It was time to leave Charleston, say goodbye to my beautiful friends, and head towards the final part of my USA trip. From Phoenix to Palm Springs, I was ready to explore both the Arizona and California desert landscapes. And driving seemed like the perfect way to do it. So, what should you expect from the desert? And how hot is too hot?
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Phoenix, Arizona
Known as the “Valley of the Sun,” I knew Phoenix would be hot and busy. It is a large metropolitan city surrounded by golf courses, mountains, and desert landscapes. For me, visiting Phoenix was a mix of catching up with friends and experiencing the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale.
When in Phoenix, I would highly recommend to stay in Scottsdale. This part of the city is considered the more upscale area of Phoenix and is home to wealthy retirees, business owners, and professionals alike. And I could immediately see why. The landscape feels completely different from anywhere else I have travelled. I loved the contrast of the giant cacti against the mountains. The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North was the perfect place to take it all in, overlooking the valley and the city beyond. It’s just a shame I couldn’t stay there this time.
I had only one full day in Scottsdale and didn’t even head into Phoenix city. And given that it was too hot to walk, I explored a nearby shopping centre, met with friends for a drink and had a quiet night resting. Resting from the Charleston trip. I needed to be ready for driving in the USA, from Phoenix to Palm Springs. How exciting!
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Palm Springs, California
Driving from Phoenix to Palm Springs was an easy four-hour drive. The roads are pretty good and the traffic light. The landscape is dry, and there is not much to see along the way. One of the most interesting parts was crossing the state border from Arizona to California. There was an actual checkpoint, with sheriffs stopping or waving through each car. Trucks were fully inspected. It was the first time I had crossed a state border in the USA by car, so it was quite interesting to experience. I didn’t expect a border control within America.
The most unique part of this drive was also passing the state prison, which I couldn’t actually see. Only the sign along the street saying: State Prison – please do NOT stop for hitchhikers!!
And so, here I am, back in California. Only two years ago, I was exploring Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and the West Coast by car with a friend. We drove from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and then along the coast to San Francisco International Airport. It was an amazing trip and it was nice to be back in California, exploring Palm Springs this time.
Read more here – Once upon a time in Hollywood & Driving the historic Route 66.
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Parker Palm Springs
I knew it was the end of the trip, and I wanted to finish my USA journey staying at very special and luxurious hotel. So, Parker Palm Springs was the obvious choice. Designed entirely by one of my favourite interior designers, Jonathan Adler, this hotel is certainly unique. As the luxury hotel in Palm Springs, spending three nights here felt magical. Originally opened as California’s first Holiday Inn in 1959, it quickly became a Hollywood hotspot, and still carries that glamorous, old-school Palm Springs vibe today. You could feel the elegance and celebrity history everywhere. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, making my stay even more enjoyable.
And although it was too hot to enjoy the pool – I was in Palm Springs during a heat wave weekend of 40+ degrees – I managed to stay cool inside my amazingly decorated room or in their well set up living room near the reception. This is a must place when in Palm Springs.
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The City
Otherwise, I really enjoyed Palm Springs. Driving through ‘Old Las Palmas’ and ‘Vista Las Palmas’, where celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Clark Gable, and Kirk Douglas once had estates, was so much fun. And definitely a must do. The houses looked exactly how I imagined Palm Springs would look: single-level homes with a strong 1970s vibe and unmistakable mid-century desert style.
One thing I noticed here, there was almost no real grass anywhere. Most front yards were covered in rocks or artificial grass, which makes complete sense given the desert climate.
Otherwise, when you can’t do outdoor activities – although the mountains looked tempting, the heat and the numerous poisonous snakes in the desert stopped me from attempting a hike – outlet shopping was another major highlight. Located just 30 minutes from the city, not only was the drive itself interesting, passing all the Palm Springs windmills, the stores were excellent, with amazing stock and fantastic deals.
I also visited a few vintage stores (definitely by car only), dined at some fantastic restaurants, and really took in the Palm Springs atmosphere. It was a bit of a shame that I couldn’t walk around more, as I love exploring new places on foot, but trust me when I say, the heat and sun were intense. From Phoenix to Palm Springs, the sun was certainly there.
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The heat and the desert
As mentioned earlier, unfortunately, just like in Phoenix, I arrived during the hottest week. It was a dry heat, but for me, temperatures over 40 degrees meant I couldn’t really walk around and explore either Phoenix or Palm Springs. It was really really hot. And when do I complain about the hot weather? But here, even walking 100 metres from one shop to another felt like a struggle.
It was a new experience for me, and I didn’t see anyone else attempting to walk either. Everything was done by car. Actually, especially in Palm Springs, I hardly saw anyone outside, not even around their homes. There was certainly no gardening or walking the dog.
Apparently, the best time to visit Palm Springs is from November until mid-May at the latest, which was exactly when I was there. The Mother’s Day weekend felt very busy, but afterwards Palm Springs more or less shut down. Restaurants, shops, and many other places close during the extremely hot summer months. Around 40-50% of the population (known as the Exodus) leave and returns to their “summer” destinations, such as Canada or Europe. And honestly, it makes sense. I’d do the same.
The other part, the locals, stay behind and become “nocturnal,” running errands early in the morning or late at night. That is certainly the only way to function in the desert.
As for me, after fully enjoying three days in Palm Springs, it was time to head towards the final destination of this trip, the Grand Canyon National Park. I had a seven-hour drive ahead of me, passing the popular Joshua Tree National Park along the way. How would I go driving in the USA this time?
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