After spending the first few days of spring break cleaning up kid messes we decided to pack it up and head to Palm Springs. Palm Springs is just an hour and a half away and was considered the "playground for the stars" as early as the 1920's and on into the 60's with the likes of Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and Lucille Ball. The desert was a place to get away from the city. In the 80's and 90's it turned to sleaze and became the spring break destination for college kids to go crazy. That is until Mayor Sunny Bono banned thong bikinis and cruising downtown... Now 20 years later Palm Springs is trying to make a comeback. It's going back to its golden days and trying to avoid the sleaze. There are hip, mid century modern hotels being renovated and they are catering to a certain demographic. That said...I think that demographic is us. I have to say I am a walking advertisement for the Ace Hotel. We had such a great time that whilst swimming in the pool we made a family pact with hands outstretched one on top of the other that we would come every year.
This cute lil hotel has only been open a few months but it is basically a Motel 6 with class. The rooms are affordable but also stylish. You can tell the money they spent was spent where it matters. Every thing was so well thought out in design and function that it just made me breath a big sigh of relief that someone is actually doing it right. They are up on the zero waste policy with glass everywhere instead of plastic. If they did give out cups they were compostable. The restaurant was also green with cloth napkins and no paper sugar packets. The restaurant, that was once a Denny's was converted into the King's Highway and the food was organic, local and delicious. At night, there were fire places with lit fires outside the rooms and during the day townie bikes were readily available for a ride around town at no cost. The pool is open 24 hrs and they have the short bus where you can order rum punch (just what Mary Poppins prefers), sno-cones made with real fruit and anything from the King's highway poolside. I told you I can't stop talking about this place. We lived like kings for a day and most importantly it is completely kid friendly. My only qualm is that the day we were leaving we were descended on by well dressed, tan, fit men. I was wondering why so many good looking dudes had started appearing all at once and then we found out it was the weekend of the white party. Beautiful Judy Garland loving gay men everywhere...okay, some were not so beautiful but anyhow... we had a fabulous getaway and hope that the Ace remains the best kept secret in Palm Springs. (Not likely)
