Things To Do

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a must-see-and-do when visiting Palm Springs. The world’s largest rotating tramcar ascends two-and-a-half miles to the San Jacinto Mountains, a major gateway to the Santa Rosa and the San Jacinto Mountains National Monument that traverse the southerly side of the Coachella Valley. Enjoy breathtaking vistas, wildlife, landforms, and natural and cultural resources in these mountains.

Camping

Only a short drive north of Palm Springs is where two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and Colorado deserts, meet in Joshua Tree National Park. Home to the unique Joshua Tree, plan to stay a day or make it an overnight camping adventure. There is truly no other place like it on earth.

Coachella Valley

The Coachella Valley is home to several world-renowned festivals and events, including Coachella Music & Arts, Stagecoach, The Palm Springs International Film festival, Modernism Week, Desert X, Indio Arts Fair, and White Party, and many more local and adjacent festivals and events. There’s always a party happening in Palm Springs.

Sport

The party continues at sporting events, and Greater Palm Springs is home to some of the best and most exciting sporting events of the year, including the Amex/PGA West, and the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament. Never a dull moment!

Shopping and Dining

Palm Springs and the Greater Palm Springs area are known for their unique array of dining and shopping establishments, from upscale to casual, modern to downright quirky, you can find whatever suits your tastes.

Dining

$$$$$ Copley’s / Eight4Nine / Workshop / Truss and Twine / Zin American Bistro / Johannes
$$$$ Trio / Jakes / Birba / John Henry’s Cafe / Lulu California Bistro
$$$ Bootlegger Tiki Rick’s Cheeky’s Boozehounds Blue Coyote Bar & Grill / Revel / Sammy G’s
Tuscan Grill
$$ Billy Reeds, John’s Ernest Coffee Peppers Thai Las Casuelas / Bongo Jonny’s / Oscar’s / Thai
Smile

Shopping

Palm Springs and the Desert Cities are home to a multitude of shops for your every need
● Mid-Century Modern design is alive and well in the Uptown Design District
● Everything you need can be found in Downtown Palm Springs
● Shop until you drop on El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert; The River mall in Rancho Mirage; Desert Hills Premium Outlets and the Cabazon Outlet Mall in Cabazon

Hiking

For the adventurous, there is no shortage of hiking trails in the Greater Palm Springs area, for every level of enthusiast, from the Andreas Canyon Trail to the Whitewater Canyon Preserve, there are more trails than you can shake a stick at!

Things to See and Do

The best thing to do while visiting Palm Springs is lay by the pool and enjoy the sun.
If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, however, there are plenty of things to see and do while visiting
the desert.

• ● Village Fest takes over Palm Canyon Drive every Thursday evening
• ● Enjoy breathtaking views of the entire valley at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
• ● The Palm Springs Art Museum has a wonderful collection of modern art and is home to the
  Annenberg Theater
• ● Don’t miss the newly refurbished Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center,
  Edward Harris Pavillion
• ● The Welwood Murray Memorial Library has been restored, and serves as a library and visitor

center

• ● Most of the WWII, Korean and Vietnam War aircraft at the Palm Springs Air Museum are in
  flyable condition
• ● The car aficionado in you will enjoy the world famous semi-annual McCormick’s Classic Car
  Auction
• ● Fulfill your aviator fantasies by taking a ride at Palm Springs BiPlanes
• ● Enjoy great hiking at Tahquitz Canyon and the Indian Canyons of Palm Canyon, Andreas Canyon
  and Murray Canyon
• ● Take a tour of the San Andreas Fault with Desert Adventures Eco-Tours
• ● Re-connect with nature at the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium

Other attractions located in the Greater Palms Springs area of the Coachella Valley include

• ● The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is located a short drive down the 111 in Palm Desert
• ● The McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert hosts a variety entertainment from Broadway musicals to
  ballet to classical, jazz, big band and contemporary pop
• ● The Indian Wells Tennis Garden hosts a variety tournaments annually
• ● A short drive into the high desert will take you to unforgettable Joshua Tree National Park
• ● Desert Hot Springs is home to Cabots Pueblo Museum built by Cabot Yerxa using re-purposed
  materials from the desert
• ● Pioneer Town is home to the legendary Pappi and Harriets
• ● A scenic drive into the San Jacinto mountains will take you to the mountain town of Idyllwild

Events

● Palm Springs International Film Festival
January 5-16, 2023
● The American Express PGA West
January 2021
● Modernism Week
February 16-26, 2023
● Patrick Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament
February 23-26, 2023
● BNP Paribas Open
March 6-19, 2023
● American Documentary Film Festival
March 30- April 3, 2023
● Coachella
April 14-16 & 21-23, 2023
● Stagecoach Country Music Festival
April 28-30, 2023
● Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival
May 11-14, 2023
● Palm Springs International ShortFest
June 2023
● Cinema Diverse: Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
September 2023
● Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival
Fall 2023
● Modernism Week: Fall Preview
October 19-22, 2023
● Palm Springs Pride
November 3-5, 2023
● Desert X
March 4 – May 7, 2023