For the American traveler, Palm Springs CA is rife with exciting activities! From catching breathtaking views of local landmarks to savoring traditional cuisine and world-renowned hospitality, there are plenty of amazing experiences not to be missed out on. Here’s a list of 10 must-see attractions guaranteed to make your trip unforgettable!
Best Thing to Do in Palm Springs CA
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- Address: 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (10364)
- Phone: +1 760-325-1391
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMTuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMWednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMSaturday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PMSunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
5 Replies to Discover The 10 Best Things To Do In Palm Springs CA
Leave Reply
TOP 10 Fun Things to Do in Palm Springs CA
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
- Address: 47900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (8184)
- Phone: +1 760-346-5694
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PMTuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Reviews:
Went during the very popular “Glow in the Park” event. They did a great job at having everything setup and managing the crowds. It might be a “zoo” but it has more of an animal sanctuary type feel with lots of large open spaces. Still we were able to see all the wildlife and was much closer to a cheetah and hyena then I’d ever been before. It’s not that big and you can easily see everything in a few hours and not feel rushed. They also do a good job of keeping the walkways shaded. Aside from that the staff was friendly, the paths and eating areas were immaculate and very well maintained. Despite it being crowded there were no lines to enter, plenty of parking, and the lines to get food were short as well.
Well worth visiting. Get there when they open to beat the heat and you won’t be disappointed.By Brian Toro (8 months ago)A wonderful visit in March of 2022. I would love to come back to see the lanterns at night! They were still very beautiful and fun in the daylight. The kids all loved them and I think it made it a bit more exciting for them! We went early so all the animals were moving around and eating breakfast. Truly wonderful experience.By Katharine Kenney (10 months ago)The living Desert Zoo and Gardens was a great experience! Especially for the little ones looking at all the different animals from all different areas of the world was awesome!From Africa, Asian, North and South American!
Garden areas pretty.They have petting goats which was nice.
I recommend being a wagon or a stroller if you have kids and bring cold drinks.By TEA REX (9 months ago)Peaceful in the daytime.
The staff and volunteers are extremely nice.
I hope all animals are treated well at all times.
I normally don’t go to zoos only sanctuaries.Shout out to Christina the young lady who works in the refreshment stand that’s near the camels and in between the goat petting area. She’s very nice and has really great customer service. We tried to tell Chad and David her bosses but we could not find them anywhere at the zoo throughout the time we were there from 1:00 p.m. to closing time. We even came back for the second evening light festival. Give Christina a raise.
Extremely overcrowded in the evening.
They should definitely have a capacity of how many people can come in. Or they should definitely have some kind of structure when people are taking pictures or people are waiting in line to take photos.
It might even be a great idea to implement photographers as well as people being able to take their own pictures.The lantern festival is very pretty but I would never go again to the Palm springs location because the patrons really don’t have any manners, (adults and children). People were just walking through when other people are trying to take pictures, not even saying excuse me which was very rude.
Also for better pictures and lighting it’s probably a good idea to put lights on both sides of any area that has a festival lantern because if there’s no lighting on the other side all pictures come out really dark. The only thing you can see is the lantern not really the people in the pictures.
By Nekie G (9 months ago)The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is amazing. We went in at opening when animals where active. Once we entered, the zoo volunteer/greeters were very nice and proactive in providing information about the park.Kids really enjoy feeding the giraffes, petting coral and animal encounter shows. Place is big enough for kids to explorer for a few hours. Animal enclosures were open and laid out right. Made you feel physically close. The gentleman/docent by the mountain lions was super friendly and patience with my kids question.
Free parking. Friendly staff. Zoo grounds and restrooms are very clean.
Food /drinks price are reasonable price for a non profit. Cool G-scale model train exhibit where you can enjoy with coffee.Zoo is a great family attraction when you are in the Palm Springs area.
By Sam Bawahab (12 months ago)
Palm Springs Air Museum
- Address: 745 N Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA 92262, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (3070)
- Phone: +1 760-778-6262
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMTuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Reviews:
No words to explain how amazing this place is!! It’s a very surreal experience, and the people who work and volunteer there are wonderful. There are many workers there who were soldiers themselves, and hearing their knowledge is something I’m grateful for. The planes are breathtaking and the displays of knowledge and artifacts engage oneself. They also have a library of Life magazines, how cool! Highly recommended taking anyone there!!By Bianca Antonette Sarte (6 months ago)This place is amazing! Such a great location for a flight museum. The view is stunning during sunset!
$20 per person, open till 5 pm. So many cool airplanes and the history behind each of them.
Very well layout from indoor to outdoor.
Highly recommend checking this place out when in PS!By Kimberly Pham (a month ago)2022-Oct. Lots of parking. The staff are really nice. There is a Cafe, souvenir shop, flight simulator (extra $25 for about 10 minutes) and restrooms inside.
