Can't-Miss Gems: Top Things to Do in Palm Springs
We spent a long weekend in Palm Springs and had the best time ever! For people on the West Coast this is probably common, but since we live on the East Coast we had never been to Palm Springs before and were so in awe seeing it for the first time! Palm Springs is truly a magical place with the most perfect weather and insane views. It also has a rich LGBTQ+ history which we absolutely loved learning about. Keep reading to see our guide on what you can’t miss on a weekend in Palm Springs!
Where to Stay in Palm Springs
For downtown Palm Springs we stayed at The Skylark Hotel. It was in walking distance to everything we wanted to do in the Palm Springs town area and was slightly farther off of the main strip so it wasn’t too loud. The rooms were just okay but the views from the pool area were stunning! You can see the mountains and palm trees right behind the pool area.
We also stayed at the Renaissance Palm Springs which is great if you want to be closer to the downtown area, or if you are visiting Palm Springs for am event being held at the Convention Center (the Renaissance is attached to the Convention Center!).
We also go to do site tours of the Thompson Palm Springs and the Parker, both which are a bit more upscale but absolutely beautiful.
find other palm springs accommodations on Hotels.com!
How to Get Around Palm Springs
We recommend renting a car as that is the easiest way to get around Palm Springs and visit Joshua Tree, Indian Canyon etc. Ubers can be scarce. You can definitely walk if you’re already in the downtown Palm Springs area, but to get anywhere else you will need to drive. We love renting cars with Expedia because they are trustworthy, easy to book, and we have never had an issue when we’ve used them!
Rent your car in Palm Springs with Expedia here!
Best Things to Do in Palm Springs
Indian Canyon
Red Jeep Tours
Palm Springs Windmills
Joshua Tree National Park
Indian Canyon - probably our favorite thing we did in Palm Springs! It’s a short drive from downtown Palm Springs and has some of the most unique views we have ever seen.
Red Jeep Tours - The second time we visited Palm Springs we did a Red Jeep tour though Indian Canyon, as well as other notable areas in the city, and learned so much from our tour guide!
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (beware it gets very cold at the top! It was 40 degrees at the top of the mountain when we went and 90 degrees below on land)
Joshua Tree National Park - you could spend all day or a few days even exploring everything in Joshua Tree, but here were our favorite sights: Skull Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden, Hidden Valley
Pioneertown - an old west town that is still used as movie sets today! You are not allowed to take photos or videos of Pioneertown for social media so if you want to visit just know that in advance!
Cabazon Dinosaurs - probably only worth it if you really like dinosaurs or random road-side stops.
Palm Springs Windmills - they are so iconic to see up close! To access the part we did, either drive to Uber to the Palm Springs Amtrak station and you can walk from there.
Book your Palm Springs activities and tours here!
Where to Eat & Drink in Palm Springs
Juniper Table
Palm Greens Cafe
Juniper Table
Palm Greens Cafe
Brickworks
Lappert’s Ice Cream
Kreem
Mid Mod Cafe
Native Foods
Dez Coffee (near Joshua Tree)
Natural Sister’s Cafe (near Joshua Tree)
If you want to see more of what we did in Palm Springs, make sure you watch our Palm Springs vlog! You can watch it below.
Special thanks to Visit Palm Springs for hosting us on our trips. Some links on this post are affiliate links of which we receive a small commission, but the price is the same for you.