Dreaming of a California vacation? You’ll love your experience in Palm Springs where desert cacti and cultural icons both make their home. Surrounded by the soaring San Jacinto Mountains, the sunny, dry environment of the Coachella Valley is the perfect antidote to winter cold.
The best time to visit
The best time to visit is November through April when the temperatures range between 70 and 85 degrees without much humidity. Palm Springs offers a wide variety of lodging choices from 5-star luxury hotel & spa resorts to smaller, boutique hotels.
Things to do
While some visitors love simply relaxing by the pool, active travelers have plenty of options too. On the edge of town, you can hike the Indian and Tahquitz Canyons and see ancient rock carvings or marvel at the 60-foot waterfall, all located on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.
In town, see the Walk of Stars honoring prominent citizens and famous visitors including Bob Hope, Dinah Shore and Liz Taylor as you stroll along the sidewalk. When you’re tired, hop on a bus tour to see the homes of former celebrity locals including Liberace, Marilyn Monroe, Nat King Cole, and Elvis Presley.
On another day, find out why Condé Nast rated the city’s Living Desert Zoo and Gardens as one of the 10 Best Zoos in the U.S. You’ll be in awe of the beauty of the vast botanical garden and the variety of desert-loving animals like the graceful wallaby, playful emu, and singing kookaburra bird. Or spend some time in the Palm Springs Art Museum examining modern art, contemporary glass and an outdoor sculpture garden.
Plan a day trip and walk among the cacti or scramble over boulders at Joshua Tree National Park an hour away. Within 3o-minutes, you can play golf at one of 13-courses in Rancho Mirage, or sing along at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the Stagecoach Country Music Festival, the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, which are all held on different dates in Indio.
Have your camera ready to capture the scenery of the 10-minute ascent on the nearby Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. You’ll never forget the varied topography and mountain views as the tram rises from the desert floor to the alpine forest summit at 8,500 feet in elevation. Take a sweater with you because you’ll feel the 40-degree difference in temperature.
Dining and Nightlife
When it’s time for a meal or a cocktail, you’ll appreciate the mountain views from a rooftop lounge or the eclectic décor of an eatery tucked inside an area hotel or around town. Enjoy a dinner at a sophisticated French, German or Asian restaurant, or a meatless-dish at a vegetarian café. There’s also a stylish steakhouse and an abundance of cheerful local places featuring classic American and Southwest fare.
Ready to go? A quick trip from the Palm Springs International Airport to town (only 3-miles) makes it easy to arrive or depart, and a number of major carriers including American, United, Alaska, Delta, and Frontier have flights. Let Pegasus Travel Advisors arrange all the details so you can relax and enjoy your Palm Springs vacation.
