I’ll be honest with you – before researching my Route 66 trip properly, Greater Palm Springs was, as the saying goes, so far off my radar it wasn’t even a blip. 

With so many more well-known destinations like Los Angeles and San Francisco, visitors to California definitely have a hard time picking out places to visit.

thumbnail for post ID 7071582 Route 66 – California: Where to eat, what to see and what to do

But as I was on a road trip and had the freedom of having a car, it was the perfect opportunity to explore this part of the Californian desert.

And, as I discovered, Greater Palm Springs has long been the go-to paradise escape for celebrities – and with its wealth of good food and abundance of spas, it’s not hard to see why it’s the perfect wellness destination to kick back and relax.

The nine cities

palm springs resort
(Picture: Getty)

In case you didn’t know, Greater Palm Springs is made up of nine cities nestled in the desert – Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, and Coachella.

You’ll know you’ve arrived in the area because the roads will be lined with palms; you may be surprised by just how good watching the fronds sway in the breeze feels.

And yes, it is the home of the festival that’s loved by celebrities – Coachella, which actually takes place in Indio rather than Coachella each year.

Porter Robinson & Madeon perform on the Coachella Stage
If you want to party, Great Palm Springs definitely gives you plenty of options (Picture: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Coachella)

But that’s far from the only music festival in the area – nearby Joshua Tree National Park also hosts several music festivals a year.

A bohemian vibe is definitely in the air.

I stayed in Palm Springs, but you won’t get the most out of the area unless you visit a couple of the other cities; for me, that happened to be Desert Hot Springs and Rancho Mirage.

The spas and hot springs

The pool at The Saguaro (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for House of Holland)
The pool at The Saguaro (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for House of Holland)

Having been driving along Route 66 for more than two weeks, I was more than ready for a bit of relaxation.

As I almost never drive in London, I was suffering from all sorts of muscle aches – from cramps in my left leg (you don’t need to use it at all when you’re driving an automatic) to stiffness in my shoulders.

To be fair, my general bad posture at work doesn’t help at all in that regard.

So my first stop was for a massage at Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage.

The Azure pool at Omni Rancho Las Palmas (Picture: Omni Hotel & Resorts)
The Azure pool at Omni Rancho Las Palmas (Picture: Omni Hotel & Resorts)

Rancho Mirage is a resort city where the name of the game is luxury.

There are some huge hotel resorts where you can play golf, gamble in casinos and of course, enjoy spa treatments.

I had the Oasis Swedish Massage at Omni Rancho Las Palmas, which carries a hefty price tag of $190 for 80 minutes, plus service.

But if you’re happy to splash out, it’s well worth it – I’m sure I walked out taller than when I went in (but I may need more than a few sessions to correct my posture).

One of the quiet rooms at the Omni Spa (Picture: Omni Hotel & Resorts)
One of the quiet rooms at the Omni Spa (Picture: Omni Hotel & Resorts)

The spa is a massive 20,000sqft and there’s a sauna and whirlpool where you can relax after your treatment. I would definitely recommend it if you have the time as it doesn’t cost any more and the environment is lovely.

It’s Desert Hot Springs that’s known as the spa city of California though, so it’s not to be missed if you’re looking to really kick back.

The city has both hot and cold natural springs from which the spa resorts take their water, and it’s meant to be good enough to drink straight from the tap.

I went to chill out and read in the mineral spring baths at Two Bunch Palms, a resort that’s so relaxed, all the guests walk around in bath robes. It’s a bit disconcerting at first, but you soon get used to it.

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The resort is great if you want to have a whole day dedicated to relaxation.

There are pools of different temperatures where you can soak up the benefits of the mineral springs, or you can break away from the crowd and enjoy a more private experience in one of the individual soaking tubs.

You can adjust the temperature yourself in these as well so it’s perfect if you prefer warmer or cooler waters.

Two Bunch Palms also offers an all-day enrichment program that you can take part in. There are several sessions each day dedicated to yoga, meditation and even a shaman tutorial.

Do take the time to explore the resort as well – there’s a garden where you will find a flock of ducks roaming the lawn and ponds where turtles are swimming.

You don’t have to be staying at the resort to enjoy its facilities, they do day-access packages from $235 per person, which includes a 60 minute treatment, lunch, access to the enrichment classes and of course free time in the mineral pools.

The food

I’ve never been much of a party animal but the quality of food is very much top of the list of things to consider when it comes to choosing a travel destination.

Fortunately, Palm Springs has a lot to offer – both the healthy and the down-right indulgent.

With temperatures in the high 30s (in October), I was definitely more than happy to have something lighter and more healthy though.

Azucar at La Serena villas
Azucar at La Serena villas (Picture: Qin Xie)

At the vibrant Azucar, the poolside restaurant at La Serena Villas, the menu is designed to be shareable but you can dine alone just as easily. I had a huge watermelon salad and a portion of their ahi bruschetta and it was just the right blend of light and flavourful I needed.

The Pantry at The Holiday House has a relatively small menu for lunch but their chicken salad is one of the most popular. They are very generous with the meat so be prepared for a protein boost.

The chicken salad at The Pantry (Picture: Qin Xie)
The chicken salad at The Pantry (Picture: Qin Xie)

While I was at Two Bunch Palms, I also tried out Essense, their organic restaurant. It’s another spot where you can happily share the food and enjoy a healthy, freshly prepared juice on the side. The seafood ceviche and kholrabi salad there fed me generously.

Being a bit of a glutton, I couldn’t resist a cheeky milkshake at Great Shakes, where just about everything came topped with their signature mini doughnut.

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The bars

Let’s face it – being on a wellness break doesn’t mean you have to give up drinking.

Take a break from mindful drinking and try some of the great cocktail bars in the area.

Palm Springs is your best bet for this.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ7tezSlVH6/?hl=en&taken-by=qinxiesays

Try one of the tiki cocktails at Bootlegger Tiki, or soak up the edgy vibes at The Amigo Room. Or, if you’re intending to party on, start with a tequila cocktail at El Jefe.

Whatever you do though, relax. You’re on holiday.

How to get there and where to stay:

Palm Springs has its own airport but there are no direct flights from London so you may find it easier and cheaper to fly into LAX and then drive across.

There are direct flights from London Gatwick to LAX with Norwegian starting from £330 for example.

I already had a hire car with Alamo for my Route 66 trip but you will find lots of options at the airport.

In Palm Springs, I stayed at The Saguaro Palm Springs, a trendy resort hotel with pool parties, yoga classes and bike hire. It even hosts its own festivals – so check ahead if you definitely don’t want to party.

Rooms there start from $109 (mid-week) and $260 (weekends and holidays) per night. You may have to pay a resort fee on top depending on where you make your booking.

For more travel ideas, check out Visit The USA and Visit Greater Palm Springs.

(Top pic: Getty)

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