Next stop on our whirlwind adventure of SoCal: Palm Springs! We have always wanted to explore the desert town and are so envious of those who can attend Coachella on a yearly basis. We scoped out the perfect lodge to stay at: Sparrows Lodge.
Sparrows Lodge couldn’t have been more perfect for us. It was a great place to sit down, relax, and unwind. Set in the desert, the lodge is a sight to be seen with its palm trees and mountainous views. We arrived to the hotel earlier than expected, and as we walked into the entry of the hotel, we immediately noticed a centerpiece of Annie Leibovitz’s SUMO photography book, and a small, framed sign: “Welcome to Sparrows Lodge – Please come find us in the Barn”
We obliged, walking past the pool and lounge area, in to the barn, where we found General Manager Jason Perry, who welcomed us to relax by the pool while our room was prepared. We utilized the barn’s bathrooms to change into our bathing suits, grabbed a complimentary glass of sangria as well as a cerveza, and enjoyed the first taste of a true vacation during our Southern California trip. Not only does the lodge have an awesome Southwestern aesthetic, it also has amazing amenities. The room comes with free access to bike rentals, a pool, hot tub, horseshoes, life-size Jenga, a fire pit, a massive outdoor dining table, a giant outdoor hammock, and separate patios for each room.
Shortly before dusk, we took advantage of the cruiser bikes Sparrows supplied, and enjoyed a bike ride around Palm Springs. The bikes allowed us to explore the surrounding neighborhood, and get even more awe-inspiring views of the city. The next morning, we awoke and took advantage of the lodge’s complimentary breakfast that makes a Days Inn’s continental breakfast look like dog food: baguettes with jelly, fresh Greek yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, and delicious French press coffee (roasted locally in Joshua Tree) really hit the spot that morning. Sparrows Lodge provided such amazing amenities and atmosphere that we actually felt a little depressed as we checked out and left the grounds, leaving us convinced that there’s no other hotel we will ever book while staying in Palm Springs – Coachella 2016 anyone?!
Before fully committing to our next destination of San Diego, we decided to find the famous Cabazon Dinosaurs from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (!!!) for some dino selfies. Afterwards, we checked out the Desert Hills Premium Outlet Mall, perusing the incredible designer shops boasting names such as Rag and Bone, All Saints, Saint Laurent, Burberry and more. Palm Springs is a great oasis and escape from the city life and provided the actual taste of vacation that we so desparately needed. We can see why it’s such a desired weekend (or in our case, weekday) getaway for local Los Angelenos.
