Greater Palm Springs: Sun, Pride and a Community That Shines

Encompassing nine cities, nestled in between the San Jacinto, Little Bernardino and Santa Rosa Mountains, you will find Palm Springs.

From private hot springs and a handful of day spas, California’s Greater Palm Springs is home to a vibrant blend of desert beauty, mid-century charm, world-class resorts and a thriving LGBTQ+ community that attracts visitors year-round. 

Seasonal temperatures vary significantly, giving visitors the best of both worlds. Summers can reach triple-digit temperatures, and winters provide a milder, more comfortable stay. Though throughout the winter and spring seasons, the dining, shopping and activity scenes stay plentiful and vibrant. 

So, buckle up and take a journey with us through Greater Palm Springs’ outdoor activities, hotels, dining scene and upcoming events (just in case you want to book that flight right after reading). Stay tuned for interviews from two hotel owners who are also a part of the Gay Tourism Guild, hear about how Palm Springs welcomes the queer community and get in-the-know on all of the best restaurants and events.

Adventures and Escapes: For Every Kind of Traveler

Explore new creative dimensions through the vast art scene by visiting the Palm Springs Art Museum, currently showing “The Art and Design of Howard Smith,” whose work is the product of Smith contending with the forces of racism, modernism and the African diaspora. Smith uses screen-printing, ceramics, collage and even creates shamanistic masks from vintage hats. 

If you are passionate about feminist influences, consider viewing “Modern Women: The Influencers Who Shaped Palm Springs,” which honors women through archival documents and oral testimonies. This exhibit draws upon the women who played a key role in the city’s development, promotion and conservation. 

An extension of the museum is the Architecture and Design Center, which will soon be holding an exhibit that tells the story of how the runway and fashion industry borrows key concepts from architecture through revealing a to-be-announced designer’s collection, opening this January. 

General admission tickets provide access to the museum and design center for $25, with special deals for students, teachers and seniors, with Thursdays free from 5-8 p.m. 

And, if art isn’t your scene and you are looking to get active, spend your morning with views of wildlife and trail blaze your way through visiting The Living Desert Zoo Gardens, home to 50-plus desert gardens, 1,200 plant species and, of course, 600 animals, including 150 different species!

Not everyone likes to travel on foot, so for those who want a birds-eye view of Palm Springs, the Aerial Tramway is the world’s largest rotating tram car, moving over 2.5 miles along the cliffs of Chino Canyon, dropping riders off at Mountain Station to shop, hike and watch documentaries at an elevation of 8,516 feet. 

Treat your eyes to a pair of cucumbers after a long day of fun and hiking at the Desert Serenity Float & Spa, where they offer a variety of services from entomologie treatments, flotation therapy, massages and an infrared sauna. 

Not only is Greater Palm Springs filled with a variety of activities, exhibits and views, but the Springs also holds multiple events during the spring and winter seasons. 

If relaxation isn’t quite your thing and you are an avid HGTV connoisseur, consider attending Modernism Week in mid-February, including the Palm Springs Modernism Show with 130 dealers and tours of the most legendary homes on double-decker buses. 

Sports fans alike can look forward to the BNP Paribas Open from March 1-15, featuring some of the top tennis players in the world, and an average attendance of 475,000 fans across the two-week event. 

And, if you are an avid fan of New York Fashion Week, there is a large slice of it in El Paseo from March 13-18 in The Gardens of El Paseo. Having hosted over 200 designers on their runway, the event provides an immersive fashion experience and celebrity meet-and-greets. 

Pride All Year: A Place for Everyone

Michael Green and his husband Steven Boyd have owned the Triangle Inn in Palm Springs for 25 years, making a strong case for being the longest-term owner-operators in the area. 

Green is also president of the Desert Gay Tourism Guild, a local non-profit organization created nearly 30 years ago, composed of LGBTQ+ owned and operated businesses, originally formed to encourage more gay travelers to come to Palm Springs. 

