Andaz Hotel will also
open in 2019. Visitors can also experience
glamorous style at the city’s other super-
100 2019 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
B Y C H R I S T O P H E R P . B A K E R
trendy hotels and many historic boutique
properties. Add the Uptown Design District’s
art galleries, fab new restaurants and edgy
stores selling designer fashions to curated
Mid-Century décor, plus fun-filled pool par-
ties and a sizzling nightlife to rival Miami
and Vegas. No wonder a whole new genera-
tion of vacationers, trendsetters and
celebrities—from Leonardo DiCaprio to
Kylie Jenner—are flocking to where it’s the
swinging 1960s all over again.
Haute Design/Architectural
Cool/Year-Round/LGBT Friendly
Renowned worldwide as the mecca of Mid-
Century Modernism, Palm Springs
embraces and celebrates this design aes-
thetic like nowhere else. With more than
two thousand mid-mod homes and public
buildings—the world’s largest concentra-
tion of such architecture—Palm Springs’
distinctive “desert vernacular” style can
also be experienced in stunning interior
DAVID A. LEE; VISITPALMSPRINGS.COM. OPPOSITE: VISITPALMSPRINGS.COM