Tad's Guidebook
Sightseeing
Less than an hour's drive from Palm Springs is Joshua Tree National Park, one of the most interesting and beautiful parks in the Southwest. If you have time for only one side trip, this is the place to come. This park has some amazing sites, along with great walks and hiking trails. It also offers outstanding campgrounds, where you can park your RV or pitch your tent next to huge Joshua trees and giant rock formations.
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Parcul Național Joshua Tree
Less than an hour's drive from Palm Springs is Joshua Tree National Park, one of the most interesting and beautiful parks in the Southwest. If you have time for only one side trip, this is the place to come. This park has some amazing sites, along with great walks and hiking trails. It also offers outstanding campgrounds, where you can park your RV or pitch your tent next to huge Joshua trees and giant rock formations.
Escape the heat of the desert with a quick ride into the mountains on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Standing on the edge of Palm Springs, Mount San Jacinto rises more than 10,000 feet above the desert floor and can be easily accessed with a ride on the scenic tramway. Official site: pstramway.com
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Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
1 Tram WayEscape the heat of the desert with a quick ride into the mountains on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Standing on the edge of Palm Springs, Mount San Jacinto rises more than 10,000 feet above the desert floor and can be easily accessed with a ride on the scenic tramway. Official site: pstramway.com
The Moorten Botanical Gardens and Cactarium is located just past downtown Palm Springs on the south end of Palm Canyon Drive. The unique nature space offers an incredible display of cacti and desert plants that range from full grown trees to plants just taking root. In the spring, when the desert is coming into bloom, and trees are starting to turn green again, the gardens are at their best.
Moorten is open year-round, but during the cooler months, from fall until spring, you can take a guided tour of the facility offered free with admission.
The gardens are also a commercial nursery, so in addition to being a botanical garden, you can purchase some of the plants to take home with you.
Address: 1701 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California
Official site: moortenbotanicalgarden.com
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Moorten Botanical Garden
1701 S Palm Canyon DrThe Moorten Botanical Gardens and Cactarium is located just past downtown Palm Springs on the south end of Palm Canyon Drive. The unique nature space offers an incredible display of cacti and desert plants that range from full grown trees to plants just taking root. In the spring, when the desert is coming into bloom, and trees are starting to turn green again, the gardens are at their best.
Moorten is open year-round, but during the cooler months, from fall until spring, you can take a guided tour of the facility offered free with admission.
The gardens are also a commercial nursery, so in addition to being a botanical garden, you can purchase some of the plants to take home with you.
Address: 1701 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California
Official site: moortenbotanicalgarden.com
What started 50 years ago as an idea to preserve some raw desert land as the surrounding area developed into a resort has become a world-class zoo. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in nearby Palm Desert offers a chance to see the flora and fauna of the desert and gain some insight into ecosystems from deserts around the globe.
The compact zoo also features a variety of animals from North America and Africa, including camels, coyotes, wolves, foxes, badgers, mountain lions, raptors, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, leopards, gazelle, and many other species.
The morning is generally the best time to visit, when the animals are still active before the heat sets in. Check the zoo's daily schedule to find out about guided nature walks, wildlife shows, and animal feeding times.
A highlight is to participate in the daily giraffe feeding. Guests can feed their herd of giraffes from a tower. It's done in the mornings during the summer and all day during the other months. You can also interact with the zoo's camels, working with keepers on feeding, grooming, or training them.
Address: 47900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, California
Official site: livingdesert.org
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Grădinile zoologice și grădinile deșertului viu
47900 Portola AveWhat started 50 years ago as an idea to preserve some raw desert land as the surrounding area developed into a resort has become a world-class zoo. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in nearby Palm Desert offers a chance to see the flora and fauna of the desert and gain some insight into ecosystems from deserts around the globe.
The compact zoo also features a variety of animals from North America and Africa, including camels, coyotes, wolves, foxes, badgers, mountain lions, raptors, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, leopards, gazelle, and many other species.
The morning is generally the best time to visit, when the animals are still active before the heat sets in. Check the zoo's daily schedule to find out about guided nature walks, wildlife shows, and animal feeding times.
