It’s always sunny in Palm Springs (at least, for about 350 days a year).
The weather, plus the city’s alluring art, design, culinary and shopping scenes are all reasons to pay a visit. JetBlue’s direct flights from JFK, launched last year, make it easier than ever to escape the city (from $700 round trip in March).
Here, a look at the desert’s hottest openings.
Stay
Newly opened after a five-year renovation of a 1933-built property, La Serena Villas is a collection of 18 rooms and suites housed within a maze of one-story Spanish-style buildings connected by quaint walkways. Husband-and-wife owners Lars and Kelly Viklundtook meticulous care to produce the stylish stay, the highlights of which range from the pristine pool and spa to the rooms’ subtly eclectic interior design (colorful wall hangings, playful bathroom tile). Each has a clawfoot tub and outdoor fire pit, perfect for the desert’s chilled night air; two of the villas have a private dip pool/spa (from $399).
See
Desert X is an art festival with 15 outdoor and indoor installations from established and emerging artists located across the Coachella Valley through April 30.
Also on view right now at The Five Hundred gallery is “Palm-istry,” an exhibit with candy-colored works in acrylic of the town’s namesake palm trees from legendary polymath Tommy Tune (through April 2).
Eat
The impossibly hip Arrive Hotel just celebrated its one-year anniversary with a pool party — and the arrival of its newest eatery, Draughtsman.
A gastropub with a great selection of craft beers on tap (such as Coachella Valley Brewing’s Kolschella), Draughtsman’s standout menu includes the hearty Guinness onion soup, the Cuban with slow-cooked pork and the kitchen’s creative take on a PB&J with cashew butter and Thai chile strawberry jam.
Shop
In Palm Springs, a West Elm store isn’t just a cookie-cutter replica of those across the country. The airy 10,000-square-foot outpost, opened last August, has a special section dedicated to vibrant home goods by 14 SoCal designers. Among the potential souvenirs are the cactus mobile ($49) by Jikits and Miriam Dema’s vintage-inspired pennants ($25).