12 Things to do in Palm Springs California

Palm Springs is synonymous with desert heat (and chilly evenings in winter!), Joshua Trees and mid-century modern architecture.

But a buzzing food scene inspired me and I found some other great things to do in this Southern California town to keep you busy for at least a week – maybe even longer!

I’ve just had my sixth visit to Palm Springs, about a 2.5-hour drive east from Los Angeles, or 2 hours drive from San Diego.

This is a great place for a day trip from LA if too you’re on a mission like wanting to see the Joshua Trees, or maybe take part in Mid-Century Modernism events, as there’s plenty to do outside of Coachella!

There are golf resorts and resorts that throw pool parties with live DJs, family friendly resorts, pet friendly and there is a big welcome to the LGBTQ+ community in Palm Springs.

I’ve walked on the San Andreas Fault, had the most decadent spa treatment I’ve ever had, driven through Joshua Tree, ogled the mid-century modern architecture, taken the Aerial Tramway up to the snow, tasted lots of yummy date shakes (they grow Medjool dates here) and so much more.

So here goes… my top suggestions for things 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, Desert Hot Springs, each a little different but the hero is undoubtedly Palm Springs.

So in no particular order I now list some of the coolest things to do here…

1. Joshua Tree National Park

One of the biggest highlights is to take a few hours and drive out to see the remarkable Joshua trees, named for their reaching spiky leaves that the Mormon pioneers who found the place (after the Indians of course) thought reminded them of the Biblical Joshua finally arriving at the Promised Land.

But as well as the trees are the extraordinary boulders that you can climb or just take endless photos of.

Plan to spend at least a couple of hours just driving through so you have a bit of time to stop and take photos. You can hike on short trails, or stay in a Joshua Tree cabin and spend the night.

You need to pay $25 for a car pass to the national park from a shop the entrance to the park, or $80 for a year which gives you access to all the US national parks.

Joshua Tree National Park also made my list of the best destinations for Spring Break in the US.

2. Dine at Pappy and Harriets in Pioneertown

On your way back from Joshua Tree, turn off to Pioneertown and plan to have a pint or a meal at this old saloon bar, Pappy and Harriets. It’s closed Tuesday and Wednesday, but at 5pm Monday when we arrived, there was a line out the door.

It’s a big place too and live music is often played. They smoke meats out the back and the whole place was originally built as a movie set in the 1940s which is now a functioning little town. Note: they don’t take reservations, so if you can’t get in, try Red Dog just down the road.

3. Have a spa day at Spa Séc-he

This new state-of-the-art spa facility is located on top the aqua calientes natural hot springs where the waters are thousands of years old by the time they come to the surface, and owned by the local Cahuilla Indian tribe.

But the best thing is you can pay for one treatment (minimum spend US$200) and stay all day using their facilities which includes a gym, swimming pool, mineral pools, salt cave, sauna, various relaxing rooms and a restaurant to sit by the pool all day.

I had a collagen facial and then stayed for lunch by the pool. You can read more about my spa day at Spa Séc-he here.

4. Play golf in Palm Springs!

There are more than 100 golf courses in Palm Springs! If you’re a golfer check out this site palmsprings.golf/com to see all the courses, costs and book a tee time. You’ll find courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, and more.

5. Try a date shake!

90% of all dates exported from the United States come from Palm Springs and if you want a great date shake, head to Shields Date Garden where they use dehydrated date crystals and vanilla ice cream to make what is really dessert in a cup.

Or if you want to visit the #1 date shake place in Palm Springs, head out to Windmill Market in North Palm Springs. They use fresh Medjool dates and whip them into a paste first, then add ice cream and milk. This location is a good idea on your way driving back to LA. We got a couple for the road!

You’ll find a good shop in town though and my one came with a mini donut with a straw pushed through it. They also do great ice creams as well as shakes.

6. Ride up the mountain on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

This is a 4km ride in a rotating gondola up 8,500 feet to the top of Mt. San Jacinto, along the Chino Canyon, where it’s 30 degrees cooler and snows up here in winter, with the snow remaining until early summer. I know, crazy!

There’s a restaurant and bar up here and 60km of hiking trails. Or you can just take photos of the view and head back down. The ideal summer escape when temps in the city are up to 120 degrees!

7. Explore the Mid-century Modern Architecture

The 1950s and 60s are still in full swing in Palm Springs and in February and October you can go into some of the best examples of these homes and twirl in circles at just how cool they are.

The October event is the Fall Preview for the 11-day February event, but even the Fall Preview has become a 4-day event in itself with bus tours around the best neighborhoods showcasing the 50s and 60s architecture and design and loads of exciting events including house tours.

You can see more of my 2-hour private driving tour past some amazing homes here – including the house Elvis and Priscilla honeymooned in, and Leo DiCaprio’s that you can rent for an event, along with the Frank Sinatra House!

But in February Modernism Week sees people coming from all over the world for the 11-day event which includes films, cocktail parties, lectures from architects and designers, double-decker bus tours so you can peer over the fences (!), and a nosey through some of the most amazing homes out here in the desert.

