Maybe a big summer trip is not in the cards this year, but there are so many great nearby resorts that would make a easy family weekend getaway. Here’s my review of the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, which is so close to LA and so much fun. If you can swing a few days there you really will feel like you had a great mini vacation.
I had been hearing about The Ace Hotel from many LACityMoms so a few weekends ago, my family and I went to Palm Springs to try it out. We had a terrific time and here’s why. I am sure you are much cooler than I am so you probably don’t have this issue, but even in my coolest outfit, and I do have a few, toting around a sticky child with a runny nose, and a tattered bear called, “Ibba Jibba” just doesn’t really go with the cool vibe I might occasionally be trying to project. But the Ace Hotel has the cool vibe in spades, even with the sticky kids and the tattered bear, being there was cool, and so were we.
You’re just have go there to see what I mean. The hotel is a re-designed Howard Johnson’s. In the re-vamp they have done the most extraordinary job of making it sleek but inviting, comfortable but still simple, and most of all just a really cool and lovely place to hang out. The rooms are chic and cozy. Every detail, down to the menus and the drinking glasses, to the black and white photo booth in the lobby has a hip art directed design making you feel like you are part of a desert chic Western movie.
The hotel surrounds a large pool and outside eating area. Hip music plays on the patio most of the day. There is a ping pong table outside which provided my family with hours of fun. We lounged by the pool in a hammock, and then the kids swam with us or drew pictures outside. The King’s Highway, The Ace’s Restaurant, has excellent food. It has a high end diner feel and serves a variety of organic comfort food. Breakfast was hearty and delicious.. The service was friendly, although a bit hectic at times. We had a great dinner there as well: fish tacos, and some tasty mojitos with fresh squeezed lime juice.
We spent most of our time at the hotel by the pool, as we were blessed with perfect weather. One day we ventured out to play tennis at The Plaza Racquet Club. My husband and kids had lessons, which was a lot of fun. We met up with some Los Angeles friends at the Manhattan Deli, and had a nice lunch there. We hadn’t packed appropriately or booked ahead for The Aerial Tramway, which takes you on a dramatic ride up into the snow covered mountains where you can actually play in the snow and go sledding. (Our friends had done that, and next time we will too.)
There are a lot of great kid friendly things to do in the area, there’s a hands on Children’s Discovery Museum, just a short drive away and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, as well as and Indian Reservation to explore. The hotel has bikes you can use including several small kids’ sizes. My son’s runny nose made us less ambitions than we usually are in terms of sightseeing, but even a stroll through town checking out the various art galleries made us feel like we were on vacation and away from the bustle of LA.
The Ace Hotel even has a special family craft and creativity family weekend coming up with Kimmel Kids at the end of April with great activities for kids, encouraging creations made of repurposed materials, project will include: stencils, piñatas, potato prints, miniature gardens, dioramas, macramé and knitting. They’re planning a movie night outdoor barbecue. I know this is booking up fast, so if you’re interested I’d sign up soon. Sounds like a wonderful way to connect with other families too in a such a peaceful setting. For more info on that weekend go to Kimmel Kids.
We loved The Ace Hotel, and I think you and your family will too. The rates are reasonable, the food great, and you can venture out to activities or just lounge around the pool. They have suites just for families with a king and then two double beds as well. Or if you want to bring your doggie, as we did, they’ll put you in a room with a patio and your pup can relax outside while you are out.
Your kids may be off school in the next few weeks. A few days at The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs might be the perfect break. It may even make you remember your pre-mommy self, and that in itself is a pretty cool concept.
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