Palmera GO Destination Highlight: Palm Springs, CA

Known as “Hollywood’s Playground,” Palm Springs, California, is known as a stylish getaway that combines a vibrant dining scene, restful retreats and wellness experiences, and a sunny desert landscape that is both peaceful and also lends itself well to hiking, golfing, and more. Not only does this city attract celebrities and socialites, travelers of all ages who enjoy week-long or weekend escapes to indulge in relaxation, award-winning cuisine, and upscale resorts all flock to Palm Springs.

Visitors interested in the region’s cultural heritage, architecture, and general history will have ample opportunities to explore museums, galleries, neighborhoods, and more. Other reasons to visit include major entertainment and sporting events, such as music festivals, Coachella and Stagecoach, the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Palm Springs Pride, The American Express golf tournament, and much more.

Outdoor Activities

One of the main outdoor activities that visitors look forward to in Palm Springs is exploring the desert by hiking trails. With more than 100 trails to choose from, hiking closer to the city or Greater Palm Springs area should be on your itinerary, especially if you’re visiting in the cooler months. Just remember to start in the early morning and bring water with you to stay hydrated!

A popular area for hiking is Indian Canyons. This culturally and historically significant area offers a collection of hiking trails through oases created by underground springs, allowing guests to explore the incredibly beautiful and lush indigenous flora and fauna. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians inhabited this area for thousands of years, and visitors are welcome to stop at the Visitor Center and take a guided tour to learn more about this Native American tribe.

Nearby Joshua Tree National Park is always a great choice for those who want to explore the desert landscape, and is known for its camping and rock-climbing opportunities. Popular trails in this park are the 49 Palms Oasis Trail and the moderately challenging, trail to Ryan Mountain. Mount San Jacinto State Park is also extremely popular, especially it’s Aerial Tramway that lets guests enjoy a 10-minute ride up the mountain to access several trails that offer stunning views. Other ways to see the desert are by off-road Jeep tours, mountain biking, and even hot air ballooning!

Would you rather hit the trails on horseback? There are many opportunities to ride in Palm Springs, including trail rides through Indian Canyons, San Jacinto Mountains, and Coachella Valley. Various stables offer guided rides to visitors, and as an additional equestrian-themed bonus, watch a polo match at Eldorado Polo Club or attend the world-renowned horse show at the Desert International Horse Park.

Sports like golf, tennis, and pickleball are all popular pastimes in Palm Springs. Known as the “Golf Capital of the World,” Palm Springs features over 100 golf courses in the region, with some designed by Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, and Arnold Palmer. Play on a championship course such as Pete Dye’s Stadium Course at PGA West that hosts the American Express PGA tournament, La Quinta Resort and Club’s Mountain Course, and Arnold Palmer’s SilverRock Resort in Coachella Valley.

Spa & Wellness

Palm Springs initially became a tourist destination because of its healing mineral waters in the local natural springs. Early settler, Judge John McCallum, relocated his family to the area for his four children who were suffering from typhoid fever. After building his own residence and establishing the Palm Valley Colony, McCallum and Dr. Welwood Murray built the first Palm Springs Hotel, investing in the region as a wellness retreat, and welcomed guests like John Muir and Fredrick Douglass.

Many travelers still visit Palm Springs with health and wellness as a main priority, and many resorts offer spas and wellness amenities in addition to day spas and wellness centers in the area. Take a look at the recommended spas on Visit Greater Palm Springs’ website.

Galleries & Museums

The art and design of Palm Springs is a major draw for visitors in itself, and that includes its architecture! The Palm Springs Art Museum features various mediums, an additional Architecture and Design Center, Annenberg Theater, as well as a sculpture garden in Palm Desert. Learn more about the region’s history at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and Cabot’s Pueblo Museum. Kids will love the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, and fans of aviation will need to make a stop at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Try to be in town for Modernism Week, an event that celebrates all things mid-century architecture, design, and culture. For eleven days in February, this festival covers everything from vintage homes to cars, and the history and impact of the design. If you can’t make it to Modernism Week, book yourself on an architecture tour of the Greater Palm Springs to see the area’s historic neighborhoods and celebrity homes.

We’re so used to travel destinations that have summer has their peak season, but it’s the opposite in this case! Palm Springs is the busiest during the winter months, with spring coming in as a close second. With beautiful weather comes more visitors (a.k.a. crowds), and the best weather is basically anytime that isn’t summer. Not to drag on summer at all, but it gets toasty.

Let’s take a look at the average temperatures during each season:

If you’re planning on taking a wellness retreat or are looking forward to lounging poolside for most of your stay, summer might actually be your best bet. You’ll also find more discounts during this time as well. If you’re looking forward to exploring the desert or will be playing golf or tennis, late fall offers beautiful weather and less crowds than winter or spring. While winter might be the high season, spring tends to draw crowds for its beautiful, but sometimes rare wildflower blooms.

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your accommodations for your trip to Palm Springs. Just like any destination, you’ll have to consider whether you’d like to be in the thick of all the restaurants and activities, or, if you’re perfectly ok with staying in quieter areas—having your own car or a rental certainly helps make this decision easier.

Downtown Palm Springs offers a seemingly endless number of beautifully designed boutique and branded hotels that perfectly fit the iconic mid-century modern, Art Deco, and Spanish Revival styles of Palm Springs. And honestly sometimes, visitors ultimately end up making their decision by how fabulous the pool and pool deck is, and we don’t see any problems with that! If golfing is the only thing on your to-do list, look into golf resorts in the area.

Use your Palmera Vacation Club membership to find the best accommodation for your group. Want to use points? The RCI Exchange has a few resort options to choose from depending on when you’d like to visit. Otherwise, find your dream hotel or resort with your Quest Travel Club membership. Quest offers a large selection while giving you the best deals and allows you to read reviews from fellow travelers.

Here are some random examples of resorts on the RCI Exchange:

Points and prices subject to change.