Things To Do
Joshua Tree National Park
In Joshua Tree National Park, you can explore unique rock formations, hike various trails like the Hidden Valley Nature Trail or Arch Rock, rock climb, and witness a stunning desert sunset from Keys View. The park is also a designated International Dark Sky Park, making it a popular destination for stargazing, and offers camping within the park. Other attractions include visiting the Cholla Cactus Garden and historic sites like Barker Dam or Keys Ranch.
Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon
From crystal-clear streams and cascading waterfalls to shady palm oases and granite rock walls, the Indian Canyons in Palm Springs are like no other place on earth—and when it comes to hiking in Greater Palm Springs, nothing compares. As the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, these lands offer visitors a glimpse into the area’s indigenous past as well as a chance to get away from the everyday and connect with something deeper. Something spiritual. Something that can only be found in nature. The Indian Canyons comprise Andreas Canyon, Murray Canyon and Palm Canyon, and each is a gateway to untapped outdoor adventure. Explore a network of trails that twist and turn beneath whispering palms. Travel up the rugged mountainside on horseback. Learn about the native flora and fauna on a ranger-led hike. Or find a quiet place to sit, relax and just meditate.
Moorten Botanical Garden
Established in Palm Springs since 1938, this privately-owned arboretum was created to share the beauty and extraordinary varieties of desert plants with everyone who visits. The featured desert trees, plants, and cacti come from around the world and range in size from miniature to giants! The Moortens are desert plant specialists and invite you to their residence estate. Moorten Botanical Garden is a living museum of desert lore and has something of interest for everyone with glistening crystals, colorful rocks, ancient fossils, and pioneer and gold mining relics. The classic collections on display are comprised of more than 3000 varieties of plants designed in concentrated habitats along a nature trail. In the world’s first Cactarium (a word coined by The Moortens), visitors will discover a special exhibition of rare plants seen nowhere else.
Palm Springs Windmill Tours
Wind turbines hold a special place in my heart, since I did my graduate research thesis on airborne wind energy. This particular commercial wind farm was the first to exist in Southern California. The wind turbines in Palm Springs are an amazing site to see and tour, and are also a great photo opportunity! Our Guided Golf Cart tours will transport you on an open-air electric golf cart on a private wind farm back in time 40 years ago to the present. The tour will encompass the successes and failures exhibited by inventors and engineers at the beginning of the “Wind Rush” in the 80’s to the modern sleek designs we see today. Click below to learn more and arrange your own Guided tour today. The tours are one hour and 15 min include a video at the tour center prior to the tour.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway—the world’s largest rotating tram car—travels over two-and-one-half miles along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon, transporting riders to the pristine wilderness of the 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.
Red Jeep Tours | Desert Adventures
Join us for unforgettable adventures exploring the stunning landscapes of the Colorado-Sonoran Desert! Whether you’re seeking the excitement of a Jeep tour through rugged terrain, the serenity of hiking breathtaking trails, or a group excursion to iconic desert attractions. Explore the breathtaking beauty of California’s desert landscapes with our guided tours of the San Andreas Fault, Painted Canyons, Joshua Tree, and Indian Canyons—where adventure meets nature!
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
This 1,800-acre zoo and botanical garden in Palm Desert combines wildlife conservation with desert education. Kids can hand-feed giraffes at the African Safari area, watch playful otters at the African WaTuTu station, and meet desert bighorn sheep up close. The Children’s Discovery Garden features interactive exhibits where little ones can crawl through prairie dog tunnels and explore a model desert ecosystem. Don’t miss the Wildlife Wonders Show, where trained birds demonstrate natural behaviors just feet from the audience. Plan 3-4 hours for the full experience, and visit early morning or late afternoon when animals are most active.
Palm Springs Art Museum
Palm Springs Art Museum was founded in 1938 as the Palm Springs Desert Museum at La Plaza in downtown Palm Springs. Natural science exhibits, Cahuilla Indian artifacts, and hiking excursions dominated the institution’s programming.