Things to do in Palm Springs, CA

Palm Springs is known for...

1. Hollywood's Hideaway:

During Hollywood’s golden age, actors were contractually bound to stay within 100 miles of the studio for last-minute shoots. As a result of this “two-hour rule,” stars including Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin traded the hustle and bustle of Hollywood for palm trees and poolside cocktails in Palm Springs, exactly 100 miles from Hollywood. Today, A-list stars continue to flock to the desert for the Palm Springs International Film Festival, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival. Experience a taste of Hollywood in the desert by touring the Walk of the Stars in downtown Palm Springs.

2. Modernism:

Clean lines, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and simple designs defined architecture in Palm Springs from the 1920s through the 1960s and mid-century modernism continues to dominate as Palm Springs’ design aesthetic of choice. Modern gems by architects such as Donald Wexler and Albert Frey are celebrated every February during Palm Springs Modernism Week, which offers architectural tours, film screenings, lectures and classic car shows. Can’t make it for the February festival? Design a self-guided desert modernism tour and check out classics such as Elvis’ Honeymoon Hideaway, the Tramway Gas Station and the Movie Colony neighborhood.

3. Golf:

Year-round sunshine and warm weather means there’s never a bad time to tee off in the desert. With more than 100 pristine golf courses, Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley are a golfer's paradise. Some of the desert’s most notable golf courses can be found at Mission Hills Country Club, Desert Willow Golf Resort and PGA West. The pros love golfing in the desert, too, and are on the local greens during annual golf tournaments including the Humana Challenge, the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational.

4. Resorts:

Palm Springs’ mix of boutique hotels and five-star resorts offers something for everyone, making the desert a welcoming retreat for couples, families, celebrities and winter warm-weather seekers. Desert resort amenities include golf courses, luxurious spas, desert-inspired gardens and enticing pools with plenty of cabanas and poolside service. Take a walking tour of Palm Springs’ boutique hotels in December during the Walk of the Inns, when dozens of exclusive properties open their doors to curious visitors.

5. Natural Beauty:

From fault lines and deserts to waterfalls and natural oases, Palm Springs offers natural beauty in many forms. Experience the desert for yourself by taking advantage of the dozens of hiking trails available. Popular hikes include the Indian Canyon trails, the Bump and Grind trail and the Coachella Valley Preserve, a 17,000-acre site with trails that wind through the San Andreas Fault. Rather not walk? Tour companies such as Desert Adventures and Elite Land Tours offer off-road adventures into the San Andreas Fault, Indian Canyons and Joshua Tree National Park.