19 Things To Do In Palm Springs
Palm Springs is the pinnacle of everything everybody loves about California. It has a history of celebrity glitz and glamour, shopping, lush green palm trees, and breathtaking mountain views. An ambitious resort city, a stream of tourist-friendly events and activities keeps Palm Springs lively and colourful.
You can check out my 72-hour guide to Palm Springs for any weekend plans.
The best things to do in Palm Springs are a happy mix of indoor and outdoor activities. And no mosquitoes! Another bonus point to the desert.
Whether you enjoy exploring the desert, soaking in mineral pools, visiting museums and gardens, or lounging by a resort pool soaking in the sun, you’ll find fun activities in and around Palm Springs to keep you happy, no matter your travel style!
The Greater Palm Springs area is made up of nine beautiful desert communities: Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella.
The cities aren’t too far apart so it’s easy to zip from one to another during the course of your day if you have a car.
If you’re looking for a vacation destination with big-city appeal and a modern desert aesthetic, start planning a trip to Palm Springs. From enjoying the view from the Aerial Tramway to hiking the Indian Canyons, here are the best things to do in Palm Springs.
1- Marvel At The Moorten Botanical Garden And Cactarium
The Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium is a privately owned arboretum specializing in unique desert plant life.
Admission is only five dollars per person, making the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium a must-stop for anyone wanting an up-close look at the regional flora. It’s popular for wedding or engagement shoots too.
2- Take A Ride On The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The iconic Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was opened in 1963 and has been breaking records ever since, including its role as the largest rotating tram car in the world.
While riding the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, you’ll catch stunning panoramic views ranging from wide-open hilly terrain to the surrounding alpine wilderness.
Once you’ve reached the end of your journey in the tram car, you’ll have an endless array of outdoor recreational activities, including hiking, bouldering, and bird-watching.
3- Hike Through The Indian Canyons
The historic Indian Canyons is a picturesque collection of canyons in the Palm Springs area, perfect for hiking, horseback riding, and picnicking.
The Indian Canyons were once home to the industrious Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and traces of their communities are still prominent, from house pits and foundations to rock art.
Indian Canyons have vast natural beauty, including attractive palm groves, unique geological formations, and wild grasses and streams.
Day-hike tickets or annual passes are required to enter the Indian Canyons, so plan your trip accordingly.
4- Take A Photo With The Cabazon Dinosaurs
Palm Springs is home to some of America’s most quirky and kitschy art attractions, and the roadside Cabazon Dinosaurs are no exception. They’re a big hit with kids!
Also known as the World’s Biggest Dinosaurs, this unique roadside attraction has been featured in multiple cult classic movies, from Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure to The Wizard.
Theme park artist Claude Bell created the Cabazon Dinosaurs in the 1960s, and they have lived on ever since, often painted in unique seasonal colours to attract more visitors.
Visiting these roadside reptiles is free of charge, although going inside the gift shop located in the T. Rex’s abdomen costs $13 per person.
5- Get Your Shop On In Downtown Palm Springs
From one-of-a-kind boutiques to designer shops, you’ll find can’t-miss styles on nearly every street corner, with Palm Springs’s unique boho-chic aesthetic filling most stores.
Shoppers will also enjoy the selection of vintage stores, museums, knick-knacks, and souvenirs along the palm-tree-lined city streets.
Like a movie star, take a trip to Downtown Palm Springs for the retro desert shopping and dining experience of your dreams.
6- Take In Some Culture at The Palm Springs Art Museum
Featuring notable works of art from both local and international artists, the Palm Springs Art Museum is a must-see center of art and culture in the heart of Palm Springs.
Founded in 1938 as a “desert museum”, with historical artifacts and science exhibits as the main attraction, the museum slowly shifted to a more artistic niche, leading up to its name change in 2005.
Today, the Palm Springs Art Museum is a beloved modern art hub, hosting an outside sculpture garden, visual and interactive art exhibits, and art-themed events.
With friendly, informative staff and a wide variety of culturally relevant attractions, this museum is a must-visit for art and history buffs.
7- Visit The Salton Sea
Once California’s largest lake, the Salton Sea, was a desert retreat that has been abandoned due to one small factor: the sea’s water is poisonous.
The Salton Sea was created by an engineer in 1905 who attempted to divert some of the nearby Colorado River’s water flow into the Salton Basin. It’s about a scenic hour drive from Palm Springs.
However, the Salton Sea has been steadily increasing in salinity since its inception and is now home to unsafe levels of toxins within the water.
Locally based artists and the small lakeside community that still remains hosts unique events on the Salton Sea. Salvation Mountain is nearby for another little side trip, this folk art installation is picture-worthy.
8- Tour Celebrity Homes
Palm Springs is a city of glitz, glamour, and celebrity status, best taken in on a star-studded trip.
Tours are offered daily, and guests are driven through the luxurious homes and habitats of the former celebrity residents of Palm Springs. Such as Frank Sinatra’s private residence Twin Palms.
