13 Jul 2024
(GREATER PALM SPRINGS, CA) - Chill out this Summer in Greater Palm Springs and discover delightful new experiences for the whole family from Palm Springs International Airport to downtown Indio and across the nine-cities destination.
RENAISSANCE IN INDIO
The oldest city in Greater Palm Springs is experiencing an exciting transformation this summer. The City of Indio was incorporated in 1876 as a railroad town by the Southern Pacific Railroad and has evolved in recent years into a vibrant festival hotspot, attracting over a million visitors annually. This surge in popularity has prompted a renaissance of Downtown Indio, with new shops, restaurants, breweries, public art, and entertainment venues.
The Urban Donkey Collective of shops is a community-centered retail space focused on vintage apparel. Located at the historic Johnson Photo space, sellers include Cool Cat Threads, Return of the Goods as well as the local juice bar Forbidden Fruit. Rocks and Records offers a carefully curated selection of rare and classic vinyl records from a large variety of genres as well as vintage music accessories like speakers and turntables. The store also sells crystals and fossil rocks, hence the name.
New Dining in Downtown Indio includes Victoria's Café, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with popular diner favorites and Frosties, the cafe's signature frozen libations. Gabino's Creperie East serves savory crepes in flavors that include Carne Asada, Chicken Pesto, and Chopped Cheese. Distinctively Italian, the new speakeasy Italica, presents a menu, cocktails, and decor that have all been choreographed to deliver an immersive experience. All three restaurants are on Miles Ave.
Beer enthusiasts will appreciate the new offerings in Indio. Desert Beer Company Pizza and Pints will offer an easygoing selection of food options in addition to drinks at their new location at Indio Blvd and Smurr St, slated to open mid-2024. Around the corner on Miles Avenue is Indio Taphouse which opened in April featuring 120 brews and mouthwatering twists on pub classics.
Between the brew pubs is Center Stage, the City of Indio's new outdoor entertainment venue that was featured as the location for American Idol Season 22 winner Abi Carter's hometown performance in the season finale of the show. Little Street Music Hall, a block further down Miles, is an all-ages music venue featuring local acts and serving coffee. A colorful addition to the downtown culture is Happy Alley, with a canopy of colored umbrellas and vibrant murals on the alley's north and south side that crosses Miles between Towne and Oasis Street.
Food Truck Fridays take place weekly from 5 to 10 p.m. at the corner of Towne Street and Bliss Avenue in downtown Indio. Here, you can find a diverse range of local vendors who offer a variety of entertainment and family-friendly activities.
UPDATES FOR PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
A new, nonstop flight between Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) and Washington Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. will launch at the end of 2024. United Airlines will operate one daily flight starting Dec. 19, running through April 30, 2025. The service will be the first nonstop connection ever between Washington, D.C. and Palm Springs and will create unparalleled access to Palm Springs from the East Coast and Europe through one of United's fastest growing hubs.
Travelers through Palm Springs International Airport have many new choices for food and beverages as PSP continues to enhance shops and restaurants to deliver a local experience to visitors.
Leading the list of new restaurants, Nine Cities Craft, now open in the Agua Caliente Concourse, immerses diners in the diverse flavors of the Coachella Valley. This full-service restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desert-inspired cocktails in a setting inspired by midcentury modern design. Opening in August, Cactus to Clouds, named after a popular local hiking trail, will offer a menu inspired by the bold flavors of Palm Springs. Among the selection of popular breakfasts, sandwiches and soups are seasonal and vegetarian choices, complemented by a selection of expertly crafted cocktails. Also opening this summer, family-owned Las Casuelas Terraza brings four generations of authentic Mexican culinary traditions in a welcoming atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating. Coming to the PSP courtyard this summer is Coachella Valley Coffee, locally roasted and known for its rich and iconic blends.
Newly opened shops at PSP offer curated and local products to travelers. Las Palmas Oasis features an array of breezy resort wear, upscale golf apparel, and spa-quality skincare products. It is also a perfect spot to pick up locally made gifts or gourmet snacks sourced directly from the Palm Springs Certified Farmer's Market. Hey Joshua encapsulates the rugged charm of the High Desert. This store offers an authentic taste of Joshua Tree, featuring a collection of handcrafted goods from local artisans from unique home decor to bespoke jewelry.
CELEBRITY CHEFS AND NEW DINING OPTIONS IN GREATER PALM SPRINGS
Chef TV personality and winner of the Top Chef All-Stars season Richard Blais is the mind behind the upcoming Kestrel Kitchen + Lounge at Indian Wells Golf Resort. Scheduled to open in Fall 2024, the menu will include wood fired dry-aged steaks, handmade pasta, west coast seafood and the first-ever liquid nitrogen margarita.
