Is there any place as wonderful in the US as sunny California filled with windy mountain passes, soft sandy beaches, and one of the most stunning coastlines in the world?
Nestled among all this raw beauty is the charming city of Palm Springs which packs an impressive combination of fantastic weather, sites, and outdoor activates. It is by far one of the best cities in southern California. However, with a city that packs so many things to do you might feel a little lost in at where to start your adventure. If that sounds like you then read the list to discover the best things Palm Springs has to explore.
Visit Palm Canyon Drive
While the name might seem like you are venturing into the great outdoors, do not be tricked canyon drive is the main downtown of Palm Springs. This is where you will find many of the city’s main attractions, sites, and museums. Palm Springs actually has a significant number of museums to visit.
Palm Canyon Drive is also where you can sink your teeth into some of the tasty cuisine. The city and you can dine on everything from Mexican to French food. Canyon Drive should be one of your first stops when visiting the city.
A few hotspots to check out on Palm Canyon Drive are Aqua Caliente Cultural Museum, The Canyon Theater, and the Palm Springs Village Fest.
Explore the Desert
We can’t mention Palm Springs without talking about the epic hiking around the city. The area is jam packed with vast deserts and canyons to explore. For the adventure addicts, you have the opportunity to test your limits on things like sand dunes, mountain biking trails and rock climbing.
The highlight of the area is the famed Joshua Tree National Park which is a mecca for adventure travelers with some of the most stunning landscape in all California. Even if you are not an adrenaline junkie, Joshua trees offer great lookouts points and trails to hike! I mean just look at the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park.. You simply cannot miss the outdoors when visiting Palm Springs, California.
Moorten Botanical Garden
Usual we picture botanical gardens as massive havens for lush green and rare plant life. However, Palm Springs put a little twist on our expectations. The Moorten Botanical Garden shows off the diversity of plant life the desert has to offer. There are over 3,000 planets from all different countries. It rivals the one in Santa Rosa.
Visit The Living Desert
Another things to do on your visit to Palm Springs is to check out the various plant and animal life that thrives in harsh desert conditions by visiting The Living Desert. This huge 1,200-acre zoo/botanical garden is a great place to see desert animals like meerkats and mountain lions in their natural environment as well as see desert flora and fauna from North America and Africa.
If hiking the great outdoors is not your thing then don’t worry because there are plenty of other things to do in the city itself. Let’s check out a few ways to have a relaxing holiday inside the city.
Shop Till You Drop
Palm Springs offers a lot more shopping than just little trinkets and souvenirs. The city has boutiques to fit a variety of style, furniture stores, and outlets malls where you can save hundreds on name brand clothing. The city is full of shops, and you never know what will turn up.
Hang at the Pool.
Palm Springs has warm and sunny weather almost the entire year making it is a great place to stay at a resort or one of the many hotels in Palm Springs. Wherever you are in the city, you are not far from a sunbed, pool, and cocktails. This is perfect for people who want to spend their vacation poolside relaxing
Treat Yourself to Spas and Hotsprings
Hotsprings and spa’s go hand and hand so it should come as no surprise that Palm Springs is famous for both. All throughout the city, there is a variety of spa’s and hot springs to treat yourself too. These are the perfect spot to wash away the 9-5 grind and settle into vacation mode..
Palm Spring’s caters to many different types of travelers making it one of the best places to vacation in California. Whether you are looking to pamper yourself or venture into the desert landscapes, Palm Springs should be your next vacation spot in wonderful California. If you decide to go on a road trip I would suggest making it all the way up to taste the wines in Santa Rosa.
For more on traveling in America Check Out – Do You Need A Passport to Visit Puerto Rico / Best Backpacking Cities in America.
Cool post !
Very useful, thank you
GReat information about Palm Springs and hiking ideas! Joshua Tree National Park sounds exciting. My love of nature and plants would draw me to the Moorton Botanical Garden, and perhaps on to the spa! Thanks for this great information!