Guidebook for Palm Desert
Sightseeing
The tram (aerial gondola) will take you from the desert floor up the mountain in minutes. During high season, there may be a long wait to get on. There is hiking at the top and maybe snow in winter.
1213 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
1 Tram WayThe tram (aerial gondola) will take you from the desert floor up the mountain in minutes. During high season, there may be a long wait to get on. There is hiking at the top and maybe snow in winter.
The Salton Sea, with its large population of migratory birds, is an underappreciated resource in So. Cal. Learn it's history here, enjoy the beautiful view, watch birds and maybe kayak on its waters.
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Salton Sea Visitor Center
100-255 State Park RdThe Salton Sea, with its large population of migratory birds, is an underappreciated resource in So. Cal. Learn it's history here, enjoy the beautiful view, watch birds and maybe kayak on its waters.
Offers great views of Bighorn Country Club,Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and La Quinta, awesome views of the San Jacinto and San Gorgonio mountains, and on a nice clear day you can see the Salton Sea.
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mirador del Valle de Coachella
Pines to Palms HighwayOffers great views of Bighorn Country Club,Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and La Quinta, awesome views of the San Jacinto and San Gorgonio mountains, and on a nice clear day you can see the Salton Sea.
Arts & Culture
The Living Desert has palm gardens, cacti, and other plants native to desert regions and as well as animals, including jaguar. Near the carousel, there are hiking trails that lead into the desert.
889 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Desierto Vivo Zoológico y Jardines
47900 Portola AveThe Living Desert has palm gardens, cacti, and other plants native to desert regions and as well as animals, including jaguar. Near the carousel, there are hiking trails that lead into the desert.
Shopping
You can walk along El Paseo, window shopping or spending in the many upscale stores and restaurants. Stores close early (many by 6pm), bars and restaurants are open late, with plenty of free parking.
429 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Paseo Dr
You can walk along El Paseo, window shopping or spending in the many upscale stores and restaurants. Stores close early (many by 6pm), bars and restaurants are open late, with plenty of free parking.
The one mile stretch of El Paseo is called the desert's Rodeo Drive. Here you will find the same upscale shops, jewelers, clothing boutiques, great outdoor cafes and much more. Great for people watching , too!
335 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Paseo Shopping District
The one mile stretch of El Paseo is called the desert's Rodeo Drive. Here you will find the same upscale shops, jewelers, clothing boutiques, great outdoor cafes and much more. Great for people watching , too!
Rancho Mirage mall with lots of shops and eateries.
210 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The River Mall
71800 CA-111Rancho Mirage mall with lots of shops and eateries.
Everything Else
Tourist delight! Palm Springs Art Museum, shopping, dining, and more are all near or on Palm Canyon Blvd. The Thursday night street fair is a great happening. For hiking, visit the Indian Canyons.
527 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Palm Springs
57096 Twentynine Palms HighwayTourist delight! Palm Springs Art Museum, shopping, dining, and more are all near or on Palm Canyon Blvd. The Thursday night street fair is a great happening. For hiking, visit the Indian Canyons.
For under $10 you can soak in hot mineral springs pools all day in this funky old resort peopled with friendly characters. For a more upscale soak, try one of the other spas in Desert Hot Springs.
75 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Desert Hot Springs Spa
10805 Palm DrFor under $10 you can soak in hot mineral springs pools all day in this funky old resort peopled with friendly characters. For a more upscale soak, try one of the other spas in Desert Hot Springs.
Oasis Date Gardens has about a dozen varieties of organic dates for tasting and buying, the best date shakes around, a movie about dates, and is located in a setting of actual date groves.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Oasis Date Gardens
59-111 Grapefruit BlvdOasis Date Gardens has about a dozen varieties of organic dates for tasting and buying, the best date shakes around, a movie about dates, and is located in a setting of actual date groves.
This is a Palm Desert location of the Palm Springs Art Museum. You can pick up brochures and tourist guides here, too. The surrounding grounds are very pretty to walk through.
