Palm Springs: Your Must-See Desert Oasis! 12 Top Spots to Visit

Located about two hours by car from Los Angeles, Palm Springs is a celebrity-favorite resort town nestled in the desert. While summer temperatures can reach nearly 40°C (104°F), the area boasts 360 sunny days a year, attracting many visitors seeking warmth, especially from fall through winter. Palm Springs is famous for golf, but it’s also surrounded by mountains and canyons, offering hiking and mountain climbing opportunities. Besides its stunning landscapes, Palm Springs is filled with tourist spots to enjoy. Here, we’ll introduce 12 highly recommended places, even popular among locals!

1.Aerial Tramway

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Palm Springs is the Tramway. The world’s largest rotating tramcar takes you up to an elevation of about 2,500 meters. Thanks to its moderate rotation speed, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view. The tram ride takes about 15 minutes, and once you arrive, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the entire Palm Springs area from the observation deck. Despite being in the desert, the temperature difference between the top and the ground can be as much as 30 degrees, and during winter, you can even enjoy snow activities, attracting visitors who come specifically for the snow.

At the arrival station, there are well-reviewed restaurants and souvenir shops. Several popular hiking trails also start from here, including a trail that leads to the summit of Mount San Jacinto, which stands at 3,000 meters above sea level. There are also beginner-friendly, gentle trails. It’s a popular tourist spot where you can enjoy stunning views and get close to the local forest vegetation.

2.Indian Canyons

Known as "Indian Canyons," this area was once a sacred land for the Cahuilla Indians. It’s an oasis in the Palm Springs desert filled with unique fan palms, palm trees, and waterfalls. While listening to the calls of wild birds, you can enjoy the refreshing atmosphere of this beautiful natural landscape. There are several trekking courses perfect for sightseeing, and some are easy enough for beginners to enjoy. The most popular hiking course takes visitors on a guided tour to an 18-meter waterfall downstream, where you can learn about the vast nature of Palm Springs.

At the visitor center, you can find exhibits about Native American culture and a short film about the canyon’s natural environment. Fun fact: this location was also featured in the movie Lost Horizon. It’s a healing spot in Palm Springs, brimming with the life force of nature and offering an oasis in the desert.

3.Living Desert Zoo

At the Living Desert Zoo in the desert town of Palm Springs, you can see giraffes, cheetahs, kit foxes, and other animals native to North Africa and other desert regions. There’s a guided shuttle that helps you explore the zoo thoroughly. The shuttle not only saves you from walking fatigue but also protects you from the intense heat. As it’s a zoo in a desert area, it gets extremely hot in the summer, and the zoo closes around 1:30 PM, so make sure to plan your visit accordingly. Popular attractions include animal shows and feeding experiences, so be sure to check the schedule while touring.

The real fun happens at night when tents are set up, allowing you to watch animals under the stars! You can also enjoy a campfire, making it a great family activity. This is a highly recommended spot for families visiting Palm Springs. Additionally, the zoo has a botanical garden where you can explore the unique desert plants of Palm Springs.

4.Coachella Valley

For outdoor enthusiasts visiting Palm Springs, Coachella Valley Preserve is a must-see. This beautiful area, surrounded by mountains and desert, is home to various wildlife like lizards, owls, and bobcats, along with native fan palm trees and other desert plants. Guided tours are available, offering a chance to learn about the unique ecosystem of Palm Springs. There are also hiking trails that tourists can easily enjoy.

Outside the preserve, you’ll find the golfing paradise. With a staggering 110 courses, you can enjoy playing golf while surrounded by nature. In April, the Coachella Music & Arts Festival, the largest music festival in the U.S., is held here. If your timing is right, you can experience both the natural beauty and the music festival during your visit! The festival offers a variety of music genres and art exhibits, giving you an even richer Palm Springs experience.

5.Palm Springs Air Museum

The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to one of the largest collections of aircraft in America, featuring planes used during World War II, making it a popular tourist attraction. Unlike many museums where you can’t get close to the exhibits due to ropes or barriers, here, you can get up close and be impressed by the sheer size and presence of these planes. Amazingly, many of these aircraft are still capable of flying.

On the second floor, you can experience simulators and even step inside some of the planes, making it a fully immersive experience. Being located right next to the Palm Springs airport, you can hear the sounds of planes taking off and landing, adding to the overall experience. The museum itself is not too large, so you can easily explore it in a short amount of time. Many visitors come here as a way to escape the summer heat. It’s a great spot for kids who love vehicles and adults interested in learning about history, making it a popular tourist destination for all ages in Palm Springs. The museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM.

6.El Paseo

Palm Springs is not just about nature. After enjoying the great outdoors, head to the stylish El Paseo district for shopping and dining. The shopping area is home to many stores, including brands like Brooks Brothers and Tommy Bahama. Despite being in the desert, Palm Springs offers a shopping experience that rivals big cities.

After enjoying Palm Springs' tourist attractions, why not have a delicious dinner in one of the chic restaurants in El Paseo? For example, at Sullivan's Steakhouse, you can savor a juicy, thick steak while listening to jazz music. Meanwhile, at Pacifica Seafood Restaurant, you can indulge in fresh oysters on the half shell, enjoying seafood in the middle of the desert! El Paseo is also close to the Aerial Tramway mentioned earlier, so it’s a great place to stop by after a day of sightseeing.

