Indian Wells Palm Springs: What We Did, Where We Stayed, and Where We Ate

We had the opportunity to vacation in Palm Springs, and we’re excited to share with you what we did, where we stayed, and where we ate! We were only there for 72 hours but managed to squeeze in a lot of fun activities. This blog post is going into detail about our vacation itinerary and hopefully, it will give you some ideas on how you can create your own vacation plan.

Where We Stayed: The Sands Hotel and Spa

44-985 Province Way, Indian Wells, CA 92210

The Sands Hotel and Spa is gorgeous! I searched for several days before booking our stay, and I have no regrets!

The Sands Hotel and Spa in Palm Desert was built in the 1950s and remodeled in 2018. The hotel is in the heart of Palm Desert, which made getting around very easy; there were also several restaurants within walking distance.

This dramatic property features 46 guest rooms, a saltwater pool, the Pink Cabana restaurant, and a full-service spa (we did a couples massage.) A combination of Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s Moroccan-inspired design with mid-century vibes will make your stay unforgettable while you enjoy all these amenities.

The pool area is spacious, relaxing, clean, and not too crowded (which I really appreciated)! The poolside meal service is spectacular – the waitress was so attentive. I loved that it was encircled by giant palm trees, flowering aloe plants, foxtail ferns, and cacti.

We booked a room with a king bed, and although it isn’t the most spacious room, it is perfect for what we needed. We booked our hotel stay through Hotels.com.

First Impression of The Sands Hotel and Spa

The lobby will blow you away. The black and white tile, Moroccan beige pillows, and recessed mirrors are remarkable. Upon reaching our room, I immediately fell in love with the gold palm tree door knocker on our door. I also appreciated the music playing when we walked in.

We were be bathing in style at this luxury hotel. The not-so-mini mini-bars are encased by gleaming white latticework cabinets. You won’t miss your usual amenities either because they have everything: Acqua di Parma bath products, a french press for your morning coffee, and a fridge full of tasty beverages. Our room has a decent-sized private patio with a view of the mountains peeking through the palm tree leaves.

  

Where We Ate in Palm Springs

The Nest

We had dinner at Nest on the first night we were in town…and let me just say it was delicious!

What We Ate: We shared the platter so we could try the house specials: Cabbage Rolls, Moussaka, and Spinach Pie.

Drinks: I had a Cosmo, and Caleb had a Paloma.

The ambiance was perfect for our vacation as well – we dined on the patio and enjoyed the unique covers of songs. I actually created a Palm Springs Spotify playlist featuring the songs we’ve heard while on our trip. I love how music triggers my memories and will remind me of the fun we had on our vacation in Palm Springs as the years pass.

Wilma & Frieda’s

I knew I wanted to dine at Wilma & Frieda’s when we saw it on Guy’s Diners and Drive-Ins. They are known for their homemade English muffins, pastry items, and their signature griddled meatloaf and eggs.

What We Ate: I had the special of the day vegetable benedict – layers of zucchini, eggplant, and squash atop a homemade English muffin with a poached egg and a basil hollandaise sauce with a side of hashbrowns.

Caleb had the house special meatloaf and eggs with a side of tater tots.

Drinks: I had the Adult Latte, and Caleb had a bloody mary. His bloody mary was spicy – just the way he likes it.

Fresh Agave

What We Ate: Recommended by travel blogs, we went to Fresh Agave for dinner. We had the tableside guacamole, and we shared the shredded beef burrito with a side of refried beans and rice.

The guacamole was sub-par, even when we added salt and fresh jalapenos. Their version of “tableside” meant mixing up the chunks of guac at our table in the bowl. It was OK, not great.

The shredded beef burrito was just a flour tortilla filled with beef. I would have loved some onions, tomatoes, cheese, and lettuce.

Drinks: I had the Skinny Margarita, and Caleb had the One-Eleven Margarita. Too sweet for me and too bitter for Caleb.

Sherman’s Deli & Bakery

As seen on Diner’s and Drive-Ins, Sherman’s Deli & Bakery is a fun breakfast place. We took a drive on Rose Ave to admire all of the mid-century homes and came here for breakfast on the patio. Sherman’s is an NYC-style deli serving kosher fare breakfast lunch, and dinner with specialty cakes & other baked goods.

What We Ate: We shared the Chili Cheese Omelet with a side of bacon. I enjoyed that it came with a bagel and a side of breakfast potatoes.

Drinks: Caleb ordered a Bloody Mary, and it was essential and delicious. I had a cup of coffee.

Misaki Sushi & Grill

Incredible!!!! The tuna tower appetizer is a MUST! Yes, this restaurant is tucked away in a strip mall – but it is SO delicious. The rolls are a work of art!

What We Ate:

• Tuna Tower: Stack of spicy crab, crab meat, spicy tuna topped w/ tuna, masago, avocado, tempura flakes, spicy mayo + eel sauce
• Hawaiian Roll: crab meat, avocado, cucumber, tuna, avocado, green onion, masago, with a mustard soy sauce
• Aloha Roll: spicy tuna, cucumber, albacore, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, masago with a spicy garlic ponzu

The Palms Cafe

The Palms Cafe is a cafe with booths and patio seating that serves breakfast items, burgers, and Mexican food.

What We Ate: I ordered a BLT with avocado, and a fried egg with a side of french fries, and Caleb had the classic breakfast with scrambled eggs, a pancake with a side of sausage.

ACE Hotel

We The ACE Hotel truly lets you experience Palm Spring in all its glory. Ace Hotel Palm Springs is a roadside hotel with a beautiful outdoor pool, boasting breathtaking views of the mountains. The Ace Hotel offers guests an elevated experience in travel and hospitality through its unique design and locally-sourced food and beverage offerings.

We went to the ACE Hotel twice – once after visiting the Mortens Botanical Garden and then again the morning before we went to the airport.

What We Ate: Our first visit, around lunchtime, we just ordered drinks. On our second visit in the AM, we shared the Breakfast Bagel Sandwich: organic egg, bacon, white cheddar, Brabant potatoes.

Drinks:

• Lunch Visit: I ordered the Frozen Pina Colada: rum, coconut cream, pineapple with a dark rum float. Caleb ordered the Frozen Orange Julius: orange liquor, vanilla vodka, and orange juice.
• Breakfast Visit: Caleb ordered a Bloody Mary and a XXX (BEER). And I ordered the frozen Orange Julius.

What We Did in Palm Springs

• Drove around N Rose Ave Palm Springs and admired all of the Mid Century Modern homes.
• Explored The Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium. Moorten Botanical garden is a 1-acre family-owned botanical garden specializing in cacti and other desert plants. It is located at 1701 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. I highly recommend visiting it if you are a “crazy plant lady,” like me.
• Relaxed in the saltwater pool at our hotel.
• Got a couples massage at the Spa at the Sands Hotel. 10/10. I highly recommend it!
• Enjoyed the weather.
• Took a ton of photos – both digital and on my Pentax N645. If you want to buy prints of my work, I have some listed on Society 6.