Palm Springs, CA

What to do in Palm Springs, CA

Golf

This is Palm Springs' calling card to the world, and few would argue its claim as being among the finest golf destinations on Earth. It has the perfect environment for enjoying and improving your game abundant sunshine, low humidity, dramatic desert scenery, and more than 90 courses! Major golfing events such as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the Nabisco Dinah Shore, The Skins Game, and the Lexus Challenge are nationally televised. Golf course designers include top names as Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player.

The Living Desert

Desert regions are often thought of as lifeless wastelands but, in fact, the desert is an intricate and very fragile ecosystem containing an astonishing variety of animal and plant life, many of which are rare. Within the 1,200 acres of this non-profit conservation center, you discover nearly 400 fascinating desert animals representing over 150 species including coyotes, bighorn sheep, oryx, zebras, cheetahs, and meerkats. Lush botanical gardens represent 10 different desert ecosystems including "Eagle Canyon" with streams, mountain lions, bobcats, wolves, and eagles.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

This is the largest vertical cable rise in the US and the 2nd largest in the world. A trip to the 8,516-foot Mountain Station takes 15 spectacular minutes, as you ascend Mt Jacinto and pass 5 different life zones reflecting Mexico's warm Sonoran Desert up through the alpine wilderness of Alaska.

Walk of Stars

Discover the many Hollywood Stars who lived, loved, and played in this beautiful desert oasis. Rudolf Valentino and Al Jolson were among the first to start the Hollywood desert escape in the 1920s, and were soon followed by legends like Mary Pickford, Clark Gable, Bob Hope, and Frank Sinatra. Stroll down famous Palm Canyon Drive and gaze on the stars of today and yesterday.

Joshua Tree National Park

The park is named for the extensive stands of trees named by early white settlers who felt their unusual form resembled the biblical Joshua raising his arms to heaven. 794,000 acres contain mountains of jagged rock, natural cactus gardens, and lush oases. In addition to leisurely hikes, adventurous visitors challenge themselves with rock climbing.

Balloon Above the Desert

Greet the sun or bid it farewell as you drift peacefully in beautiful desert skies above Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. View some of the most picturesque landscapes in California. Vineyards, polo fields, world famous golf courses, and exotic orchards, and more. Top off the grand experience with an in-flight champagne toast!.

Spas

Indulge! Visit one of the many exquisite spas scattered throughout the Coachella Valley and treat your weary muscles to a gentle or deep tissue massages. An aroma therapy mineral scrub, a glycolic body polish, or perhaps a sea salt glow leaves your skin feeling softer, younger, and rejuvenated. Having coddled your body, get a little tender loving care with a European deep cleansing facial or a re-hydrating collagen fiber mask. Work out in the furnished state-of-the-art gyms, many of which have personal trainers and activities such as yoga, aqua aerobics, nature and power walks, and much more!.

Shopping

The world-famous El Paseo Shopping District features over 150 upscale shops including clothing boutiques, art galleries, jewelers, and restaurants, all lined along a beautifully maintained picture-postcard flower and statue-filled mile.

VillageFest

The brainstorm of the late Sonny Bono, the Palm Springs VillageFest is held year-round every Thursday evening. From Amado Road to Baristo, Palm Canyon Drive is sealed off to traffic and becomes a walker's haven of fresh fruit stands, local restaurant samplings, live music and the best of Palm Springs' artists and crafts. The visitors come here for the fantastic deals reminiscent of a 1950's flea market, and the locals come here to mingle.

Windmill Tour

This eco-adventure through the world-famous Palm Springs windmills is a fun and enlightening experience as you travel on wind-powered electric vehicles to learn about wind power as a sustainable, renewable energy source, as well as other non-polluting power sources.