Palm Springs road trip for Pride
Hey everyone! My name is Maurice McClain and I’m a Los Angeles fashion stylist, creative, and entrepreneur. As you can imagine, life can be extremely busy. That means vacations, no matter how big or small, are very important to us. My fiancé Adam is an amazing background vocalist and Navy veteran. He’s been able to see the world through the military, and is committed to showing our family the world as well. We have two beautiful children that are full time students and part time actors (Marjorie, 13 and Kamron, 12). We recently gained custody of them this year after an eight-year battle. They have been traveling back and forth for visits during the summer and because of our flexible schedules, we are usually blessed enough to take summers off with them, spend quality time, and of course plan a few trips together.
As you can see, Adam and I are two black, gay, dads. The kids are mine biologically and he lovingly inherited them as his bonus babies. Growing up, life as we live it now did not seem like a possibility. We both come from very religious backgrounds and are pastor’s children. We’ve always been able to connect and relate because of that. Both of us come from an environment where self-expression was not encouraged and our way of living was not accepted. It has taken a lot of work to deprogram ourselves and our children, who also encountered the same environment the first few years of their life. When I came out at the age of 27 (now 33) it was a shock to everyone, including the kids. Now that they have a better understanding of what it means to live in your truth, it has been important for us to expose them to different cultures and ways of living. In a short time, they have learned that being gay isn’t just a lifestyle, but is its own beautiful culture.
This is why planning this trip to Palm Springs Pride with the kids is important. Of course, our first Pride was in LA but there’s nothing like the beautiful people of Palm Springs. We’ve been to Palm Springs a few times, but never for Pride. Now that it’s fully open outside, we will be able to experience Pride in November. The atmosphere there is so inviting and welcoming to everyone, and with our busy schedules, it’s important to make our trips as least stressful as possible. I’m already a planner and perfectionist, so Vrbo is a no-brainer throughout this process. Being a family of four we are going to need at least three bedrooms, so that everyone is more than comfortable.
Searching through the Vrbo app we were able to find a gorgeous Mid-Century bungalow on the golf course that includes the perfect view, beautiful pool, and built-in grilling and commons area. This rental also offers a beautiful pool table for a night cap with Adam and a cute drink. I was extremely excited to search the app to find out they also include at least 2 bikes which would give us an extra activity during some down time. If you know anything about the city, you know it has the most amazing views and the most atrocious heat. We’re looking at a 2.5-hour drive and plan to make a pit stop at our favorite shopping spot, Cabazon Outlets. If you’re interested in designer items at a much more reasonable rate then you’ll absolutely fall in love with Cabazon. This is where Adam and I got engaged nearly 3 years ago!
If you haven’t noticed, I enjoy making the most of my dollar, and Vrbo helps with that. I’m able to book a beautiful house with a pool and an amazing view of the San Jacinto mountains for my family. It’s near grocery stores so that we have everything we need to grill and be poolside our entire stay. What is really helpful with Vrbo is the quality options that fit our lifestyle and the honest, detailed reviews that help me make a safe and confident decision.
I’m extremely excited to introduce the kids to Thriftology on our trip. It’s a black-owned, second-hand store in Palm Springs. We all love fashion, so we plan to go shopping there one day and pick out each other’s outfits. We have to wear every piece styled to their own liking and then go out for an amazing dinner. Our go-to activity will be to just explore. There is this one street we love with so many restaurants, shops, and scenery. If I haven’t said it already, the people that visit and live in Palm Springs are some of the loveliest people you will ever meet. That is one of the best parts of the trip, making long lasting relationships. You’ll never meet a stranger. This will be the kids’ second Pride experience, so you know this time we’ll have to go all out. Marjorie and I love to coordinate our outfits regularly, so this will be a fun bonding experience. Lately she’s been raiding my closet and stealing my clothes, and I take that as a compliment. We’re absolutely looking forward to experiencing all the Pride events and educational moments together.
Although this is a family vacation, Adam and I will always find time to fit in a date night and indulge in the adult festivities. Palm Springs has been one of our anniversary getaways, so anytime we make it out here we make sure to dine at Ruth’s Chris, a date night favorite. The drinks are amazing and as a steak connoisseur, I promise you won’t be disappointed. Not to mention their portions are more than filling. By the way, I would be amiss if I didn’t mention our most favorite eatery, Farm. We never make it to the city without gracing this lovely restaurant where our beautiful friend, Leslie, is the resident vocalist. The ambiance is amazing, the 3-4 course meal is to die for, and Leslie’s voice will absolutely captivate and soothe your soul. If you’re looking for an upscale experience, this is the place. After our regal dinner we intend to let our hair down! One thing about Palm Springs: they know how to have a good time. The city is filled with a beautiful nightlife and, of course, tons of gay friendly clubs. Everyone’s mission is to have a great time laughing, dancing, and singing. You don’t have to worry about the hustle and bustle that you would experience in LA. No heavy lines and no overcrowding. At least this is my experience, anyway!
On any vacation we make it a point to have at least one day that is not filled with plans, driving, and a tight schedule. That is why it’s so important for us to choose a relaxing and functional rental with Vrbo. This allows us the freedom to grill, swim, and be as comfortable as possible whenever we want. I’m the cook of the family, so of course there are no true days off, but grilling for my family is one of my guilty pleasures. I love soaking in the hot sun while the kids play in the pool and Adam acts like he wants to help cook while singing whatever song he’s currently obsessed with. Like I said, our schedules are usually packed, so these are the relaxing moments we work so hard to be able to enjoy together. During this time, we also like to get caught up on our favorite shows, books, and of course TikTok (lol). Because if you’re not TikTok-ing or capturing the moment, did it really even happen? We never forget to actually live in the moment of course, but I’ve learned through life that capturing those special moments will become priceless someday.
We usually try to also incorporate anything else we’ve been wanting to do that we don’t usually get to do otherwise. Like NAPS! It may seem like a small thing, but that very minimal event is such an important aspect in self-care. I think as humans we forget what vacations are actually for. They’re for unwinding and recharging yourself to face real life with a rejuvenated spirit one you get back to it. On our last day we will sit around the pool and discuss our plans, goals, and ways our family dynamic can function better. Communication is healthy, and these types of conversations are part of self-care as well. It allows everyone to freely share their voice away from our normal environment. That way, if there are any issues, we can address it and leave that energy on vacation and not bring it home.
Now that we’ve all decompressed, we’ll head back home, but not without stopping at our favorite gelato shop, Gelato Granucci. They have the most amazing flavor options and the staff is always so sweet as well – pun intended! The best part of any road trip in Cali is the snacks, gorgeous views, and family time. We use the time on the road to reminisce about what we enjoyed most on our vacation. Adam and I like to always make sure that everyone felt like they got to contribute their own special touch or activity to our trip. Last, but certainly not least, if we’ve spent less than our budgeted amount, we like to reward ourselves with a final shopping trip through the Cabazon Outlets. Unfortunately, that’s where we end up going over budget, but as long as we finish the trip with everyone happy and on a good note, it’s all worth it!
If you’re planning a trip near or far, I would strongly encourage using Vrbo to eliminate any and all worries when it comes to planning your stay. If you’re as meticulous as me, you’ll thank yourself. Most of all, plan that trip! Book that gorgeous home away from home! You need it, and you absolutely deserve it. We all do. Peace and many, many blessings to you all.
Maurice McClain