Lots of war planes that was beautifully maintained!Please give a thumbs up if this review helped you.
Have a great visit!
By Cindy Rose (3 months ago)I spent about 2 hours in this small museum and it was worth it. When I went there, it was Indepent Day. I didn’t expect the museum to be open that day, and it was open for business as usual.
The ticket price for adults is $22, and the service staff inside are all elderly. It is estimated that they are all volunteers. It feels very cordial. There are also planes and models at the door, you can take pictures，there are many models of fighter jets, as well as F117 stealth fighter jets, various audio-visual materials, pictures, and explanations. Very good experience, the key is that there are not many people visiting and it is not crowded.
You can also take a plane experience every Saturday, the price is from $125-$4995, depending on how much you are willing to pay and what kind of plane you take to experience. Awesome.By Weiqin Z (7 months ago)This is an amazing museum. Not only will fans of airplanes love it here, but people who enjoy history, or even just want a unique activity to take your kids too. I recently took my 10 and 12 year old and they were fascinated with something in each hangar. There are even several planes you can get into and sit in the cockpit. Don’t forget to check out the upstairs library and flight simulators. The library was especially interesting because they had original print magazines going back to the 20’s and 30’s. It was so interesting to see the ads, stories, and prices of things back then.Make sure you take the guided plan tour which is only and extra $5. An actual retired air force pilot was working the day we went and he had some amazing stories and insight to share.
By Jacob Wheeler (6 months ago)
Palm Springs Art Museum
- Address: 101 N Museum Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (2209)
Coachella Valley Vista Point
- Address: Pines to Palms Hwy, Palm Desert, CA 92260, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (1230)
Robolights
- Address: 1077 E Granvia Valmonte, Palm Springs, CA 92262, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (1001)
Palm Springs Visitor Center
- Address: 2901 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (949)
Walk of the Stars Palm Springs
- Address: 10 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (714)
Indian Canyons
- Address: 38520 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (669)
Sunnylands Center & Gardens
- Address: Sunnylands, 37977 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (583)
Moorten Botanical Garden
- Address: 1701 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (452)
That’s it for our list of the best things to do in Palm Springs CA! If you have any arguments or additional information, please leave a comment. We love to hear from our readers. And don’t forget to check out some of the other posts on our blog for more travel inspiration. Happy traveling!
![One of the best [query] in Nevada, USA](https://www.statenavi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/one-of-the-best-query-in-nevada-usa-1679903571-760x428.jpeg)
It is best to plan your adventure on the tramway a month in advance. Get your tickets online – including a parking pass. We got there at 11 AM and I would not get there earlier because it is much cooler up at elevation than it is down in the valley.
The tramway app boasts of maps and more, but it was no use up on the mountain.
The lift facility is world class. The staff is friendly, helpful and efficient. There is a nice deck with a small hike at the mountain house. There is a reasonable lunch spot in the mountain house.
We did the overlook/notch hike and I definitely suggest that unless you have young children or someone in your crew who has mobility issues.
There is a hike to the peak, but it is a 12 mile loop with a 2,000 foot elevation gain and it was all snowed in over spring break. No thanks.
Overall, this is a great and very distinctive experience that I strongly recommend.
We loved it! The views are amazing. It was very well organized and flowed really well. We did not eat at the restaurant but it definitely had wonderful views. If you want to know the history they have the movie .. it was so hot in Palm Springs so we really enjoyed going from 116 degrees to 70’s! It is a nice day in nature with trails at the top as well.
First time here. Amazing views. A great hiking trail at the back end of the top. The temperature difference is a good 40*F between the bottom and the top, so prepare accordingly if you’re going to be hiking.
The Ride & Dine pass is definitely worth it. Otherwise, you have different options for food as there are two other restaurants available.
Oh, and bring quarters to use the telescopes! I wish I had known that.
This tram is such an awesome experience. My other favorite is at Snowbird in Utah; but that tram does not rotate like this tram. The rotating tram gives you a great view up and down this mountain. Don’t worry about the rotating floor. It’s slow and smooth. At the top of the tram is the Mountain Station which has food and beverage service; including a bar. There is only one negative about the experience and that’s the cost of food and beverages. Just like sporting events and amusement parks, this place charges way too much for food and beverage. A small bottle of water is almost $5 and soda/pop is the same. There’s a museum type thing on the lower level and food is on the upper level. If you exit on the back side there are trails to walk and hike. It’s $12 to park so be prepared to pay. Other than that folks, enjoy an awesome day and get out of the desert heat 🇺🇸
Loved the experience! The staff is very friendly, polite and knowledgeable. Would recommend getting there around 7:30-8am if you do not have tickets and need to buy them for the morning. The revolving tram was fun and our little toddler loved it! The view was amazing. We didn’t get to venture out into the play area as it was extremely windy for us. We love snow so enjoyed getting to touch it a bit. Will certainly be back in spring to enjoy what else there is to explore.