A highlight is to participate in the daily giraffe feeding. Guests can feed their herd of giraffes from a tower. It's done in the mornings during the summer and all day during the other months. You can also interact with the zoo's camels, working with keepers on feeding, grooming, or training them.
Address: 47900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, California
Official site: livingdesert.org
This incredible, mid-century modern estate was the home of billionaire businessman (and founder of TV Guide) Walter Annenberg and his wife. The huge mansion has hosted many presidents and summit meetings, serving as a West Coast Camp David for several presidents, including President Obama. The estate and its incredible art collection, along with its gardens, can be visited. Sunnylands is in Rancho Mirage, about 25 minutes from downtown Palm Springs.
Visiting the park-like grounds is free and does not require a reservation. Tickets can be purchased for docent-led tours of the house and art collection.
Address: 37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, California
Official site: sunnylands.org
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Sunnylands Center & Gardens
37977 Bob Hope DriveThis incredible, mid-century modern estate was the home of billionaire businessman (and founder of TV Guide) Walter Annenberg and his wife. The huge mansion has hosted many presidents and summit meetings, serving as a West Coast Camp David for several presidents, including President Obama. The estate and its incredible art collection, along with its gardens, can be visited. Sunnylands is in Rancho Mirage, about 25 minutes from downtown Palm Springs.
Visiting the park-like grounds is free and does not require a reservation. Tickets can be purchased for docent-led tours of the house and art collection.
Address: 37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, California
Official site: sunnylands.org
Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley has a rich agricultural history. One of the key crops is dates, and the area produces more than 90 percent of the dates grown in the U.S. This Middle Eastern fruit was first planted in the desert in the early 20th century, one of the few crops that can be grown year-round in the area's extreme weather.
The Shields Date Garden is in Indio, about 30 minutes from downtown Palm Springs. The almost-20 acre date farm has a café, a guided tour of the date groves, and even a theater showing a kitschy 1940s movie about date farming. They also serve date shakes, a must-drink date milkshake-like smoothie every Palm Springs visitor should try.
Address: 80225 US Hwy 111, Indio, California
Official site: shieldsdategarden.com
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Shields Date Garden
80-225 CA-111Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley has a rich agricultural history. One of the key crops is dates, and the area produces more than 90 percent of the dates grown in the U.S. This Middle Eastern fruit was first planted in the desert in the early 20th century, one of the few crops that can be grown year-round in the area's extreme weather.
The Shields Date Garden is in Indio, about 30 minutes from downtown Palm Springs. The almost-20 acre date farm has a café, a guided tour of the date groves, and even a theater showing a kitschy 1940s movie about date farming. They also serve date shakes, a must-drink date milkshake-like smoothie every Palm Springs visitor should try.
Address: 80225 US Hwy 111, Indio, California
Official site: shieldsdategarden.com
Explore unusual creativity at Robolights
This intriguing outdoor sculpture park in Palm Spring’s Movie Colony East neighbourhood is without question one of the city’s most unique attractions. Featuring towering robots and millions of lights, all constructed from discarded electronics, the park was originally intended as a winter-only event, but can now be visited all year round. Many of the installations have a Christmas theme – albeit with a sinister twist – including a post-apocalyptic scene with “nuclear elves” and a Santa’s sleigh pulled by a team of 12 robotic reindeer.
1077 E Granvia Valmonte
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Robolights
1077 E Granvia ValmonteExplore unusual creativity at Robolights
This intriguing outdoor sculpture park in Palm Spring’s Movie Colony East neighbourhood is without question one of the city’s most unique attractions. Featuring towering robots and millions of lights, all constructed from discarded electronics, the park was originally intended as a winter-only event, but can now be visited all year round. Many of the installations have a Christmas theme – albeit with a sinister twist – including a post-apocalyptic scene with “nuclear elves” and a Santa’s sleigh pulled by a team of 12 robotic reindeer.
