Plan The Perfect Palm Springs Weekend Getaway

The first Hollywoodites who realized Palm Springs was the perfect weekend getaway from Los Angeles were really on to something. All these years later and it's still growing, with new luxe hotels rising up out of abandoned motels, fabulous stores going in and the food getting ever better. There's a fair amount of boring stuff out in the desert cities, though, so here's the guide to getting the most out of your desert getaway.

Shields Date Garden: There is absolutely nothing flashy about Shields Date Garden, but rest assured you'll learn something new at this museum/store. In the 1920s, Mr. Shields turned the desert into a date palm oasis, planting his orchards and exporting the (still) organic, pesticide-free fruit. They sell the famous date shakes (perhaps the desert cities' sole original culinary contribution?) and screen the documentary "Romance and Sex Life of the Date."
80225 U.S. Hwy. 111, Indio; 760-347-0996

La Perlita: There's plenty of good Mexican food in the desert, but this low-key strip mall destination is currently the favorite, and the best. Go for a standard combo plate, or point to something random you've never heard of before. La Perlita is a homey place, and accordingly homey dishes work best.
901 Crossley Rd., Palm Springs; 760-778-8014

Ace Palm Springs: Undoubtedly the hotel to stay in right now, the Ace doesn't quite know what audience they're trying to appeal to ... but there are two huge pools, and boozy Sno-cones. The grounds are lovely, it's dog-friendly and weekday rates are pretty reasonable.
701 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs; 760-325-9900

Norma's: The Parker Hotel is absurdly expensive -- and so is the brunch at Norma's, but on a more doable scale. Artichokes Benedict is quite good, as are items like waffles with bruleed schmear. Take a stroll around the expansive, Alice in Wonderland-esque grounds afterward; take in a round of bocce ball, even.
4200 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs; 760-770-5000

The Living Desert: With about 400 animals, the Living Desert is a "small" zoo, but you'll easily spend more than three hours here. Spread out over a number of acres, it's a rescue and rehabilitation preserve, so guests can be assured the animals are well taken care of. It's all desert animals: cheetahs, meerkats, camels, etc., all being adorable.
47900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert; 760-346-5694
Photo Courtesy of the Parker Hotel

Special thanks to AOL City's Best and editors Lien Ta and Clare Goggin for permission to reuse this article.