Jump onto modernismweek.com for more info about what’s going on and to get your tickets. They sell out fast.

8. Palm Springs Village Fest

If you’re in town on a Thursday night, Palm Springs Village Fest is three blocks of the main street, N Palm Canyon Drive, through town, which are closed to traffic, lined with pop-up tents and filled with about 100 street vendors selling everything from handmade jewellery to art, clothing, soap, plus plenty of food trucks.

The shops are all open late too, and the weather is balmy (unless it’s July or August when it’s monstrously hot even in the evening!)

9. Take a San Andreas Fault Line Tour

The San Andreas Fault is a 1200 km fault line that runs through the state of California on the edge of the Pacific Plate and North American Plate. But a tour is much more interesting than it sounds!

I joined Bonnie of Desert Adventures in her bright red jeep. She’s a fascinating woman and utterly passionate about things like techtonic plates and snakes – which we had to be careful we didn’t step on. Actually we didn’t see any, much to my sadness. But there are rattlers out here, I know because Bonnie showed me photos.

These plates move against each other up to 30mm per year with no ill effects – unless you’ve built your house on top of it of course. But they’re about 120 years overdue for a big quake, she told me.

I loved the edible leaves and berries out here from this salty grey leaf like a potato chip (below), to a the bitter taste of cresote to the seeds of the palm tree that the native Indians would use for all sorts of medicinal purposes and which I personally think scientists have a lot of catching up to do!

10. Tour the 4000+ Wind Turbines

When you drive into Palm Springs from Los Angeles you are welcomed by what looks like a sculpture park of thousands of wind turbines spread along the Coachella Valley.

I’m a bit of a geek and was awfully excited to be able to take a tour and learn about the developing technology of these gigantic machines, all out here in the valley and built all over the world. These wind turbines generate up to 7% of California’s energy and can be centrally turned on and off.

If you’re a geek like me, book yourself a tour behind the fences!

11. Shop at Desert Hills Premium Outlets

Take an Uber (or drive) about half an hour to Desert Hills for the Premium Outlets for your shopping fix. All the main brands are out here, the shops are air conditioned, and we got a surprisingly good date shake from the food court, where the vendor had been there for 30 years, making his own date paste to add to ice cream. That was lunch!

12. Visit Moorten Botanical Garden

Created in 1938, this “cactarium” is home to over 3000 varieties of desert plants and it’s one of the most popular Instagram spots in Palm Springs!

Moorten Botanic Garden is a charming desert oasis founded by Patricia and Chester “Cactus Slim” Moorten (a former Hollywood actor and Keystone Cop).

The garden specializes in cacti and other desert plants, arranged in geographical sections representing different desert regions. The Mediterranean climate of Palm Springs allows for year-round visits, but early mornings are recommended during summer months to avoid extreme heat!

Most Popular Photo Spots

1. The Cactarium – A greenhouse filled with rare cacti species arranged in artistic displays, creating a cathedral-like atmosphere with filtered sunlight.
2. The Mexican Section – Features impressive towering saguaros and dramatic barrel cacti that make for striking silhouette shots.
3. The Rainbow Bridge – A small colorful bridge surrounded by flowering plants that provides a perfect framing opportunity.
4. The Crystal Garden – Where desert plants mingle with colorful geodes and mineral specimens.
5. The Palm Garden – A collection of various palm species creating a lush backdrop different from the spiny cacti areas.

For more info about the Great Palm Springs area, latest updates including the iconic Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals, jump on to VisitGreaterPalmSprings.com

Best Time of Year to Visit Palm Springs

The weather is extreme in Palm Springs! It can be as low as 40˚F (4˚C) over night in winter, up to the high 90s and into the 100s from May to September.

My pick for the best time to visit is March and April or October and November.

Where to Stay in Palm Springs

I’ve visited Palm Springs about half a dozen times and stayed in a different place each time.

The last time I chose downtown Palm Springs for easy walking to the shops on the main street, restaurants, the Thursday night Village Fest, and it’s about two blocks from the spa. I loved Kimpton Rowan and if your budget extends, stay there! They have a rooftop pool and bar as well as rooftop restaurant. Plus, as with all Kimpton properties, there is a free wine hour every afternoon in the lobby.

Another wonderful property is The Willows. We stayed here several years ago in this boutique hotel next the Art Museum and just a couple of blocks up the road from the Kimpton. Albert Einstein would frequently stay here, and we got to stay in his favourite room!

For something a little more fun, family-friendly or for groups of friends, we stayed at Ace Hotel & Swim Club. You’ll want a car as it’s a bit further out of town, but a great option. Some of the garden rooms have their own fire pits too for s’mores!

Stay in Celebrity Homes in Palm Springs

How about these properties for a fun weekend with your friends! Book the whole place out for a wedding or a special occasion.

Former Steve McQueen Home is a luxurious private villa that can sleep up to six in three bedrooms. Check out the property on the link, the view of the mountain range, the pool and hot tub, and the hosts have Steve McQueen memorabilia to make it extra spesh.