1077 E Granvia Valmonte
Unique upscale PRIVATE hot air balloon Rides throughout the Palm Springs area and the Coachella Valley. Complimentary transportation to and from the flight location aboard in luxurious van.
www.flyhotairballoons.com
HAVNFUN hot air ballooning
78710 Ave NaranjaUnique upscale PRIVATE hot air balloon Rides throughout the Palm Springs area and the Coachella Valley. Complimentary transportation to and from the flight location aboard in luxurious van.
www.flyhotairballoons.com
Salton Sea State Recreation Area
100225 State Park RdMuntele Mântuirii
603 Beal RdFree transportation
Palm Springs' fast and free option to driving around the city. BUZZ runs in a loop from the Riviera Hotel at Vista Chino and Indian through uptown and downtown along Palm Canyon Drive all the way to the Saguaro. Trolleys run every 15 minutes on Thursday through Saturday between the hours of 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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BUZZ Trolley Route
150 E Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs' fast and free option to driving around the city. BUZZ runs in a loop from the Riviera Hotel at Vista Chino and Indian through uptown and downtown along Palm Canyon Drive all the way to the Saguaro. Trolleys run every 15 minutes on Thursday through Saturday between the hours of 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Golf
Palm Springs and nearby cities like La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, and Palm Desert have over 100 championship-level golf courses. Many of the city's best courses are public and accessible to anyone (waiting lists are long during popular periods). The city is a very popular golf destination, as the weather is great for golf (an average of over 300 days of sunshine a year), especially during the winter months. Summer temperatures are extreme, making early morning games the only option.
Aside from the well-groomed and challenging courses, you also get the benefit of the beautiful scenery and desert backdrops. As you play, you're treated to a changing desert landscape with the area's different mountain ranges always visible in the distance.
Popular golf courses playable by the public in the area include PGA West (home to the American Express Desert Classic, formerly the Bob Hope Classic), the Indian Wells Golf Resort (home to the Renaissance Indian Wells, the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells, and the Indian Wells Resort Hotel), Marriott's Shadow Ridge, and the Indian Canyons Golf Resort.
Indian Canyons Golf Resort
1097 E Murray Canyon DrMesquite Golf and Country Club
2700 E Mesquite AveTahquitz Creek Golf Resort
1885 Golf Club DrHike
The Indian Canyons, located at the south end of Palm Springs, is a popular protected nature sanctuary comprised of three unique canyon environments. The area is part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians reservation and is a great place for hiking and exploring some beautiful desert scenery.
Indian Canyon Trailhead
9001 Soledad Canyon RdThe Indian Canyons, located at the south end of Palm Springs, is a popular protected nature sanctuary comprised of three unique canyon environments. The area is part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians reservation and is a great place for hiking and exploring some beautiful desert scenery.
This large, protected outdoor space covers over 13,000 acres of raw desert and mountain landscapes. It's a partnership between federal, state, and private land-owners, allowing management and preservation of the natural environment.
Located east of Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley Preserve is home to a variety of wildlife. It's made up of three different preserve areas. The best one to visit is the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve area, near Palm Desert. There are 30 miles of hiking trails along with multiple oases. Official site: coachellavalleypreserve.org
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Rezervația Coachella Valley - Rezervația Thousand Palms Oasis
29200 Thousand Palms Canyon RdThis large, protected outdoor space covers over 13,000 acres of raw desert and mountain landscapes. It's a partnership between federal, state, and private land-owners, allowing management and preservation of the natural environment.
Located east of Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley Preserve is home to a variety of wildlife. It's made up of three different preserve areas. The best one to visit is the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve area, near Palm Desert. There are 30 miles of hiking trails along with multiple oases. Official site: coachellavalleypreserve.org
Tahquitz Canyon is another protected canyon area, also tribal land, located near but not within the Indian Canyons space. This canyon has lots of hiking trails and is home to a 60-foot-tall waterfall. There is a visitor's center with artifact displays, hiking information, and a small theater showing a documentary about the canyon.
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Tahquitz Canyon
Tahquitz Canyon is another protected canyon area, also tribal land, located near but not within the Indian Canyons space. This canyon has lots of hiking trails and is home to a 60-foot-tall waterfall. There is a visitor's center with artifact displays, hiking information, and a small theater showing a documentary about the canyon.
Andreas Canyon, another canyon area within the Indian Canyons park, is also worth checking out and is known as a good place to see birds. In the same vicinity is Murray Canyon, with a less frequented hiking trail and better opportunities for spotting deer and other wildlife. There are many hiking trails in the park, and many of those trails take you into multiple canyons.