74 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert
72567 CA-111This is a Palm Desert location of the Palm Springs Art Museum. You can pick up brochures and tourist guides here, too. The surrounding grounds are very pretty to walk through.
Residents love this trail because it starts right behind Target in the shopping center and, with headlamps, they feel safe to hike this trail at all hours of day and night as many people are using it.
82 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bump and Grind Trail
Bump and Grind TrailResidents love this trail because it starts right behind Target in the shopping center and, with headlamps, they feel safe to hike this trail at all hours of day and night as many people are using it.
Located in the City Hall complex, here is where you can pick up maps, brochures and get more information about the area. Hours 8-5 weekdays.
73-710 Fred Waring Dr
73-710 Fred Waring DriveLocated in the City Hall complex, here is where you can pick up maps, brochures and get more information about the area. Hours 8-5 weekdays.
Idyllwild is mountain town with many restaurants and shops, boutiques, second-hand stores, art galleries and more. It is located about a 45 minute drive from here, up a very curvy (and sometimes treacherous) road. Check the weather and road conditions and forecast before you make this trip. It can be snowing up there when we are swimming down here. But it is a lovely place to visit, with alpine style cabins and large homes, great hiking in Humber Park, and cooler weather when the temperatures are hot here in the desert. Many desert and coastal residents have second homes here.
119 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Idyllwild-Pine Cove
Idyllwild is mountain town with many restaurants and shops, boutiques, second-hand stores, art galleries and more. It is located about a 45 minute drive from here, up a very curvy (and sometimes treacherous) road. Check the weather and road conditions and forecast before you make this trip. It can be snowing up there when we are swimming down here. But it is a lovely place to visit, with alpine style cabins and large homes, great hiking in Humber Park, and cooler weather when the temperatures are hot here in the desert. Many desert and coastal residents have second homes here.
Parks & Nature
The Coachella Preserve is an oasis grove of native California fan palms with wooden walking trails winding through the palms and waterways. There is a visitor center. Go early to avoid the heat.
29200 Thousand Palms Canyon Rd
29200 Thousand Palms Canyon RoadThe Coachella Preserve is an oasis grove of native California fan palms with wooden walking trails winding through the palms and waterways. There is a visitor center. Go early to avoid the heat.
The visitor's center offers educational hikes on the flora and fauna of the area with good views above the Coachella Valley floor.
23 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center
51-500 CA-74The visitor's center offers educational hikes on the flora and fauna of the area with good views above the Coachella Valley floor.
Hike here on a Thursday morning, then visit the art museum, then go to the Palm Springs Villagefest in the evening for a full day of activities that go from desert to fine art to glitz.
142 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tahquitz Canyon
Hike here on a Thursday morning, then visit the art museum, then go to the Palm Springs Villagefest in the evening for a full day of activities that go from desert to fine art to glitz.
A visit to the Visitors' Center at Anza Borrego State Park followed by a hike to the Palm Oasis is a wonderful, relaxing day trip and hike, about an hour and a half from Palm Desert.
35 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Estatal del Desierto de Anza-Borrego
200 Palm Canyon DrA visit to the Visitors' Center at Anza Borrego State Park followed by a hike to the Palm Oasis is a wonderful, relaxing day trip and hike, about an hour and a half from Palm Desert.
Several hiking trails are accessible once you pay your fee and enter the Indian Canyons.
390 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Indian Canyons
38520 South Palm Canyon DriveSeveral hiking trails are accessible once you pay your fee and enter the Indian Canyons.
Summer hike here when the weather is too hot for hiking in the valley below.
72 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Humber Park
24559 Fern Valley RdSummer hike here when the weather is too hot for hiking in the valley below.
Food Scene
This Whole Foods Market is a bit smaller than the big city Whole Foods Markets, but it has a buffet, great produce and most of the essentials that this chain is known for.
144 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Whole Foods Market
44-459 Town Center WayThis Whole Foods Market is a bit smaller than the big city Whole Foods Markets, but it has a buffet, great produce and most of the essentials that this chain is known for.