Author: 
Welcome To Palm Springs – Where Luxury & Adventure Awaits
Palm Springs, California, is a glamorous desert oasis in the Coachella Valley, surrounded by breathtaking mountain range views and year-round sunshine. It’s known for some of the world’s trendiest nightlife, world-renowned festivals, and breathtaking scenery.
If you’re considering a vacation to Palm Springs, this micro travel guide of the top things to do in Palm Springs will help you plan an itinerary tailored just for you. We’ve outlined fun things to do, from national parks and nature preserves to art galleries, hiking trails, golf courses, and more.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your planner, and let’s get started.
Outdoor Activities
Coachella Valley and The Greater Palm Springs Area is the ultimate playground for hiking, exploring nature trails, learning the land’s rich history, and the deep connection to its Native American history.
No trip to this breathtaking part of the United States would be complete without visiting the Coachella Valley Preserve. It is made up of 13,000 acres of protected desert and mountain range. While there, you can make your way to the Thousand Palms Oasis, a place where the fan palm, streams, and desert wildlife thrive. We recommend taking a guided tour with one of the very knowledgeable volunteer rangers for the full Coachella Valley Preserve experience.
But don’t stop there. You can’t miss Tahquitz Canyon and the gorgeous 60ft waterfall tucked into the crevice of its rocks. You may even think you’re seeing a mirage or your eyes are playing tricks on you, but the truth is this place is actually THAT beautiful. Located on the land of the Agua Caliente, Cahuilla Indians, you’ll have the privilege and opportunity to learn about their connection to this special land as their ancestral home. There’s also a visitors centre where you’ll be welcome to come and watch a short movie highlighting the canyon and an observation deck and gift shop.
Less than an hour’s drive from Palm Springs is the must-see Joshua Tree National Park. Once you’ve arrived, while you’re still so close to Palm Springs, you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported somewhere completely surreal. It’s an achingly beautiful place where the Mojave and Colorado deserts merge in a harsh but stunning wilderness. So rent a jeep, take a self-guided tour, or book one with a park ranger, but whatever you choose, don’t forget to take lots of pictures and come home covered in desert dust. Trust me; you’ll be so glad you did.
Attractions
Not to be outdone by the overwhelming raw beauty of the landscape in Palm Springs, its national parks and preserves, there’s also a ton of quirky, educational, and fun things to see and do in and around the city. Whether you want to seek out the retro/Hollywood side of things, take in some historical exhibits or become more cultured with a theatre or art show, there’s never a dull moment to be had.
I suggest you start with a peek into the star-studded history Hollywood has had with Palm Springs since becoming a celebrity vacation hotspot in the early 1950s by paying a visit to the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway. This home was made famous when Elvis Presley and his young bride Prescilla honeymooned here in 1967 and used it as their private getaway during their marriage. Visitors can tour the home, and depending on the time of year, you may even be able to catch the annual tribute concert to celebrate Elvis’ birthday.
Are you a World War II history buff with a passion for military aviation? Make sure you get your ticket to the Palm Springs Air Museum with the world’s largest collection of functional WWII planes. If history isn’t your thing, that’s ok; there’s also The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, a world-class zoo where guests can see plants and wildlife native to the desert as well as a collection of animals from across North America and Africa. One of the biggest attractions is the giraffe exhibit resembling the Savannah.
If you have a plant fanatic in your life, or maybe you are one, you’ll be excited to visit the Moorten Botanical Garden with over 3000 different varieties of desert plants. I don’t know about you, but desert plants are my absolute favourite. Their success does not rely on your green thumb or lack thereof. It’s a win-win.
For a more cultural experience, The Annenberg Theatre is a local favourite located inside the Palm Springs Art Museum with a free film festival throughout the summer, and a busy events schedule all year round.
Shopping
However, if you’re like me, any good vacation includes some good old-fashioned retail therapy. Aside from shopping in the designer shops and boutiques on Palm Canyon Drive – the famed palm tree-lined street where trends and luxurious items abound, the Cabazon Outlets are located about halfway between Los Angeles and Palm Springs. People from all over, road trip here for deep discounts on brand names we all love. But if you’re here for a Palm Springs shopping extravaganza, then stick around on Palm Canyon Drive, especially on a Thursday night for Villagefest. It’s a weekly festival celebrating the local businesses of Palm Springs, where vendors from across the valley bring their treasures into the street for visitors to browse and find something special.
Aerial Tramway
Was a new perspective something you were hoping to gain from your vacation to Coachella Valley? Then, there’s no better place to go and find it than on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Ride the world’s largest aerial tram car up 8500 ft. to Chino Canyon, where you can breathe in the fresh mountain air from the observation deck and look out over Palm Springs from atop Mount San Jacinto. Stay for a while and dine in one of the restaurants or head out for an epic hike in one of over 50 hiking trails in the state park outback. Perspective found.
The Greater Palm Springs Area
I first visited the Palm Springs area because of the draw of the world-renowned Coachella festival on the polo fields of Indio back in 2016. While there, I gained an appreciation for the beauty and cultural importance of Palm Springs and the entire greater palm springs area. When I booked my tickets, I knew I was headed for the desert. Still, I was unprepared for the startling beauty of the insane views of the San Jacinto Mountains and watching some of my favourite bands perform against the backdrop of a desert sky at sunset. All that being said, when you visit Palm Springs, I wholeheartedly encourage you to either rent or take a car and plan some road trips to the surrounding areas. I’ve listed some below with a few of their highlights.
These are some of the places you won’t want to miss.
Cathedral City, where you’ll see
- The Fountain Of Life Landmark
- The Gravesite of Frank Sinatra
- Patriot Park
Rancho Mirage, where you’ll see
- Children’s Discovery Museum
- The River at Rancho Mirage
- Chuckwalla Trail
Palm Desert, where you can
- Tour the San Andreas Fault Line
- Visit the street fair at College of the Desert
- Take in a historical monument at the Desert Holocaust Memorial.
Final Thoughts
Visiting Palm Springs can feel like a million different kinds of vacations rolled into one. On one day, you can be shopping in the luxe shops of Palm Canyon Drive and dining in five-star restaurants in the company of celebrities. The next day you could be trekking through the mountains, learning about the sacredness of the land and the Native American history that runs so deep here or playing with the kids by the pool and heading off to the zoo. It’s no mystery why Palm Springs has become such a magical place for so many who vacation here year after year or why so many others have this destination written down on their bucket list. Whatever has brought you here or beckons you here, I promise you, it is exactly everything you’ve dreamed of.
See you when you get here.
Happy Travels!
Featured Image Credit: By Francesco Ferrarini Flickr CC2.0