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Andreas Canyon Trailhead
South Palm Canyon DriveAndreas Canyon, another canyon area within the Indian Canyons park, is also worth checking out and is known as a good place to see birds. In the same vicinity is Murray Canyon, with a less frequented hiking trail and better opportunities for spotting deer and other wildlife. There are many hiking trails in the park, and many of those trails take you into multiple canyons.
Be sure to start with one of the main areas, Palm Canyon. This 15-mile long canyon, complete with a creek and waterfalls, is lined with large palm trees. In fact, the canyon is home to the world's largest grove of California fan palms. The canyon is home to a range of hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulties. The Indian Canyons park has a trading post selling souvenirs, Indian art, and other tribal-related items.
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Palm Canyon Trail
Be sure to start with one of the main areas, Palm Canyon. This 15-mile long canyon, complete with a creek and waterfalls, is lined with large palm trees. In fact, the canyon is home to the world's largest grove of California fan palms. The canyon is home to a range of hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulties. The Indian Canyons park has a trading post selling souvenirs, Indian art, and other tribal-related items.
Bike, ATV rental
BIKE Palm Springs Rentals
194 S Indian Canyon DrIf it’s action that you’re looking for during your stay in Palm Springs, Off Road Rentals is the place to get your adrenaline fix. Along a remote stretch of Highway 111, owner Steven Harris maintains the ultimate grown-up’s playground in the form of a desert all-terrain vehicle (ATV) park. Harris opened the park in 1984 with just four ATVs, though the fleet has grown to 50 vehicles today. Following a safety and handling briefing, guests are invited to take the wheel for an all-action adventure. Located on site is also a fascinating graveyard of eclectic and recycled art along with a collection of discarded road signs. There are vehicles suited to those aged six years and up.
59511 CA-111
Daily 10am until sunset
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Off Road Rentals
59511 CA-111If it’s action that you’re looking for during your stay in Palm Springs, Off Road Rentals is the place to get your adrenaline fix. Along a remote stretch of Highway 111, owner Steven Harris maintains the ultimate grown-up’s playground in the form of a desert all-terrain vehicle (ATV) park. Harris opened the park in 1984 with just four ATVs, though the fleet has grown to 50 vehicles today. Following a safety and handling briefing, guests are invited to take the wheel for an all-action adventure. Located on site is also a fascinating graveyard of eclectic and recycled art along with a collection of discarded road signs. There are vehicles suited to those aged six years and up.
59511 CA-111
Daily 10am until sunset
Cliffhanger Guides - Joshua Tree Rock Climbing Adventures
6551 Park BlvdMuseum
The Palm Springs Air Museum has a large collection of military aircraft, many of which still fly. Planes from World War II along with the Korean and Vietnam Wars are represented. It's a fascinating place to visit as most of the docents who provide tours are veterans themselves, with personal connections to the types of aircraft they talk about.
Address: 745 North Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, California
Official site: palmspringsairmuseum.org
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Muzeul Aviației din Palm Springs
lot 745 N Gene Autry TrailThe Palm Springs Air Museum has a large collection of military aircraft, many of which still fly. Planes from World War II along with the Korean and Vietnam Wars are represented. It's a fascinating place to visit as most of the docents who provide tours are veterans themselves, with personal connections to the types of aircraft they talk about.
Address: 745 North Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, California
Official site: palmspringsairmuseum.org
The Palm Springs Art Museum features a combination of fine art, natural history, and performing arts. The museum has been in existence since the late 1930s and formerly focused almost exclusively on desert subjects and artists, but over the years, the direction has shifted to a well-curated collection of modern and contemporary art, including Native American art. Official site: psmuseum.org
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Traseul Muzeului Palm Springs
101 N Museum DrThe Palm Springs Art Museum features a combination of fine art, natural history, and performing arts. The museum has been in existence since the late 1930s and formerly focused almost exclusively on desert subjects and artists, but over the years, the direction has shifted to a well-curated collection of modern and contemporary art, including Native American art. Official site: psmuseum.org
Palm Springs is home to the world's largest collection of intact mid-century modern buildings in the world. The city celebrates the design movement each February with Modernism Week. Design and architecture fans come from all over the world, and there are many events, including open houses, film screenings, and home tours of architecturally significant structures.