Grand Hyatt Indian Wells will debut two new restaurant concepts this summer—Tía Carmen and Carmocha—in collaboration with the acclaimed Chef Angelo Sosa. Tía Carmen will pay homage to Chef Sosa's aunt (tía) Carmen and celebrate the local landscape, farmers and community of the Southwest reflecting a mix of tradition and modernity, while Carmocha is a reimagining of international small plates inspired by cultures around the globe and infused with the culinary flair of Angelo's Tia, Carmen.
Chef Katherine Gonzalez of Chula Eatery, La Quinta introduces The Blushing Peony, a chic and modern California-Spanish Mediterranean restaurant. The café located in Indian Wells is open daily for breakfast and lunch; as well as on Friday and Saturday evenings for cocktails and small plates.
A steakhouse with an old-school vibe, Foxy's Kitchen and Bar, has opened in Rancho Mirage in the former location of Shame on the Moon. Inspired by great steakhouses of Midwest cities like Chicago and Kansas City, the menu features a mix of steaks, seafood, and salads as well as a selection of vegan dishes.
Cipolline Osteria is the revival of a classic Tuscan restaurant in an iconic Palm Springs restaurant location. Focusing on pasta made in-house, Cipolline Osteria opened in March in the space that formerly housed Banducci's, a popular Rat Pack era restaurant that served Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
Tony's Burgers of Cathedral City has opened a second location in Palm Springs with an expanded menu from the original. In addition to burger favorites, dinner entrees include chicken piccata, ribeye steaks and seafood.
ACCOMMODATION UPDATES
Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa will rebrand in September 2024 to Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas. The rebranding is timed to the culmination of a $64 million property-wide renovation and ushers in a new era of luxury for the iconic desert resort. Visitors will experience redesigned guestrooms and luxury villas, an expanded lobby experience, elevated accommodations, refreshed meeting and event spaces, two new dining concepts and a reimagined pool complex with extended cabana offerings. The property's newly enhanced 531 accommodations, including 39 spacious suites have completed renovations, while 43 one- and two-bedroom private villas, are set to debut by November 2024.
Scheduled to open September 2024, Thompson Palm Springs will feature 168-rooms including 18 suites in the heart of Palm Springs. The hotel channels timeless midcentury modern design with an unrestricted layout complemented by a custom art collection. Overlooking downtown Palm Springs are two skyline pools, each accompanied by an adjacent, full-service bar with menus of al fresco bites, craft cocktails and more. Later in 2024, Thompson Palm Springs will also house Lola Rose Grand Mezze, a spirited new concept from rising star chef Quentin Garcia that will showcase a blend of Levantine cuisine and local California ingredients. Additionally, owners Craig & Kathryn Hall will be bringingt a ouch of Napa Valley to Palm Springs through their HALL Napa Valley tasting room, featuring selections from their family of wines.
The iconic Dunes Hotel, a landmark of the 1960s, has been reborn as The Dunes Palm Springs with a nostalgic touch of midcentury modern décor. Located in Downtown Palm Springs, this historic 127-room hotel melds its storied past with contemporary luxury, making it a standout destination.
Two new properties will provide additional hotel room inventory on the east side of the destination. The quickly growing chain of Woodspring Suites has recently opened an extended stay hotel in Indio near 42nd and Monroe with suite layouts, in-room kitchens, and a pet friendly environment. Still at the beginning stages of development in La Quinta is a three-story, 125-room Hampton Inn just south of Highway 111.
ATTRACTIONS FOR ALL AGES
The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert reopened in May 2024 with new exhibits to captivate the imaginations of children and nurture thoughtful hands-on learning. The whimsical, creative, and exciting new main gallery installations feature nearly 40 new exhibits, each crafted to inspire young minds to "Imagine," "Express," "Move," "Experiment," "Explore," and "Dream." Fan favorite activities including the Pizza Place, Grocery Store, Veterinary Clinic and Train Tables have been updated for imaginative play in the secondary gallery, and outside the Trike Track, Music Garden, Tortoise Habitat and Discovery Garden encourage the pursuit of adventure. All themed program areas offer endless opportunities for discovery and fun for the youngest visitors to the destination.
Paint and Fire, a clay studio has opened in Rancho Mirage. Choose to paint one of hundreds of bisque pieces in-studio using supplied glazes, brushes, sponges and more. Masterpieces are glazed and fired, then available in a week for pick up or shipping.
Construction has begun on DSRT SURF in Palm Desert with an estimated opening of spring/summer 2026. DSRT Surf will feature a fully integrated 139-room boutique hotel and residences built around a world-class surf lagoon and surrounded by the golf courses at Desert Willow. Additional features will include a surf academy for lessons, pickleball courts, fitness center and more.
The new 90-minute "Paint with Meaning " session is now available from Superbloom®. This unique offering is open to all ages and skill levels, allowing participants to explore self-expression and creativity. A curated collection of products is available, or guests may bring personal items to uniquely upcycle. No prior experience is required, as facilitators provide guidance and support in creating a colorful keepsake.
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