7.Palm Canyon Drive

After a day of sightseeing, head to downtown Palm Springs on Thursday evenings. The streets turn into a pedestrian-only area, where an old-style street fair with over 200 vendors, called VillageFest, takes place. You’ll find fresh local vegetables, fruits, bread, sweets, and more, along with handmade crafts from local artists. Aside from the stalls, there are live band performances and other entertainment enjoyed by both tourists and locals alike.

VillageFest runs from around 6 or 7 PM until 10 PM, so after a day of sightseeing in Palm Springs, stop by and soak in the lively local atmosphere. The vendors are very friendly, and you might lose track of time chatting with them. During Halloween, everyone dresses up, and the excitement is at an all-time high, so if you visit Palm Springs during the season, it’s definitely worth stopping by.

8.Palm Springs Art Museum

Following the Air Museum, the Palm Springs Art Museum is another top tourist attraction in the area. It features a wide range of art, from modern pieces to ancient artifacts. The museum showcases everything from ancient figurines to works by Renoir, Picasso, contemporary art, and Native American art. Paintings, sculptures, photographs, and glasswork are all on display, providing a varied and engaging art experience.

The museum offers a calm, uncrowded atmosphere, perfect for relaxing after a long day of sightseeing. Though it usually closes at 5 PM, admission is free after 4 PM on Thursdays, so it’s a great place to cool off and unwind after exploring Palm Springs. The museum is also just two blocks away from VillageFest, so you could cool down at the museum before heading over to the street fair for an evening of fun.

9.Joshua Tree National Park

The strangely shaped trees in the photo are Joshua Trees, and this area, dotted with them, is Joshua Tree National Park, one of Palm Springs' top tourist attractions. As you step into this rocky land, shaped by nature’s forces, it feels like you're stepping onto another planet. This park was even used as the backdrop for the album cover of the rock band U2. It’s a popular spot not only for tourists visiting Palm Springs but also for those staying in Los Angeles.

The park offers various trekking courses where you can explore the natural beauty while touching the oddly shaped, yellowish-brown rocks. There are even day trips from Los Angeles. A major highlight is Keys View, which offers a panoramic view of the mountains stretching into Mexico and Coachella Valley. It’s a great spot to enjoy the desert landscape that is iconic to Palm Springs.

10.Moorten Botanical Garden

Since you're visiting Palm Springs in the desert, why not take the opportunity to learn more about desert plants that you can’t typically see anywhere else? Moorten Botanical Garden features over 3,000 species of plants, including cacti and other desert flora. The cactus collection is one of the largest in the country. Although the garden is small, it’s a great place to take your time and enjoy a leisurely stroll. From fall to spring, free guided tours by volunteers are available.

This beautiful garden is also a popular spot for weddings, with over 1,200 couples having been married here. It's beloved by both tourists and locals alike. If you're lucky, you might even spot a bride on her special day! Though the hours are shorter during summer, the garden is open from 10 AM to 4 PM during other seasons, making it a hidden gem to visit in the cooler months of Palm Springs.

11.Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California, featuring preserved wilderness where you can find desert plants like palm tree oases and cacti. Though it’s about an hour and a half drive from the airport and slightly off the beaten path, this park offers a raw nature experience that's worth the visit. While walking through the park, you might even spot wild bighorn sheep. Interestingly, "Anza" means "sheep," and these animals are often camouflaged by the rocky terrain. But as they're used to people, you might get a close look at them! It’s definitely one of the must-see animals when visiting Palm Springs.

Anza-Borrego is a great spot to fully experience the desert environment of Palm Springs. In addition to the wildlife and plants, fossils of mammoths and remains of prehistoric human dwellings have been discovered here, offering a glimpse into ancient history.

12.Knott's Soak City Water Park

While the desert landscape is the main attraction of Palm Springs, if you're traveling with children, they might get tired of desert sightseeing. If you have time, take them to Soak City. It's a popular spot where you can cool off during the intense summer heat in Palm Springs. Soak City is a water amusement park with multiple water slides.

From a 20-meter-tall water slide with a steep drop to a wave pool, both kids and adults will have a blast! Hours vary by season, but in summer, the park is open from 10 AM to 7 PM, making it the perfect escape from the heat. After exploring all the sights in Palm Springs, let yourself have some fun and feel like a kid again at Soak City.

◎Conclusion

What did you think? Palm Springs, a favorite resort of celebrities, is filled with the allure of the desert. You'll encounter breathtaking rock formations and unique plants that you rarely see anywhere else. And when you venture into the town, the monotone desert colors give way to vibrant shops and the lively sounds of people. Palm Springs is a place where you can enjoy both nature and the cheerful energy of the people. The ways to enjoy Palm Springs are endless, and it's all up to you! So, grab a map and start planning your trip. Enjoy your perfect getaway!

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Palm Springs: Your Must-See Desert Oasis! 12 Top Spots to Visit