WHAT TO DO
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
RIDE THE PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY
One of the best things to do in Palm Springs is actually to leave it. Drive up long and winding Tramway Road, park in a lot that’s roughly 15 minutes from downtown, and take the free shuttle to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The rotating tram cars will transport you through Chino Canyon to the top of San Jacinto State Park. The cars swing a bit and can be fun depending on the operator you get. One operator led our car in a rendition of “Sweet Caroline” on the way down. What awaits you at the mountain top are stunning, sweeping views and expansive skies of the surrounding Coachella Valley. You can check out a small museum, a gift shop, and enjoy food and drinks at two different restaurants and a cocktail lounge inside of the main building the tram swings into. Outside, a breathtaking national park awaits. Choose from over 50 hiking trails. If you’re short on time, take the just less than 1-mile long Valley Discover Trail and the 1.5-mile Desert View Trail. No matter what you choose to do, enjoy the stupendous views.
Tahquitz Peak.
DISCOVER THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Palm Springs is packed with plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Tahquitz Canyon is a 1.8-mile loop trail that eventually leads to a 60-foot waterfall that roars when the snow has melted from the nearby mountains. Look forward to seeing rock art and wildflowers in the spring along with desert scenery like palm trees and wide open spaces. We even spotted big horn sheep on our last visit. If you don’t have time for a full hike, the visitor’s center offers sweeping views of the city that make a visit worth it. Admission to the canyon costs $15 per person. Nearby Palm Canyon is 15 miles long and home to the largest California Fan Palm forest. Take a short or long hike, and admire the desert views.
Downtown Palm Springs.
GO SHOPPING IN DOWNTOWN PALM SPRINGS
Here’s a retail fact for you: Trina Turk opened her very first boutique in Palm Springs in 2002. Find vibrant resort wear like flowy dresses, swim suits, tank tops and billowing pants in bold colors and signature prints at this boutique that’s as colorful as the clothes it sells.
Downtown Palm Springs.
Palm Springs is also known for being a high-end vintage shop-ping destination. Find colorful, unique frocks and other vintage treasures at The Frippery, Preloved Palm Springs and Mitchells.
Palm Springs Art Museum.
VISIT THE PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM
When you’re strolling around downtown Palm Springs, you can’t miss the 26-foot tall Marilyn Monroe statue in front of Palm Springs Art Museum. “Forever Marilyn” is holding down her white dress from “The Seven Year Itch” and is a classic photo opp. The art museum right behind the statue features 28 galleries, two sculpture gardens, four classrooms, a lecture hall and a theater. Look forward to a modern space complete with white walls and towering ceilings. The museum’s permanent collection features Native American art, contemporary art and exhibits on architecture and design. See photographs from Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus and Andy Warhol. Just behind the museum is the 4-acre Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden. Admission is free, and it’s worth a quick stroll to check out the numerous sculptures, lush landscaping and water features here.
Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway.
ADMIRE THE ARCHITECTURE
Palm Springs is renowned for having one of the largest collections of mid-century architecture in the world. See these buildings in person via the Palm Springs Mod Squad offers three different 90-minute tours that take you around town to check out homes designed in this specific style. The company’s Martini & MCM Architecture Tour – the most popular one – will give you a chance to see homes of stars like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Marilyn Monroe. Post-tour, enjoy a martini.
Farm.
WHERE TO EAT
The patio at downtown Palm Spring’s Farm is downright dreamy. Cozy up to a table in the inner courtyard that’s also filled with wood tables, string lights and a bubbling fountain. The French bistro-inspired restaurant serves sweet and savory crepes, omelets, brioche French toast, salads and sandwiches. For a more elevated dining experience, head here in the evenings from Friday
through Tuesday for a special dinner menu.
Farm.
Housed in a former movie theater, award-winning Workshop Kitchen & Bar beckons with a stunning interior that’s almost entirely white. It makes for a serene setting where diners can enjoy fine cuisine. The menu rotates frequently, but as of press time, a Goat Cheese Pierogi and Beets & Citrus salad was on the menu. Workshop was even included in the Michelin Guide to California. Azucar Restaurant & Bar at Serena Villas exudes laid-back vibes. Enjoy your contemporary fare in a light-filled restaurant filled with wood tables and wicker chairs with doors that open to a dreamy outdoor pool. Find dynamic offerings on the menu like grilled swordfish tacos and cauliflower risotto. The margarita menu is creative and long. Try the watermelon margarita if you’re searching for a sweet sipper.
Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage.
WHERE TO STAY
Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage beckons with a full casino, multiple restaurants, sparkling pools and an award-winning spa. Rooms are contemporary and feature sweeping views of Palm Springs along with deep soaking tubs. The 340 room and suite hotel is a lively spot. Besides the casino, you’ll even find a theater where acts like Jay Leno, The Beach Boys and Leann Rhimes perform. On the ground floor, guests can enjoy a cigar bar and a Swarovski crystal shop.
Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage.
The on-site Sunstone Spa is heavenly. The spa features a lounge outfitted with zero-gravity recliners, a private, secluded outdoor spa pool and a fitness center stocked with top-notch equipment and cold towels in a fridge. We enjoyed the Sunstone Signature massage and a mud wrap. A massage therapist took heated gemstones to soothe our tight muscles. To finish, we enjoyed a rejuvenating foot scrub and scalp massage. We left feeling refreshed and totally relaxed. We also indulged in a gemstone polish treatment. A therapist placed a mud wrap on our skin, and then we relaxed on a custom-made heated massage table that was lined with sand for a truly comforting experience – like being swaddled. Afterwards, we washed off the polish in the shower and enjoyed our soft, refreshed skin.
The Spa at Séc-he.
If you’re searching for even more spa time, The Spa at Séc-he is slated to open on April 4. This is also owned by the Agua Caliente Native American tribe like the resort we mentioned. Located in downtown Palm Springs, the spa promises to be a wellness oasis. Its special feature? Hot, natural mineral water.
The Spa at Séc-he.
The 40,000-square-foot spa will feature 22 private mineral baths, 15 treatment rooms, a cryotherapy chamber, two float pod suites, an eucalyptus steam room, a boutique fitness area, a tranquility garden, a resort-style pool with four Jacuzzis, a café and a full-service salon, among other amenities.
