Palm Springs, located in the Colorado Desert, is an extremely popular winter vacation spot, known for its sunny weather, excellent golf courses, exquisite dining, shopping, museums, and above all affording exceptional opportunities to explore the numerous surrounding canyons and mountains.
Tourists, mostly Americans, head here in large numbers to enjoy the warm climate and interact with the other communities, including Palm Desert. Palm Springs homes for rent are popping up everywhere to cater to this growing demand and influx of tourists. To make the most of your holiday to this fun place, here is a list of top ten attractions which are a must for every visitor to Palm Springs.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to Mount San Jacinto.
Palm Springs lies barely three hours away from Los Angeles or San Diego.Tourists are enthralled by the sight of the lofty mountain of San Jacinto, which rises to an elevation of more than 10,000 feet from the edge of the town.The peak can be easily accessed by way of riding the largest rotating aerial tram car in the world, which takes visitors to a height of 8500 feet in just ten minutes.
There are two decks for observation purposes here, restaurants and visual displays about the construction of the unique tramway. Guests are rewarded with cool air and stunning desert views. There are a number of different hiking trails here, with one through pine forests which lead up to the summit itself where the temperatures are far more cooler, even at the height of summer.
Air Museum
The exceptional Air Museum of Palm Springs is known to house the largest collection of aircraft from the second World War which is still in active condition. In spite of the numbers, the museum itself is rather compact and can be covered in a short period of time.The aircraft are mostly parked in hangars, which makes viewing a bit more pleasant as the weather outside can at times be too overbearing and hot.
Indian Canyons
Located at a short distance from Palm Springs, Indian Canyons is a huge draw, especially for those seeking to explore the desert and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the place. Hiking through the fifteen miles long Palm Canyon, with its innumerable waterfalls and creeks is one of the most popular activities here. The route is lined with large Palm trees, which make the walk and setting all the more enjoyable and tranquil.
Various trails of different lengths lead from the main parking lot into the oasis where hikers can buy souvenirs of Indian art and other assorted items from the Trading Post located on site. For birding enthusiasts, the nearby Andreas Canyon is another good spot, as is Murray Canyon, which though less frequented, is known for spotting wildlife like deer etc.
Golfing
Both Palm Springs and Palm Desert make for excellent golfing areas, especially during the winter months, when golfers flock to these areas in large numbers for a perfect golf vacation. As the air mountains rise above the desert from the green fairways, the scenic views make for a great contrast with the desert and the surroundings.
Some of the top names include Classic Club, Indian Canyons Golf Resort, Escena Golf Club and Desert Willow Golf Resort among others. The courses, though, all range in price and quality with respect to the amenities and standard.
Art Museum
Featuring both performing arts and artwork, the Palm Springs Art Museum founded in 1930, focuses primarily on the desert. Over the years the direction has tilted towards contemporary art, with collections from Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and more. The two onsite sculpture gardens feature paintings, pottery work, architecture, and design.
Coachella Valley Preserve
The 13000 acre of the pristine desert landscape of the Coachella Valley Preserve is home to a diverse amount of wildlife.Volunteers take visitors on guided hikes to see the lynx, hares, snakes, kestrels and horned owls and other desert creatures. This is a great method of seeing the preserve and reveling in the peace and tranquility of the area.
Moorten Botanical Gardens
From full grown trees to plants just taking root, the Moorten Botanical Gardens are a haven for desert plant lovers. The gardens are at their best in the spring season when trees start to change color again. Located at South Palm Canyon Drive, the facility is open to visitors around the year.
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
If you want to have a glimpse of the flora and fauna of the Colorado desert head to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Springs. In addition, the zoo features animals from North America and Africa as well. The other activities include guided nature walks, shows and animal feeding times as per schedule. A morning visit is most productive when the animals are most active in the cool of the day.
Village Fest
Every Thursday evening, downtown Palm Springs comes alive with a large number of vendors setting up shop for a Village Fest on either side of Palm Canyon Drive. Visitors can bargain for arts, jewelry, and trinkets and try the traditional tasty snacks. Performers provide extra entertainment with music and shows from early evening till 10 pm.
1Art Museum Architecture and Design Center
This free and unique attraction is worth visiting, particularly if you are an architecture buff. The historic Art Museum and Design Center features exhibitions on a temporary basis. The location itself is in an old mid-century type structure, akin to most of the buildings in Palm Springs. A helpful staff is always on hand to answer your questions.
