Hot Diggity Dog! Palm Springs may be famous as a Snowbirds’ Paradise but it’s also great for pups, provided you avoid the crazy caliente summer months. (I’m beginning to understand why so many residents have little dogs, so they can scoop them up and carry them when the pavement becomes a hot-plate!)

I’ve heard a few times that Palm Springs is more welcoming to canines than kids and I have to say I haven’t seen one badly-behaved dog here, they all seem impeccably well-mannered and chilled. And really that’s the major appeal of Palm Springs – you come here to RELAX: to sit beneath a palm tree and gaze up at the cinnamon-dusted San Jacinto mountains, maybe sip a retro cocktail or simply exhale…

In keeping with the quartet theme of the Rat Pack we’ve put together guides to:

THE 4 BEST DOG-FRIENDLY HOTELS IN PALM SPRINGS and

THE 4 BEST DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN PALM SPRINGS

(plus the 4 Best Hotel Restaurants – each offering poolside or pool adjacent dining!)

But on this page we’re going to take look at the Best Dog-Friendly Shopping and Best Dog Walks. But let’s get started with a cup of morning Joe…

BEST DOG-FRIENDLY COFFEE IN PALM SPRINGS

KOFFI at THE CORRIDOR

It doesn’t get any better than Koffi at The Corridor. First of all, the coffee is sublime – hands down the creamiest, smoothest latte ever. (They even offer the option of light or dark roast and the slices of lemon loaf are doorstop chunky.) Secondly, there’s the oasis-like courtyard setting with its bright flowers, palms and Spanish-Morroccan architecture, offset with trickling Buddha fountains. This shot was taken looking out from the condiments bar at Koffi – talk about flying saucers! If I was a passing alien I’d definitely touch down here for a tranquil respite from the desert heat.

OUR EXPERIENCE: Bodie and I found a shady nook and splayed out on the cool grass, flipping through the local entertainment papers and eyeing our doggie neighbors… Over to our left, a bulging body builder type cradling the teeniest, sleekest Chihuahua. Powering by at a pace, a handsome fella being pulled by three French bulldogs. Over by the wrought iron Man of La Mancha statue, an elderly gent with a Xoloitzcuintli aka Mexican Hairless. This tar black dog with its huge pointy ears resembles something you’d find in an Egyptian hieroglyphic. Great diversity all round!

Website: www.kofficoffee.com/corridor

Address: 515 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs CA 92262

Tel: (760) 416 2244

Hours: 5.30am–7pm.

BEST DESERT DOG WALK IN PALM SPRINGS

MOORTEN BOTANICAL GARDEN

Guaranteed to ‘spike’ curiosity in both you and your dog, Moorten Botanical Garden showcases over 3,000 varieties of desert plant including the Purple Prickly Pear Cactus and giant Aloe Vera.

You’ll also see ancient fossils, pioneer relics and a beautiful hand-hewn seat (pictured below). This private arboretum was established in 1938 by ‘Cactus Slim’ Moorten and his wife Patricia and continues in the family today. Plus it’s right in town – just 8 minutes walk from the Ace Hotel!

OUR EXPERIENCE: If you read every label, studied every prong and then picked out a little something to plant back home, this could take you an hour but with Bodie’s nose propelling us ever onward we spent just 30 minutes, including a crazed bark-fest when a lizard skitted across the transparent roof of the ‘World’s First’ Cactarium.

Website: http://moortenbotanicalgarden.com

Address: 1701 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92264

Hours: 10am-4pm (closed Wednesday) Summer hours: only open Fri, Sat, Sun.

Entry: $4. (Mini potted succulents for sale from $5. Not all have needles – the pretty pink-edged Aeonium looks like an artichoke heart opening up to greet the sun.)

If you’re feeling peckish you can click on BODIE’S BEST DOGGIE DINING IN PALM SPRINGS now or stay on this page and come shopping with us…

BEST DOG-FRIENDLY SHOP IN PALM SPRINGS

JUST FABULOUS

Everything you love about Palm Springs – the glamor, the retro flair, the Rat Pack heyday, the passion for design and fashion and flamboyance – is represented here in book, card and gift form. (Pic highlights the delightful selection of 1960s trailer postcards!) Recent book signings include singing legend Dionne Warwick, Tiki aficionado Sven Kirsten and Sammy Davis JR’s daughter Tracy – so definitely keep an eye on their Events page!

