Planning your trip to Palm Springs

THE BEST WAY TO PALM SPRINGS

Palm Springs is a 110-mile drive from downtown Los Angeles, east on Interstate 10.

WHERE TO STAY

Desert Riviera Hotel, 610 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; (760) 327-5314, www.desertrivierahotel.com. Eleven rooms, most with kitchenettes; pool, free limo, about a mile from downtown. Rates $149 to $179 nightly.

Orbit In, 562 W. Arenas Road, Palm Springs; (877) 996-7248 or (760) 323-3585, www.orbitin.com. Nine rooms outfitted with ‘50s details at every turn, an easy walk to downtown shops and dining. Rates $139 to $259, September to June; $99 to $169 in summer.

The Hideaway, a few doors away, shares the same style, management and rates for its 10 rooms, but closes in July and August.

Riviera Resort & Spa: 1600 N. Indian Canyon Road, Palm Springs; (866) 588-8311 or (760) 327-8311, www.psriviera.com. More than 400 lavishly refurbished midcentury rooms on 24 acres with two pools, spa, restaurant, bar. Weekday rates (excluding the $25 daily resort fee) are as low as $119, weekend rates as low as $139; rates may go to $209 weekdays, $229 weekends in season.

Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; (888) 999-1995, www.hotwatercasino.com. There’s nothing modernist here. The hotel opened in April 2008, and it’s out by Interstate 10, nine miles from downtown Palm Springs. But all 340 rooms are at least 550 square feet. Besides the casino and restaurant and spa, there’s a 2,028-seat performance venue called the Show that opened in early 2009. Rooms begin at $89 and go up to $359.

WHERE TO EAT

Mister Parker’s, 4200 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; (760) 321-4629, www.misterparkers.com. The owners call this “a deconstructed formal hangout for fops, flâneurs and assorted cronies.” I know, sounds way pretentious. But I got great service and great food. Dinner only, Wednesdays through Sundays. Entrees $31 to $65.

Trio, 707 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; (760) 864-8746, www.triopalmsprings.com. Opened in September, serving modern American cuisine in a retooled modernist bank building. I liked the pork medallions with dates. Entrees $15 to $26.

Jackalope Ranch, 80-400 Highway 111, Indio; (760) 342-1999, www.restaurantsofpalmsprings.com/. Somebody spent millions building and landscaping this enormous Southwest and barbecue restaurant, which opened in January. If you’re near Indio, it’s worth a look. My sandwich was good, not great. Dinner entrees are $22 to $39. In the bar and at lunch, sandwiches and tacos run $11 to $14.50.

TO LEARN MORE

Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, www.palm-springs.org.

Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities Convention and Visitors Authority, www.palmspringsusa.com.

Palm Springs Modern Committee, www.psmodcom.com.