9- Visit Wildlife At The Living Desert Zoo And Gardens
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a zoo and botanical garden with wildlife and plantlife that are exclusive to the desert ecosystem of Palm Springs. This unique zoo and garden experience is home to more than 500 animals and over 150 species and its wonderfully vast botanical desert exhibition.
You can feed giraffes, meet rhinos, and walk along one of the many maintained nature trails. Great for both adults and families, also be sure to check out their site for any special events going on.
10- Stroll Through The Historic Sunnylands Center & Gardens
From jaw-dropping architecture to picturesque garden views, Sunnylands Center & Gardens is a spot you’ll love to tour through and want to stay in forever.
This historic estate was completed in 1966 and has hosted many notable visitors, including Queen Elizabeth II, Barack Obama, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Frank and Barbara Sinatra were even married at Sunnylands Center & Gardens due in part to their friendship with the estate’s owners, Leonore and Walter Annenberg.
11- Visit The Nearby Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is 49 miles east of Palm Springs, and the route to get there is a scenic masterpiece in and of itself. No trip to Palm Springs is truly complete without stopping by its nearby neighbour: the natural wonder of Joshua Tree National Park.
Once you’ve arrived in the national park, you’ll be privy to some of the USA’s finest rock formations, skyscapes, and unforgettable desert views.
There’s no end to the wonderful ways you can occupy your time during your visit to Joshua Tree National Park, from hiking, camping, and rock climbing to quirky shopping and dining experiences.
12- Tour mid-century modern homes in Palm Springs
Touring the city’s famed mid-century modern architecture is a must-do if it’s your first visit to Palm Springs. We’ve been to Palm Springs several times, and I still love gawking at the architecture every time we visit.
Many of the homes were built for Hollywood stars, for whom Palm Springs was the getaway destination of choice because their contracts stated they had to be available within two hours of being summoned to the set.
Pick up a map at the Visitor Center to do your self-guided tour. The visitor center itself is a mid-century modern classic! Or join a guided tour.
13- Admire the palms at the Thousand Palms Oasis
Exploring the desert is de rigueur when you visit the Greater Palm Springs area. The landscapes of the California desert are infinitely fascinating, and Palm Springs is the perfect place to enjoy their beauty.
The Coachella Valley Preserve is an easy 20-minute drive from downtown Palm Springs. With dozens of hiking trails, wildflowers in season, and beautiful oases, the preserve is a must-visit if you love hiking and nature.
The palm trees at the Thousand Palms Oasis are unbelievably gorgeous. Walk the short boardwalk trail to appreciate their beauty. Entrance is free but donations go towards maintaining facilities in the preserve.
Pick up a trail map at the Visitor Center if you plan to hike. The McCallum Trail is easy and suitable for families. It ends at the beautiful McCallum Pond.
14- Enjoy retail therapy at El Paseo in Palm Desert
Reminiscent of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, El Paseo is a lovely place to shop or just to window shop and stroll. It’s about one mile from end to end, and they offer a free shuttle if you don’t want to walk.
You’ll see lots of high-end stores, from Bottega Veneta to Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as unique boutique stores. You’ll also find lots of great dining in the area, so plan to visit around lunch or dinner.
15- Eat Out At All The Great Restaurants in Palm Springs
Palm Springs has an array of spots to dine out. Plenty of patios to dine al fresco, cocktail bars, tiki lounges, iconic spots like Melvyn’s, and delicious small spots to grab something to go like Gabino’s Creperie.
16- Drive the Palms to Pines Highway
The gorgeous drive from Palm Desert to Idyllwild along California Highway 74 takes you from palms to pines in just one hour. If you continue on to Banning and then return to Palm Springs via Interstate 10, you can make it a day trip.
17- Visit the Palm Springs Art Installations
The Palm Springs Public Arts Commission has a new initiative called the Neighborhood Grant Program to add art to every neighborhood and also support artists during the pandemic. Be sure to follow along closely as they add new installations all over Palm Springs!
- Installation: ‘Popsicles’ by artist John Cerney located at 605 Sunny Dunes Road.
- Pro Tip: Follow the Visit Palm Springs Instagram account as they’re always sharing new installations.
18- Drive out to Pioneertown
Pioneer Town is around a 45-minute drive north of Palm Springs. It is a living Western movie set. You can walk down Main Street and get a feel for the olden days, or stop in the restaurant for some yummy BBQ and live music if you’re lucky.
There is also the Pioneertown motel that you can stay at if you want to extend your Western experience.
19- Go Vintage Shopping
Palm Springs is all about the vintage look and feel which makes it a perfect spot to do some shopping.
Whether you’re looking for fashion or homewares you can find some amazing one-off pieces in Palm Springs. Here are a few places to check out:
- The Frippery
- Mitchells Palm Springs
- Iconic Atomic
Or if you are up for a drive, head to The End in Yucca Valley for some great vintage finds.
