The best time to travel to Palm Springs begins in the fall when the weather cools and continues through May. The days are glorious with the backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains and it is the ideal time to partake in the numerous outdoor activities Palm Springs offers. This timeframe is also perfect for bringing your dog along. From pet friendly Palm Springs hotels to pet friendly restaurants and parks, you will enjoy having your canine in tow.
On a recent visit to the area, I got to enjoy pet friendly Palm Springs. Most of the pet friendly hotels accept small dogs, but I am lucky because although my dog, Bree, is a Saluki, she is a sighthound so very slender. We just made it within the upper limit of weight that most hotels allow, 40 lbs.
When traveling with dogs, I try to be very considerate, always carrying a dog mat. My dog hates to sit on concrete or hard services. My car is loaded with extra towels and sheets just in case my dog should get sick. I carry a portable water bowl, food bowl, paper towels, wipes, trash bags, and my dog’s preferred treats. I also recommend bringing a copy of your dog’s vaccine record.
Fortunately, Palm Springs is a two-hour drive from my home, so it doesn’t require a stop. On this occasion, Bree, a grizzle Saluki was my companion.
Pet Friendly Palm Springs Hotel – Alcazar
Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels offers an eclectic selection of hotels, from architectural, modern, mid-century, hacienda, or Spanish styled; each boutique hotel provides a unique perspective on dessert living. These hotels embellish an authentic Palm Springs experience. Many of these hotels are pet friendly. One such pet friendly Palm Springs hotel is the Alcazar.
The minute you enter the gate of this Spanish-style hotel, you and your dog are lured in by the aromatic smells of Star Jasmine that line the patio of this serene oasis located in the heart of Palm Springs. General Manager Robert Hunt makes you feel right at home in this 34 room hotel.
First-floor rooms are ideal for dogs because they open to an enclosed private patio where you and your dog can relax at sunset. The sleek modern white-walled rooms remind me of the architecture one finds on a Greek Island such as Mykonos or Santorini. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, pool, complimentary bicycles to cycle around town, and comfy beds adorned with Italian linens. Your dog receives a throw blanket for the bed during your stay.
Right across from the Alcazar is the Dessert Art Center, with its grassy expanse, making it a perfect area to walk your dog. Bree and I would walk out the door early in the morning and late at night and enjoy this grassy patch. Because the Alcazar is located in the Uptown Design District, our walks included optimum visual displays.
Pet Friendly Palm Springs – Dining
Today, many restaurants have outdoor dining, making it ideal for you to enjoy a meal with your dog in tow.
Pet Friendly Palm Springs – Boozehounds
Boozehounds creates a welcoming environment for both people and their pets to experience great dining and socializing. Co-owners Jimmy McGill, Bryan Rogers, and Steve Placenza, dog lovers extraordinaire, created a place for people to mingle with their pets. The open-air lounge and patio are the ideal settings for well-behaved humans and dogs. Dogs can bring their humans for a great meal.
Chef Cory Baker’s menu incorporates southern California cuisine sparked by global influences, while mixologist Justin Gordon does his magic with the eclectic array of mixed drinks. There is even a healthy menu for our fur babies. Bree enjoyed the treats Jim indulged her with as well as her rice and chicken dinner. The restaurant even provides dog mats for the dogs to sit on. Inside dining is for those without their fur babies.
Pet Friendly Moorten Botanical Garden
Moorten Botanical Gardens allows pets to stroll along as you view the desert flora throughout the gardens. There are over 3000 varieties of desert plants. The gardener in you will find, as the Moorten’s coins it, something Cactarium. Bree enjoyed watching the doves. She snubbed her nose at the tortoises. We carefully watched where we walked because some of the cacti looked a little too pointed for a dog to sniff.
Pet Friendly Palms Springs Dog Park
If you are looking for a dog park to let your dog stretch their legs, in the heart of the Palm Springs Civic Center is David H. Ready Dog Park. The park is located at 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way behind City Hall. The park is open daily from 6 am to 10 pm, but please check the holiday schedule. The dog park sits on 1.6 acres of fenced grass with fire hydrants, drinking fountains for humans and pets, picnic tables, and benches. Trees provide shade for you and your dog. The is a separate play area for small dogs.
Pet Stores
Your dog will appreciate a visit to Bones-n-Scones. With two locations in Palm Springs and one in Palm Desert, stop in and find homemade treats for your furry friends. Founded in 1999 by two pet lovers who were looking for more nutritional food, they developed this holistic pet food company that prides itself on wholesome pet products and food.
Other Pet Friendly Spots
Here are some of the restaurants Bree found exciting to people and dog watch while her humans dined.
Lulu California Bistro: Bree thought the cotton candy would make a suitable pull toy.
El Mirasol: For authentic Mexican Cuisine and for Bree, a good place to find scrapes on the floor. Her favorite was the guacamole with homemade tortillas.
Chicken Ranch: Bree liked that she did not have to sit on cement. The patio areas are covered in astroturf.
Bree hopes to discover more of pet friendly Palm Springs during January’s Kennel Club of Palm Springs Dog Show at the Indio Polo Fields. This show is a yearly event for those who like to see the various breeds of dogs. The show also offers one of the best selections of vendor booths and dog products. Stay tuned for more adventures with Bree.
Note: Common to the wine industry, this writer received hosted accommodations and meals. While it has not influenced this review, the writer believes in full disclosure.