A village charm prevails in Palm Springs, where Palm Canyon Drive serves up stylish clothing retailers such as Wil Stiles and Trina Turk, as well as home décor stores to satisfy your inner modernist. On El Paseo, national retailers — including Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Ralph Lauren, Ann Taylor, the Apple Store, and recent addition Bang & Olufsen, plus many others — mix with standout mom-and-pop shops, creating an impressive luxury corridor. Visitors walking El Paseo will also enjoy the City of Palm Desert’s public art program, which places large-scale sculptures along the median. Westfield Palm Desert has many more chain stores, while The River at Rancho Mirage offers Cohiba Cigar Lounge, Robann’s Jewelers, and several health and beauty boutiques and salons.
(1) Desert Hills Premium Outlets
Situated near Cabazon Outlet Stores, Desert Hills offers one of the largest collections of designer outlets in the country, including Prada, Burberry, Michael Kors, Giorgio, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, and Last Call by Neiman Marcus. And that’s just for starters. www.premiumoutlets.com
(2) Cabazon Outlets
Located 20 minutes west of Palm Springs on Interstate 10, Cabazon Outlets is a popular outlet shopping spot with great deals at hot stores such as Crate & Barrel, adidas, Puma, Oakley, and others. www.cabazonoutlets.com
(3) Palm Canyon Drive
From regional novelties and resort wear (downtown) to antiques and home furnishings (uptown), Palm Canyon Drive provides an excellent alternative to big-box shopping. Over the last few years, North Palm Canyon has drawn a significant number of retailers and businesses, creating the Uptown Design District: an eclectic group including Tchotchkes, Trina Turk, Modern Way, Insolito Home and more. Further south, you’ll find clothing and lifestyle stores, such as Crystal Fantasy, Chico’s, and Mr. G’s for Kids. The Corridor at Alejo Road offers up et cetera, et cetera, Just Fabulous, and more. www.palmcanyondrive.org
(4) Perez Art and Design Center
Tucked in a nondescript strip mall down the road from the many car dealerships in Cathedral City is a collection of gems known as the Perez Art and Design Center. Carrying mostly midcentury furniture and quality home furnishings, along with a sprinkling of new/reproduction merchandise, six stores (Hedge, At-Hom, By Design, Colin Fisher Studios, J.P. Denmark, and Spaces) in the complex are a modernist collector’s dream. Like merchandise at many top-end consignment stores, the turnover is fast and furious. Bidding wars are not unheard of as shoppers vie for the same prized item on the sales floor.
(5) The River at Rancho Mirage
The River at Rancho Mirage flows with haute couture and nearly 2 million gallons of H2O. Specialty shops include Bobby Chan, Hats Unlimited, Optica, Tulip Hill (for the wine lovers in your group), Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (self-explanatory), and others. For premium health and beauty products, check out Bath & Body Works. www.theriveratranchomirage.com
(6) Westfield Palm Desert
Mall walkers love Westfield Palm Desert, which offers a wide selection of retail outlets, including major department stores and chains such as Macy’s, Foot Locker, and JCPenney and trendy fashion outlets Hot Topic, Forever 21, Hollister Co., and others. Techies head toward Brookstone, Gamestop, or one of several electronic communication kiosks. There’s also a selection of aff ordable jewelry stores. www.westfield.com
(7) El Paseo
This elegant boulevard tantalizes shoppers with jewelry, fashion, fine art, home décor, spas, salons, and more. Suggested stops along El Paseo include Leeds & Son Fine Jewelers, The Shops on El Paseo (Burberry, Gucci, St. John, Ralph Lauren, Cos Bar, and more); The Centre on El Paseo, featuring established boutiques (Frasca Jewelers, Mr. Marcus, The Upper Crust, and more); The Gardens on El Paseo, offering acres of good taste (Saks Fifth Avenue, Coach, Tiffany & Co., Gail Jewelers, Louis Vuitton, and more); luxurious El Paseo Village (Juicy Couture, Banana Republic, Kate Spade, Bebe, Lucky Brand Jeans, the Apple Store, and more); and El Paseo Collection, boasting more than 20 art venues proffering everything from Western to modern to Renaissance. www.elpaseocatalogue.com
(8) Old Town La Quinta
Enjoy a variety of shops and businesses in charming Old Town La Quinta. Top draws include La Quinta Olive Oil company, home accessories store Caldi Caldi, Elizabeth & Prince for fashion, Gracie’s Emporium, Desert Outdoors, Homec Jewelers, and more. Visit Old Town Bicycle Rentals and explore the area by bike. www.oldtownlaquinta.com