The Palm Springs Art Museum's Architecture and Design Center is a unique and free attraction that is worth a stop, particularly if you are interested in architecture or design. Located in a preserved 1960 mid-century modern bank building, similar in style to many other buildings in Palm Springs that still remain from this period, the structure itself is a protected historic site.
The Architecture and Design Center holds the architecture collections of the Palm Springs Art Museum and features temporary exhibitions, as well as a rotating display of material from the permanent collection.
The art museum also operates the Frey House II, an important modernist home in the mountains designed by iconic architect Albert Frey for his own family. The home can be visited on docent-led tours.
Address: 300 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California
Official site: psmuseum.org/architecture-design-center
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Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center
300 S Palm Canyon DrPalm Springs is home to the world's largest collection of intact mid-century modern buildings in the world. The city celebrates the design movement each February with Modernism Week. Design and architecture fans come from all over the world, and there are many events, including open houses, film screenings, and home tours of architecturally significant structures.
The Palm Springs Art Museum's Architecture and Design Center is a unique and free attraction that is worth a stop, particularly if you are interested in architecture or design. Located in a preserved 1960 mid-century modern bank building, similar in style to many other buildings in Palm Springs that still remain from this period, the structure itself is a protected historic site.
The Architecture and Design Center holds the architecture collections of the Palm Springs Art Museum and features temporary exhibitions, as well as a rotating display of material from the permanent collection.
The art museum also operates the Frey House II, an important modernist home in the mountains designed by iconic architect Albert Frey for his own family. The home can be visited on docent-led tours.
Address: 300 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California
Official site: psmuseum.org/architecture-design-center
The city's historical society has a small but comprehensive museum in the heart of the downtown area right on Palm Canyon Drive. It's housed in two preserved 19th-century buildings and has a free museum and other exhibits.
The society is also known for their many excellent walking (and biking) tours of the city, available with different themes. You can take a walking tour that explores the city's architecture, its Native American history, its many connections with the Rat Pack, or its many celebrity residents.
Address: 221 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California
Official site: pshistoricalsociety.org
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Palm Springs Historical Society
221 S Palm Canyon DrThe city's historical society has a small but comprehensive museum in the heart of the downtown area right on Palm Canyon Drive. It's housed in two preserved 19th-century buildings and has a free museum and other exhibits.
The society is also known for their many excellent walking (and biking) tours of the city, available with different themes. You can take a walking tour that explores the city's architecture, its Native American history, its many connections with the Rat Pack, or its many celebrity residents.
Address: 221 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California
Official site: pshistoricalsociety.org
Step back in time at Ruddy’s General Store Museum
General stores are a blessing for people who reside in sparsely populated areas with limited amenities, and the desert region surrounding Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley certainly comes into that category. Ruddy’s General Store Museum is a nostalgic celebration of this staple of American life, a small but perfectly formed recreation of a 1930s general store complete with authentic fixtures, signs and products, all housed within a single room. Among the 6,000-plus items to be found here include groceries, tobacco, hardware, clothing, medicines, biscuits, beauty aids and soaps.
221 S Palm Canyon Drive
Thur-Sun 10am-4pm
Ruddy's General Store Museum
221 S Palm Canyon DrStep back in time at Ruddy’s General Store Museum
General stores are a blessing for people who reside in sparsely populated areas with limited amenities, and the desert region surrounding Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley certainly comes into that category. Ruddy’s General Store Museum is a nostalgic celebration of this staple of American life, a small but perfectly formed recreation of a 1930s general store complete with authentic fixtures, signs and products, all housed within a single room. Among the 6,000-plus items to be found here include groceries, tobacco, hardware, clothing, medicines, biscuits, beauty aids and soaps.
221 S Palm Canyon Drive
Thur-Sun 10am-4pm
Casino
Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs
401 E Amado RdMorongo Casino, Resort și Spa
49500 Seminole DrPala Casino Spa & Resort
11154 CA-76