5 THINGS TO DO IN PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
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Palm Springs had never really been high on my list of travel destinations. I always just saw it as place where retired snowbirds went to escape Canadian winters. Besides, when stacked up against tropical beaches and ocean views, the desert seemed to have little appeal. But while searching for a place to get away this year, a tight schedule made good flights at the right price that much more enticing.
So, off to Palm Springs it was.
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by Palm Springs. I was fully prepared to spend our few days there doing a whole lot of nothing, as I knew little about the area before we booked our flights. In reality, we managed to fill our time with some great outings, quality relaxation time, and (of course) food!
Here’s what we got up to:
Take a Ride on the Aerial Tramway
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a rotating tramcar (the world’s largest, in fact!) which takes passengers from the valley floor up to Mt. San Jacinto State Park at an elevation of 8,516 feet. The trip takes about ten minutes and offers up spectacular views of the valley, gets you up close and personal with the canyon walls, and drops you off in a whole other world where palm trees are replaced with pine trees.
We visited in February which meant winter weather at the top side of the tram ride. Ice, snow, and a brutally cold wind kept us from exploring the many trails that spider out from the tram station. If you visit during warmer weather, I’d highly recommend at least doing the shorter hikes. If you’re visiting in winter and want to get out, make sure to pack warm jackets.
We decided it was kind of ridiculous for us to have flown all the way there to get away from winter and then pay money to go find the snow again, so we didn’t spend a whole lot of time at the top. But the tram ride itself and the views on a clear day were still worth it.
We went on a Sunday morning and spent about an hour waiting in line just to buy our tickets, then another hour+ until our assigned tram departed. Try visiting during the week or first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds.
How to get there: the valley station is a 15-20-minute drive from downtown Palm Springs. We used Uber but you can also taxi or drive yourself and park at the lots near the tram station.
Costs:
Uber ride: approx. US$15 (each way)
Tram ticket: US$25.95/adult
Relax with A Spa Day
Palm Springs became a popular escape from the hustle of Hollywood in the 1930s and has continued to be a go-to oasis for rich and famous movie stars. As such, the city has its fair share of health, wellness, and relaxation-focused offerings to help (even us plebs) de-stress.
I spent a morning enjoying a massage, body wrap, and facial at our hotel’s in-house spa which was a lovely way to kick off a lazy day. If you’re looking to disconnect, I highly recommend checking with your hotel to see if they offer services or looking into one of the many spas along Palm Canyon Drive.
If there’s a hotel you’re dying to stay at but it’s out of your price range, consider booking a service at their spa. Most hotels allow day-use of their pool and common areas to spa-only clients as well.
Costs: prices range widely depending on the spa and services you choose. As a rough estimate, expect to pay around US$100/hr as a minimum, with some spas being much pricier than this.
Spend a Day in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is a short one-hour drive from Palm Springs and a great place to spend a day (or more, if you have the time). The park encompasses two distinct ecosystems – the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert – which are both worth seeing.
Depending on how active of a day you’re looking for and how much time you allow, you have the option of simply enjoying a relaxing and scenic drive through the park, stopping off to do short hikes, or heading out on longer and more challenging trails.
We started our day at the Cottonwood Visitor Center near the southern entrance, headed north through the Colorado Desert, into the Mojave Desert, and exited the park at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center. We stopped off to do multiple short hikes, checked out the Keys View lookout, and had a picnic lunch at the Hidden Valley day use area. I really enjoyed our day in Joshua Tree seeing the various landscapes and vegetation that are so different than back home.
Check out my Joshua Tree National Park Photo Essay and my One-Day Itinerary for Hiking in Joshua Tree.
Note: Joshua Tree National Park has few services and water is only available at the visitor centers and a couple of the campgrounds. Make sure to take enough food and water to get through the day.
How to get there: there are tours that will take visitors to the park. They seemed a little pricey but would be an option for those not wanting to drive themselves. I recommend renting a car and doing a self tour. This will allow you to travel on your own time and see the things you want to see.
Costs: expect a tour to cost around US$150-200+ per person. If going on your own, a car rental will set you back about US$50 and entrance into the park US$30/vehicle.
Eat Your Way Though Town
Palm Springs has an amazing food scene and plenty of options for all tastes. Those requiring specialty diets will appreciate the fact that many restaurants offer gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options.
We basically made it our job to try out as many different restaurants as we could during our few short days in Palm Springs. Here are some of my favorites:
Lulu’s has a big menu and lots of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ate here twice – for breakfast and dinner – and enjoyed both meals.
Farm is a French-bistro-style restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner with a great atmosphere. Their menu has unique offerings like a chicken and waffles breakfast dish that was unlike anything I’ve had before.
Mid Mod Café offers up simple but delicious fare as well as pre-packaged to-go meals. We ate breakfast and lunch here and grabbed a couple of their pre-made salads for our Joshua Tree picnic lunch.
How to get there: there are a ridiculous number of restaurants along or near the main downtown strip. Simply wander Palm Canyon Drive, check out menus, and pick something that appeals to you.
Cost: prices of course vary among restaurants but expect to pay around US$10-15 for breakfast and US$12-20 for lunch and dinner options.
Stroll the Streets
Palm Canyon Drive is the main “strip” in Palm Springs and is lined with endless shops, restaurants, and bars to check out. One could spend hours wandering along here. Simply going for a walk is a great way to spend a nice day in Palm Springs and even early in the mornings there were plenty of people out walking along Palm Canyon Drive.
We stayed right downtown and found it to be the perfect location as we were able to walk to nearby restaurants and see the area along the way. We also spent some time exploring the side streets and wandering aimlessly. We came across random art installations and got to take in the views of the mountains surrounding the valley.
If you’re looking to get away from town, there are also a quite a few hiking trails which are easily accessible from downtown Palm Springs. You can find a complete list of trails here.
Cost: FREE!
More About Palm Springs
Where we stayed: we stayed at the Palm Mountain Resort and Spa. We loved the location as it was close to downtown and easy to get around from there. We also enjoyed the pool when it was warm enough to be out there, and the sitting areas with firepits when it was too cold for the pool. Click to find more hotels in Palm Springs.
How we got around: Uber was our go-to for transportation any time we weren’t able to walk to our destination. We also taxied to and from the airport and rented a car for our day trip to Joshua Tree. We found all methods of transport to be relatively easy and pain free.
When to visit: Palm Springs is located in the Coachella Valley in California. The city’s population triples from November to March when snowbirds and tourists flock to the area to take advantage of the region’s dry and relatively warm climate. Expect temperatures to reach around 20C during the winter months (thought it was a bit colder than this while we visited). Summer months can be scorching with average highs over 100F or around 40C.
