Things to Do in Palm Springs

Hopping on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is one of the best things to do in Palm Springs. During your ride on this heavenly vehicle, you can take a tour of the San Jacinto Mountains. The beautifully snow-topped peak of this mountain is the second-highest mountain range in Southern California. To reach its summit, you have to take a 10-minute ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. In this region of the San Jacinto Mountains, there are more than 50 miles of trails, including this mountain's peaks. You can enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in this Palm Springs region in winter.  If you want to avoid these activities, you can hover over this mountainous region through the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Coachella Valley Preserve is a barren desert in Palm Springs. Still, this 20,000-plus acres of barren land is more than just sand and brush. This preserve of Coachella Valley encompasses the smaller 88-acre Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, which consists of more than 25 miles of hiking trails. As you walk on these trails, you can spot rare wildlife species. These miles of trail are home to Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizards.  You will also witness the lush palm woodland oases and desert wetlands. Wildflowers blossom at different times of the year in these wetlands. Therefore, hiking on the trails of Coachella Valley Preserve is one of the best things to do in Palm Springs.  It is located 10 miles east of this Californian city. 

If you are an army enthusiast, visiting the Palm Springs Air Museum is one of the best things to do in Palm Springs. On your trip to this museum, you will be able to gain knowledge about US military operations over the last 100 years. Under this theme, the museum exhibits aircraft from World War Two, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terror. It is a living history museum meant to educate visitors about the role of Air Power in preserving American liberties and way of life. While you are here, you can take a close glimpse of the exhibits as there are no ropes to keep you from interacting with them. 

Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium is an attraction that one should not miss in Palm Springs. This botanical garden displays the classic collection of more than 3000 varieties of plants, desserts, trees, and cacti. The collection ranges from species all around the world and in all sizes, from miniature to giants. During your visit here, you will see cactus and other plants from Arizona, Baja California, California, Colorado, the Mojave Desert, the Sonoran Desert, South Africa, arid South America, and Texas. These species include agaves, bombax, crested Cereus, cardon and boojum trees, arborescent “candelabra” Euphorbia, a two-story Pachypidum, thorned Caesalpinia and Bursera and aloes of Southern Africa and Madagascar.  It is a living museum of desert lore beautified with glistening crystals, colorful rocks, ancient fossils, and pioneer and gold mining relics. 

One of the best things to do in Palm Springs is explore the surroundings of Indian Canyons. Indian canyons boast a bunch of unique landscapes. It includes crystal-clear streams, descending waterfalls, a shady palm oasis, and granite rock walls. Moreover, you will get to know about the indigenous past of these Canyons. It is the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. That is why it has been given the name Indian Canyons. These canyons comprise Andreas Canyon, Murray Canyon, and Palm Canyon. These canyons offer a multitude of activities, such as rock climbing, camping, and hiking. You will also see a collection of more than 500 species of desert plants and animals. Thus, at Indian Canyons, you can walk on footpaths along the streamside palm oasis. 

Palm Springs Walk of Stars is one of the amazing attractions that you must visit. Taking pictures with your favorite celebrities here is one of the best things to do in Palm Springs. This place is a walk of fame in downtown California that honors famous personalities. It mainly honors those who have lived in the greater Palm Springs area. They are embedded in the sidewalk pavement. These honored people include presidents of the United States, industrialists, literary figures, civic leaders, humanitarians, and Medal of Honor recipients. Former presidents such as Barack Obama, Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan are inscribed on this Walk of Fame. This attraction is also attached to portions of Palm Canyon Drive, Tahquitz Canyon Way, La Plaza Court, and Museum Drive. 

Cabazon Dinosaur is a roadside attraction with two enormous dinosaurs, Dinny The Dinosaur and Mr. Rex. These dinosaurs are made of steel and concrete and attract several visitors here. On the way to Palm Springs, you can find this place in Cabazon, California. This place lies west of Palm Springs, and you can see it while driving here or to Arizona. It is one of the most famous attractions near Palm Springs that has been featured in everything from music videos to Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. You can also look closely at these dinosaurs while visiting them. During your visit, you can get inside the belly of one of these and buy gifts for your friends at the gift shop here. Thus, visiting Cabazon Dinosaurs is one of the best things to do in Palm Springs. 

If you are a nature enthusiast, then you can plan to visit the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens of Palm Springs. It is one of the best activities to do in Palm Springs. You will see more than 500 desert animals during your visit, such as the bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and cheetahs. You can also plan to explore different desert habitats, such as the Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert, and African Savanna exhibits. These habitats will reveal the flora and fauna that thrive in these arid environments. All these surroundings are covered in the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens of Palm Springs. It is situated in the Sonoran Desert of the Coachella Valley and Santa Rosa Mountains foothills. 

Experiencing the art and culture of the United States is one of the best things to do in Palm Springs. You can get a complete picture of it by visiting the Palm Springs Art Museum. It is a visual and performing arts institution that exhibits amazing works of famous artists. These exhibits are featured at several locations in the 150,000-square-foot building. It is considered one of the most architecturally significant buildings in the United States. Moreover, it is also known as one of the largest cultural institutions in the Coachella Valley. Since 2004, it has laid a great focus on design and contemporary art. During your visit, you will find buildings in the name, such as Palms Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Centre, Annenberg Theatre, and Edward Harris Pavilion. 

Hiking and walking amidst the Joshua Tree National Park grounds are among the best things to do in Palm Springs, California. During your tour of this national park, you will witness two ecosystems: the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. Besides, this park also offers a wide range of Joshua trees native to Mojave deserts. The park has been named after these trees. It straddles between San Bernardino and Riverside Counties and is situated to the north of Palm Springs.  You can visit this vast land of national parks at any time of the year. You will then see a fascinating variety of plants and animals. Moreover, geological wonders are an addition to the beauty of this park.