Attending numerous exhibits and tourism gatherings from all around the country, the guild works to act as ambassadors for the city for LGBTQ+ travelers. 

“For me, it was a relatively easy task because it wasn’t that far from what I already knew,” Green says. 

Palm Springs “is as gay as a city can be,” according to Green, with nearly 50% of residents belonging to the LGBTQ+ community. Previous mayor Ron Oden was the first openly gay Black mayor in the U.S., and the current mayor, Ron deHarte, is a gay Mexican-American man. 

“What we’ve tried to do is really create a unique and safe space where gay men could come to a hotel and not worry about reaching over and kissing their partner by the pool,” Green says. 

What Green and Boyd have created is something more than a hotel, as Triangle Inn gives a bed and breakfast vibe, where Green says people come and stay for the community and the lingering notes of Southern California hospitality. 

“Now that we’re in the age of cell phones and iPads and all this kind of stuff, there are lots of times when people are sitting by the pool and they’re on their iPhone or they’re on their iPad,” Green says. “There is not as much conversation around the pool sometimes, but there still is a feeling of convivial friendship at our Inn.”

Within a private, walled compound, Green says guests often don’t even lock their doors when they leave, with some leaving them completely open. 

Another hotel in the area is The Cathedral City Boys Club (CCBC), resting on 3.5 acres and located on Gay Resort Drive. This gay-oriented clothing-optional resort in Cathedral City is a perfect spot for those just outside of Palm Springs. 

Richard Altman, owner for over 25 years and founder of Cathedral City LGBT Days, says with over 10 gay hotels in the area, CCBC tops expectations with 45 rooms, 25 events annually and nearly 1,000 guests during busy periods. Even their newsletter has 50,000 subscribers, with nearly 25,000 opens. 

The cul-de-sac the resort lies within is actually owned by Altman, with the name changing in 2012 when he proposed it at a City Council meeting, and after community rallying and support, it was eventually changed. 

“We have a steam room, multiple spas and a waterfall: it’s gay man’s paradise,” Atlman says. 

Though the resort rooms come with the standard amenities and provide pool and garden views, it’s what’s outside that Altman says really matters.

With a coffee lounge, a variety of swimming pools, landscaped paths to navigate the resort and secluded coves for privacy, there is a place for everyone. 

“If you are going on a vacation, why would you sit in your room when you have beautiful weather and a community outside?” Altman questions. 

More than just a place to stay, Altman says in late October, they had the health department come to the resort to administer free shots for mpox, as cases have recently risen in Riverside County.

“We do things out of the box. I like to do things differently and make an impact,” Altman says. “Life is too short and we all need to help one another.”

Just a Taste: Savor the Local Flavors and Sips

Because the drink always comes first, and Greater Palm Springs is unaffected by the Matcha Shortage, your guide to matcha in the area is extensive, with over 10 matcha and coffee shops that offer bold flavors, ceremonial-grade tea and LGBTQ+ ownership. 

For those who are enjoying a dry December and are ready to explore the vast world of mocktails, check out Bar Cecil, a restaurant that is a love letter to British war photographer Cecil Beaton, serving three signature drinks: Watermelon & Cucumber Mojito, Raspberry Ginger Mule and Passionfruit & Pineapple Spritz.

A round (or two) of drinks calls for a savory bite to eat, and with various trendy destinations, visitors can go to Tac Quita for authentic Mexican cuisine, Boozehounds for those who have a pup and need a dog menu and 4 Saints for a finer-dining experience. 

And, you didn’t travel with just your partner and are looking for family and “casual eats,” Wilma and Frieda offer affordable build-your-own scrambles, winning Best Breakfast of Palm Springs for three years in a row. 

For those looking for a taste of France in their cuisine, FARM offers rustic-chic ambiance and everything from savory crepes to rich, French-pressed coffee. It has also earned the Certified Autism Center designation, with staff members taking specialized training to better serve guests on the autism spectrum. 

With al-fresco dining all year round, Palm Springs restaurants offer ambiance and outdoor comfort all seasons of the year!