Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a die-hard fan of the Hollywood elite, you’ll find yourself drawn to the year-round sunshine of Palm Springs.
As renowned for see-and-be-seen pool parties as it is for mid-century modern architecture and edgy music festivals, this resort community offers much more than your average sunbathing and tiki bar drinks.
Not that there’s anything wrong with taking it easy – and those among the rich and famous would certainly concur. The reputation of Palm Springs as a celebrity playground goes back to the days of Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and gangster Al Capone - whose local hideout (legend has it) came with underground escape tunnels. Its location, only 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles, nestled within the Colorado Desert’s Coachella Valley, makes it ideal for celebrity spotting even today.
But if you’re more interested in, say, world-class hiking and rock climbing among the surreal landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park, taking a ride on the world’s largest rotating tram car or racing the latest BMW model on one of the only two driving tracks in the U.S. you’re in luck. Within the nine desert-resort cities that make up the Greater Palm Springs area, there’s something for absolutely every type of traveler. Here are nine recommendations for things to see and do during your next escape here.
Ride Above The Clouds On The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
On this 10-minute adventure up the steepest vertical cable ride in the country, you’ll enjoy 360-degree views that stretch as far as 75 miles on clear days. As you ascend more than 8,500 feet from the base of Chino Canyon to the top of Mount San Jacinto, you’ll admire endless blue skies and dramatic mountain backdrops.
Once you get to the top, you can explore more than 50 miles of wildflower-studded hiking trails and pristine woodlands through guided nature walks, overnight camping under the stars, or, in the winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. There are also a couple of observation decks, a cocktail lounge and two restaurants offering fine dining with unrivaled views.
Check the website before venturing here because the venue is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.
Photo by iStock/constantgardener
Travel Back In Time Through A Modern Architecture Tour
Many of the greatest examples of mid-century modern architecture in Palm Springs are still in great condition. Check out some of the area’s iconic homes on one of the year-round tours offered on celebrity haunts. You won’t want to miss Elvis Presley’s honeymoon hideaway, described by Look magazine as the “house of tomorrow” when it was built in 1962. The saucer-shaped abode, made up of four spherical and hexagonal pods, was rented by the king of rock ‘n’ roll and his young bride, Priscilla, for nine months in 1967, and is rumored to be where their first child, Lisa Marie, was conceived.
Other architectural gems worth getting your camera out for include Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate, best known for its piano-shaped swimming pool; Frey House II, the second home of one of the founding architects of Palm Springs, Albert Frey, which is built into the side of a massive boulder; and the Kaufmann House, where photographer Slim Aarons took the now-iconic “Poolside Gossip” photograph.
Enjoy A Luscious Shake Made From Locally Grown Dates
Known as the nation’s date capital, Coachella Valley grows more than 90 percent of dates in the U.S. The industry took off after date palms were imported from the Middle East and North Africa in the late 1800s as an experiment and ended up thriving in groves planted in the desert.
While there are many date farms to choose from, one with a special place in history is Shields Date Garden, as it goes back to 1924. It’s worth making the trip to sample from a selection of locally grown varieties, sip on a date shake or try a date-infused coffee while watching their now-iconic instructional video, “The Romance and Sex Life of the Date.”
Visit One Of The World’s Top Aviation Museums
One of the world’s largest collections of flyable WWII aircraft is housed at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Many of the museum’s expert volunteers have served in WWII, Korea or Vietnam and can help bring history to life firsthand, while also demonstrating the ins and outs of the more than 50 vintage and iconic airplanes on exhibit.
History buffs and plane enthusiasts will get to learn all the nuts and bolts of military aviation through activities such as simulated computer flights, outdoor flight exhibitions and rides in one of the museum’s four vintage warbirds, like the T-28 Trojan and the T-33 Shooting Star Jet.
Race A BMW
Few activities in the greater Palm Springs area will get your adrenaline going as much as a day at the BMW Performance Center in Thermal, one of the country’s only two BMW driving tracks. Get up to speed on car control and defensive driving, take a spin in the latest BMW models and test your limits in a race all while having a blast behind the wheel.
If you only have an hour or two, you can take a performance drive and even do a hot lap around the track with a certified driving instructor.
Soak In Mineral Hot Springs Or Try A Desert-Inspired Spa Treatment
After a long day of sightseeing, you might feel like a warm soak in mineral-rich, mood-enhancing water. How about a pool that flows from a 600-year-old spring? Two Bunch Palms is a safe bet for a rejuvenating experience; so too are the eight crystal-clear pools of the Miracle Springs Resort & Spa; as well as the silky mineral waters of Sagewater Spa, which you can enjoy amid 360-degree stunning mountain views.
Once it reopens, you can also connect with nature through a desert-inspired spa treatment at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Rancho Mirage. At this secluded sanctuary, many of the treatments on offer, such as the Desert Wildflower Poultice Massage, are inspired by native plants and herbs. And at Spa La Quinta, nestled at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, signature treatments and massages incorporate the citrus ambiance of its garden-like surroundings.
Relive Glory Years At Sunnylands Estate
If you wanted to combine the best of Palm Springs history, architecture and the outdoors into one destination, your best bet would be to explore the time capsule of the Sunnylands Estate in Rancho Mirage. Built in 1966 by U.S. Ambassador Walter Annenberg and his wife, Lenore, and designed by A. Quincy Jones, the 25,000-square-foot estate has hosted world leaders ranging from the likes of Ronald Reagan to Queen Elizabeth II.
Although in-person guided tours of the 23-bedroom home, which go into details such as the pink, pyramid-shaped roof and the color-themed guest rooms (where even the bedside bowl of jellybeans is carefully chosen to match), have been temporarily suspended, virtual activities are available.
When this gem reopens, be sure to walk through the visitor’s center, stroll through the nine acres of serene garden spaces and grab a light lunch at the café, where you can enjoy sprawling mountain views from the patio.
Experience Joshua Tree National Park
With more than 800,000 acres of surreal, alien landscapes flanked by awe-inspiring boulder formations, the spiky Joshua trees (for which it is named) and some of the most dazzling starry skies in the country, this national park is a must for any nature lover. Whether you like to hike, rock climb, go for a picnic, or camp overnight, Joshua Tree National Park can’t be missed and is an easy day trip from Palm Springs at only 45 minutes away.
With countless hiking trails for all levels; free, ranger-led walks and talks on the park’s geography, plants and wildlife; and one-of-a-kind quirky attractions such as the Integratron, the ways you can spend your time here are as vast as the park. Originally built by an aeronautical-engineer-turned-UFO-advocate for the purpose of promoting time travel, the Integratron is now used to host sound baths. These sessions use crystal bowl harmonies and recorded music to achieve a relaxed and meditative state, and must be booked ahead of time.
Retail Therapy On The Rodeo Drive Of The Desert
Otherwise referred to as the Rodeo Drive of the Palm Desert, the El Paseo shopping and dining district features more than 300 fabulous shops set against a spectacular mountain backdrop. It’s one of Greater Palm Springs’ top shopping and entertainment destinations, and it is where you’ll find a mix of upscale retailers, designer favorites (like local resort wear designer Trina Turk), independent boutiques and popular brands, along with nightlife and al fresco dining hotspots.
Only steps away is Hotel Paseo, the area’s first new luxury hotel in 30 years. The $36-million, three-story, 150-room boutique property offers stunning views of the San Jacinto Mountains and lush palm tree-filled valleys from nearly every room. For a truly one-of-a-kind experience, you can book your stay nearby in a fully restored, 1950 vintage Airstream Trailer.