Palm Springs is synonymous with desert heat (and cold!), Joshua Tree, and mid-century modern architecture.
But the bustling food scene inspired me and I found other great things in Palm Springs and was able to keep them busy at least a week.
On my sixth visit to Palm Springs, I drove about 2.5 hours east of Los Angeles or two hours drive from San Diego.
If you’re on a mission that’s what you’re hoping to see Joshua’s Trees, this is a great place for a day trip from Los Angeles.
Golf Resorts and Resorts host live DJs, family-friendly resorts, pet-friendly pool parties and are very welcome to the LGBTQ+ community in Palm Springs.
I walked over the San Andreas fault, received the most decadent spa treatments ever, passing through Joshua’s trees, robbing modern architecture from the mid-century, taking airborne streetcars to the snow, experiencing lots of delicious date shaking (they grow the dates of the Mejours here), and more.
So go here… my number one suggestion for what you need to do in Palm Springs:
There are nine cities that make up Greater Palm Springs: Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Coachella, and Desert Hot Springs, each of which is a little different, but the hero is definitely Palm Springs.
So, I’ve listed some of the coolest things here right now…
Joshua Tree National Park
One of the biggest highlights is seeing the amazing Joshua tree that takes several hours. This is named after the spiky leaves that Mormon pioneers who found a place (after the Indians, of course) thought to have reminded them that Joshua of the Bible had finally arrived at the promised land.
But trees are extraordinary rocks that you can climb or simply take endless photos.
You’ll have a bit of time to stop and take photos, so plan to drive at least a few hours. You can hike or stay on short trails Joshua Tree Cabin And then spend the night.
You will need to pay $25 for a car pass from the park entrance to the store to the national park, or $80 a year with access to all US national parks.
Joshua Tree National Park also made my list Best destinations for spring break in the US.
meal Pappy and Harriets from Pioneertown
On the way back from Joshua Tree, Pioneer Town And plan on pints or eating at this old saloon bar, Puppy and Harriet. Although it is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, there was a line of doors when we arrived at 5pm on Monday.
It’s also a big place, and live music is often played. They sucked up the meat from behind, and the entire place was originally built in the 1940s as a film set. This is a small town that is currently functioning. Note: They don’t have a reservation, so if you can’t get in, give it a try Red dog It’s right below.
Spend a Spa Day at Spasek He
This new state-of-the-art SPA facility is owned by the local Kahija Indian tribe, located on top of Aqua Calientes natural hot springs, thousands of years old, before it reaches the surface.
But the best thing is that you can pay for one treatment (which costs a minimum of 200 USD) and stay all day using the facilities that include a gym, swimming pool, mineral pool, salt caves, saunas, various relaxing rooms, and a restaurant sitting by the pool.
I had a collagen facial and had lunch by the pool. Find out more about my spadays at SpaSéc-He here.
Play golf in Palm Springs!
Palm Springs has over 100 golf courses! If you’re a golfer, check out this site palmsprings.golf/com Check all courses, costs and book tea time. There are courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Greg Norman.
Try dating shakes!
90% of all dates exported from the US come from Palm Springs. Shield Date Garden A place to really make dessert in a cup, using dehydrated date crystals and vanilla ice cream.
Or, if you want to access #1 Dating Shake Place in Palm Springs, Windmill market North Parm Springs. They use a fresh mejour date, first whipping the paste, then adding ice cream and milk. This place is a good idea on the way back to LA. We got a couple for the road!
You will find a good shop in town, and my town had a mini donut with straws that pushed it away. They also sway and also great ice cream.
Ride the mountains of Palm Springs Aerial Tram
This is a 4km ride on a rotating gondola 8,500 feet above the Chino Canyon, with 30 degrees cooler snow in winter and still snow until early summer. I know, crazy!
There are restaurants and bars here, and 60km hiking trails. Alternatively, you can take a photo of the view and go back down. An ideal summer escape with city temperatures up to 120 degrees!
Explore Modern architecture in the middle century
The 1950s and 60s are still in full swing at Palm Springs, and in February and October, you can enter some of the best examples of these homes and come in cool and round.
The October event is Fall preview Even the Fall previews became a four-day event with the best regional bus tours featuring exciting events such as 50s and 60s architecture and design, house tours and more.
My 2-hour private driving tour, including Elvis and Priscilla Honeymoon houses and Leodi Caprio, which can be rented for events, can be seen here across several fantastic homes.
However, in February Modernism Week You can peek into the fence when you see people coming from all over the world for an 11-day event, including films, cocktail parties, lectures from architects and designers, and two-storey bus tours.
I’ll jump Modinismweek.com For more information on what’s going on and getting tickets. They sell out quickly.
Palm Springs Village Fest
If you’re in town on a Thursday night, Palm Springs Village Fest Pass through three blocks on Main Street, N Palm Canyon Drive and town. These are closed with traffic, pop-up tents lined up, filled with around 100 street vendors selling everything from handmade jewelry to art, clothing, soap and lots of food trucks.
All stores are open late, and the weather is refreshing (unless it’s July or August, even in the evening, it’s hot!)
take San Andreas Fault Line Tour
The San Andreas Fault is a 1,200 km fault line passing through California at the edge of the Pacific and North American plates. But the tour is much more interesting than I thought!
I joined Bonnie Desert Adventure With her bright red jeep. She is an attractive woman and is totally passionate about things like Techtonic plates and snakes. In fact, we didn’t see much in my grief. But here is Rattler, I know, as Bonnie showed me the pictures.
These plates oppose each other up to 30mm a year, without having any negative effects unless you build a house on it, of course. But she told me they were postponed about 120 years due to a big earthquake.
I loved the edible leaves and berries from these salty gray leaves to potato chips (below) like edible leaves. This is what scientists think is doing a lot about the bitter taste of Cresotte to palm tree seeds, which native Indians use for all kinds of medicinal purposes.
Tour over 4,000 wind turbines
Driving from Los Angeles to Palm Springs is welcomed by what looks like a thousand wind turbines sculpture parks spread along the Coachella Valley.
I’m a bit of a nerd and was extremely excited to be able to tour and learn about the technology in development of these huge machines. These wind turbines produce up to 7% of California’s energy and can be turned on/off in the middle.
If you’re a nerd like me, book yourself a tour behind the fence!
Shop at Desert Hills Premium Outlet
Take Uber (or driving) for about 30 minutes into the desert for the hill Premium Outlet For corrections to your shopping. All the major brands are here, the shop is air-conditioned and we rocked an amazingly good date from the food court where the vendor was there for 30 years, made his own date paste and added it to the ice cream. It was lunch!
For more information about the Great Palm Springs area, see the latest updates such as the iconic Coachella and Stagecoach Music Festivals. VisitGreaterPalmsprings.com
