Things To Do On Your Palm Springs Vacation

Are you planning a visit to Palm Springs? If so, let me be the first to welcome you to the golf capital of the world. Where the sun shines 350 days a year and the average temperature is 80 degrees. Palm Springs is one of nine cities making up The Coachella Valley. This desert city is just 100 miles away from the mountains, the beaches and Disneyland.

Palm Springs has also been home to many Presidents and celebrities. You might be surprised at all you can do in Palm Springs. It is a perfect vacation spot and it is family friendly. One thing is for sure, it is a casual environment. Most people wear shorts year round. There is something for everyone in Palm Springs.

Palm Springs is also the perfect Wedding Destination, with it’s beautiful grounds, large hotels and private rental homes. You don’t have to go far if you are in California for this location.

So let me share some of the things you can do when you come for a visit, depending on the time of the year.

Music Festivals

One of the biggest events in Palm Springs is CoachellaFest and Stagecoach. Located at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, it is 3 weekends during the month of April. Coachella sells out at capacity 99,000 each of the two weekends and grosses over $84 Million in ticket Sales. Stagecoach is a 3 day country festival with over 190,000 attendees and expected to be more each year.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway has the world’s largest rotating tram car that travels over two-and-one-half miles along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon, transporting riders to Mt. San Jacinto State Park. During your approximately ten-minute journey, tram cars rotate slowly, offering picturesque and spectacular vistas of the valley floor below. Once you reach the Mountain Station—elevation 8,516 feet—enjoy two restaurants, observation decks, natural history museum, two documentary theaters, gift shop and over 50 miles of hiking trails. The tramway offers summer passes to escape the heat of the desert floor. The temperature is approximately 30 degrees cooler at the top.

Photo Courtesy of Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism

Horse Back Riding Stables

Experience a few quiet hours of getting away from it all on over 150 miles of convenient riding trails that provide both solitude and breathtaking beauty. Located in Palm Springs near the Indian Canyons, Smoke Tree Stables offers guided rides by the hour or for the entire day!

Fashion Week and Wine and Food Festival

Palm Desert Food and Wine Festival follows Fashion Week El Paseo in the spring. Where top designers, famous chefs and celebrities come out to party under the stars and watch chef demonstrations. Some of the past celebrity chefs have been, Cat Cora, Duff Goldman, and Roy Yamaguchi.

Hiking Trails

Palm Springs has a multitude of hiking trails across the desert. At any given time or day you can find the novice to to the athlete hiking on one of the trails.

Tahquitz Canyon Waterfalls

Tahquitz canyon is home to one of the most beautiful 50 feet waterfall located inside the Indian Canyons in Palm Springs. There is a small admission charge to enter, but you will find hiking trails and a very cold refreshing waterfall and pools. You can take a guided tour or do it yourself.

 

Photo Courtesy of Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism

Moortens Botanical Gardens

Moorten Botanical Garden was established in 1938 by Chester “Cactus Slim” Moorten and his wife, Patricia Moorten. Now owned and operated by their son, Clark Moorten. You can take a tour throughout the garden and learn about different plants and species of animals. They also have weddings in the garden.

Sunnylands

Sunnylands was owned by the Annenbergs and where President Obama comes every year for a presidential summit. You can take a 90 minute tour of the home during September through June for a $40.00 or visit the gardens and a variety of programs year round for free in addition to Yoga Classes and a bird sanctuary.

 

Palm Springs Celebrity Tours

Take a star-studded tour and see where some of Hollywood’s most famous residents like (Frank Sinatra, Elvis, and Liberace) lived. A longer tour takes you to all of the Palm Springs “essentials”…more star’s homes! Learn insightful stories about the history of the Coachella Valley and it’s Native American heritage as you drive through this amazing area. A longer tour takes you to see the homes of over 30 famous stars.

 

I also wrote about 5 activities that are fun for kids while they are visiting Palm Springs, so make sure you see what is available for kids.

Candi Elm writes at A Day in Candiland where she shows you how to simply create a sweet life with weekly encouragement, recipes, household budgeting and organizational tips.