Your Guide to What to See in Palm Springs

Palm Springs is a popular vacation destination for coastal California natives looking to escape the highly populated areas of Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. A combination of the modernizing Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Hollywood pioneers like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope are responsible for the development of the Coachella Valley over the years, which has become a booming metropolitan area while remaining quaint.

The varied tourist attractions in Palm Springs are born of a charming desert feel that has not been lost with the area’s growing popularity, making it a great site for your next getaway. Whether you’re looking to explore unique desert hardscapes or relax poolside for a few days, you’ll find activities to pique your interest when you’re deciding what to see in Palm Springs.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The sheer cliffs of the San Jacinto Mountains give Palm Springs its beautiful landscape, as well its many opportunities for true outdoor adventure. The fastest and least strenuous way to reach the mountaintop is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Climbing to over 8500 feet above the desert floor, you’ll have a truly panoramic ride up the mountain in a cable car that rotates as you ascend. At the top, you’ll want to see the video of how the tramway was born plus you can walk around the San Jacinto State Park. There is a 20-25 degree difference in temperature between the valley floor and the mountain top, so be prepared to have a light jacket with you, particularly in the winter months where you can cross country ski in the alpine meadows.

Palm Springs Air Museum

Palm Springs is home to a living history museum dedicated to keeping vintage aircraft alive both physically and historically. The Palm Springs Air Museum is a must see if you’re interested in both civilian and military aircraft along with the stories associated with them. You will see and experience planes that flew in the Second World War, Korea, and Vietnam as well as meet some of their pilots, and hear stories of the servicemen and servicewomen who sacrificed their lives for this country. The Palm Springs Air Museum is an interactive experience where you wander through air-conditioned hangars and climb onto planes and into cockpits. The extensive collection of World War II aircraft will leave you with a new perspective on this historical era.

Palm Springs Architecture & Design Center

When considering what to see in Palm Springs, don’t overlook the mid-century modern architectural style which is celebrated year round. A good place to start is the Palm Springs Architecture & Design Center which is an extension of the Palm Springs Art Museum. This relatively new museum displays & preserves the country’s largest collection of Desert Modernism architecture from both private and commercial buildings around Palm Springs. The 13,000 square foot glass and steel building is every bit a representation of the modern architecture it celebrates. Originally designed as a bank by Stewart Williams in 1961, the building received Class 1 historic designation in 2009 and was restored beginning in 2011 before opening as the Architecture and Design Center in 2014.

Photo Credit:  AJ Montpetit, Stocksnap.io