Just a stone’s throw from Los Angeles and Acton, California is a desert oasis known for its charming midcentury architecture and hipster chic. Palm Springs and its surrounding neighborhoods like Indian Wells, Cathedral City, and Palm Desert are home to outstanding restaurants and bars that cater to many tastes – especially plant-based ones. Explore veganism at spots like Native Foods, Nature’s Health Food & Cafe, Palm Greens Cafe, or Heirloom Craft Kitchen.

Visit Palm Springs at the right time, and you’ll find yourself rubbing elbows with celebrities and television productions shooting in the area. During its run, HBO’s hit series “Insecure” shot its “High-Like” episode in Palm Springs. A significant portion of the show centered around the cast of characters attending the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” also filmed several episodes in town since the family has roots in the area. Stars like Ross Mathews, Shia LaBeouf, and Leonardo DiCaprio even have ties to Greater Palm Springs. 

Perhaps one of the best things about Palm Springs – and most aligned with Farm Sanctuary’s commitment to animal rights – is its pet-friendly nature. Many restaurants cater to dogs, with some even providing special menus and complimentary water for canine companions. Humane Society of the Desert offers the area’s largest no-kill facility in the Coachella Valley. Greater Palm Springs is also a mecca for the LGBTQ+ community. Many singles and couples enjoy taking in the city sights and sounds or perusing Palm Springs Art Museum and nightlife at incomparable local establishments.

For everything that Palm Springs does well, the city still has to reckon with its relationship to race. According to the Desert Sun, the local government planted large tamarisk trees in the early 1960s to separate a “whites only” golf course from the Black residents living on the other side. The thicket added stigma to the neighborhood and stymied its real estate growth. Finally, in late 2017, local officials apologized, vowing to remove the trees. Resident and activist Trae Daniel spoke about his passion to erase the symbol of inequality: “It’s really about the barriers. It’s about the segregation and discrimination that has prevented black people in Palm Springs from accumulating wealth.” Conversely, there is a storied history featuring its early Black leaders like Lawrence Crossley and John and Miranda Nobles. They created and nurtured prosperous alliances with local tribes, including the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, at a time when white residents were less welcoming.

Palm Springs is a city poised to foster stronger race relations among its residents while also holding true to its roots as a place of acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community. That’s what makes a daycation to the Coachella Valley memorable; there’s always so much to explore. The easygoing vibe and gorgeous aesthetic keep visitors coming back for more.

Sources: KCET, Desert Sun