OUR EXPERIENCE: First comes the glorious envelopment of air conditioning, then the enthusiastic greeting from the staff, who kneel beside Bodie and hand-deliver a treat. While he lies on his back and makes the most of the attention, I opt for a little tin of mints from the pet-themed shelf unit: Dog Hair Sticks to Everything (Except the Dog). The dog looks a little like Bodie so I can’t resist the $4 purchase, along with Millefiori Milano car air freshener that clips to the air vent, adding both style and fragrance to our road trip!

Website: https://www.bjustfabulous.com

Address: 515 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (next door to Koffi!).

Tel: (760) 864-1300

BEST DOG-FRIENDLY PET STORE IN PALM SPRINGS

COLD NOSE WARM HEART

You know you’re in the desert when the local pet store sells sun protection for dogs… My Dog Nose It is a velvety balm that soothes, heals and prevents nose color from fading. (Apparently human sunscreen is toxic to pets.) This is one of the many intriguing pet products at the expansive Cold Nose Warm Heart store Downtown. Take the Fidobiotics range packaged in mock burger and Chinese takeaway boxes or Sal Romano’s dog portraits silk-screened onto decorative pillows.

OUR EXPERIENCE: Having run out of Bodie food, I set a couple of cans of Merrick’s Chicken Pot Pie on the counter and Joanne was kind enough to add some Taste of the Wild dry food samples for the crunch factor. Not that he really needed dinner after the handfuls of treats she fed him while we were chatting beside the wall of dog-themed socks.

Address: 189 S Palm Canyon, Palm Springs, CA 92262  Tel: (760) 327 7747

BEST DOG-FRIENDLY WINDOW-SHOPPING

UPTOWN DESIGN DISTRICT

Whereas Downtown can look a little jumbled and touristy, Uptown has a certain class with its focus on mid century home décor, vintage clothing & groovy artworks. In the cool of the evening after the shops have closed it’s still fun to peer in – Déjà vu has the most beautifully-curated retro cocktail dresses and Bon Vivant is resplendent with 70s pendants. (We saw one with a dog with giant eyes as well as an elegant porcelain Dalmation.) Everybody’s Talkin’ goes a step beyond doggie bookends to offer dog shelf ends. Then across the street there’s all the zingy resort wear at Trina Turk and the ultimate Palm Springs artist Shag – love how dogs sneak into so many of his pics, lapping at the swimming pool or peeking from a purse as seen here…

http://www.shagthestore.com

BEST DOG-FRIENDLY LIVE EVENT IN PALM SPRINGS

VILLAGEFEST

Every Thursday night a fabulous street fair strikes up on Palm Canyon Drive with innumerable food stalls as well as arts, crafts and jumping live music. The area is closed to traffic but open to pets (hooray!) and has an invigorating energy that is fun to be part of. (Provided your pup is good with crowds and coming nose-to-nose with other hyped up canines!) This pic courtesy of Palm Springs Life.

Hours: 6-10pm October through May. 7-10pm June through September.

BEST DOG-FRIENDLY TRANSPORT IN PALM SPRINGS

TAKE THE BUZZ!

This is such a nifty idea – you and your well-behaved, non-reactive dog can hop on and off this eye-popping bus/trolley at 31 stops around town for free! Plus your Buzz card entitles you to dozens of perks like a free glass of champagne with the purchase of an entrée at Spencer’s Restaurant or 50% off a Hair of the Dog English Pub t-shirt. As the Palm Springs mayor said, ‘The city’s gone driving optional!’ So that’s another French martini for you…

Website: http://new.buzzps.com

Route: between Via Escuela and Smoketree

Hours: 11am-1am Thurs-Sun. Every 15 minutes!

Fee: FREE!

BEST NIGHT ACTIVITY WITH A DOG IN PALM SPRINGS

WALK THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS AFTER DARK

That may sound like a rather suspect suggestion but on a 90-degree day you may have to wait until night falls for a comfortable walk with your pup. If you take the road that runs behind Curve, Caliente Tropics and the Ace Hotel (East Twin Palms Drive) you will see some classic mid-century architecture and immaculate landscaping trimming the private residences. It’s so peaceful here and the moon is so dazzlingly bright that if you listen closely you can almost hear Frank Sinatra inviting you to come play among the stars…

READ NEXT: BODIE’S GUIDE TO DOG-FRIENDLY PALM SPRINGS HOTELS