Great Things to do in Palm Springs

 1.  Check out the Mid-Century Modern Architecture

Palm Springs is known for its mid-century modern architecure, homes with low rooflines, which gained traction in home design in the 1950s.  The homes are generally white or light colored with colorful doors and perfectly manicured landscaping.  Walking through neighborhoods to view these homes is like a walking through an art gallery!  We went for a nice morning walk though the Indian Canyons neighborhood of Palm Springs, known for its pretty doors.  

The pink door house is one of the most popular doors to see in Palm Springs.  I read that the entire house used to be pink but the new owners painted it white, leaving just the front door pink.

I especially loved the tall palm trees in the front yard.

There were many more colorful doors, from red to blue to lime green gracing the entrances of the homes.

Besides colorful doors, be sure to check out the “Party Lions House”, nicknamed for the lion statues that are known to don a variety of party ware.  Their adornments change, so you never know what you are going to see.  When we were there, they had inflatables on top them!

We also came across the “Flower House”, known for its beautiful display of flowers and palm leaf front doors.

More colorful doors were around every corner!

My favorite color!

2. Shop Til You Drop

Palm Springs features a plethora of art galleries, clothing boutiques, souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes on palm tree lined Palm Canyon Drive.

Downtown Palm Springs

Be sure to visit Balboa’s, a candy store with a variety of nostalgic candies.  The kids loved trying to some of our childhood favorites!

Balboa Candy | Palm Springs

Just outside of town is the Desert Hills Premium Outlets, with everything from luxury brands to stores such as Lululemon, Aritzia, and Vuori.

3. Visit the Marilyn Monroe Statue

Palm Springs is all about recognizing its link to old Hollywood so who better than to embody this than Marilyn Monroe?  The icon is honored with a 26 foot statue located in Downtown Park. 

The Marilyn Monroe Statue | Palm Springs

The statue is not without controversy, however.  Up until 2021, the statue resided outside the Palm Springs Art Museum.  Residents were not happy with the placement of the large statue in the middle of the town, essentially blocking the view of the museum.  They engaged in a battle with the city, ultimately getting the statue moved to its new home in Downtown Park.  

Marilyn Monroe statue in Desert Park | Palm Springs

Today, you can visit the Marilyn statue where she is surrounded by palm trees instead.

4.  Walk Among the Palm Springs Walk of Stars

Palm Springs has their own version of the “Walk of Fame”, on the sidewalks downtown.  Over 400 stars honor people who once called Palm Springs home.

My favorite, Frank Sinatra! | Palm Springs

5. Take A Day Trip to Joshua Tree National Park

Palm Springs is a great place to base for a visit to Joshua Tree National Park.  Located just about 45 minutes away, you can spend the day exploring this awesome national park.  

Cap Rock Trail | Joshua Tree National Park

We had such a great time in Joshua Tree National Park.  From climbing Skull Rock, to hiking under boulders, rock scrambling, and looking for an entrance to a slot canyon in the Hall of Horrors, this was so much fun for kids and adults alike!

Fun times in Joshua Tree National Park

6.  Visit the Palm Springs Air Museum

WEBSITE:  Palm Springs Air Museum

Located on the outskirts of town, the Palm Springs Air Museum is highly rated and worth a visit for any air enthusiast.  The museum features five different hangars, a flight simulator, and interactive displays.

7. Sip Cocktails in a Vibrant Setting

One evening, we headed to uptown and hit up two bars, each very different from one another.  We started out at the dark and brooding Truss & Twine.  This establishment features cocktails from the Golden Age to the Modern Age, so it is a fun menu to explore.  I especially loved my Duck and Cover cocktail while Mike found his classic Old Fashioned to be quite tasty.  We enjoyed our time here with the master mixologist mixing up drinks and a tasty cheese board to go along.

Truss & Twine | Palm Springs

After Truss & Twine, we headed to the vibrant Eight4Nine.  Here we had small bites paired with delightful cocktails. 

Eight4Nine | Palm Springs

My cocktail, Eight4Nine, was a delectable concoction of vodka, prossecco, and muddled strawberries.

Eight4Nine | Palm Springs

8. Ride the Aerial Tramway

WEBSITE:  Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

For a birds-eye view over Palm Springs take a ride on the aerial tramway, located just minutes from downtown.  It is the world’s largest rotating tramway, giving all passengers a great view.  At the top, explore hiking trails or sip on a drink from the bar while taking in the vast views of Palm Springs below.

PRO TRAVEL TIP:  If this is something you absolutely want to do, book your tickets ahead of time.  This is a very popular activity in Palm Springs and tickets sell out well in advance.

9. Play a Round of Golf

Golf remains a popular pastime in Palm Springs, due to its warm weather year-round.  Palm Springs has several world-class golf courses, in fact there are over 100 courses in the greater Palm Springs area!  

10. Have Brunch at Norma’s | The Parker Hotel

WEBSITE:  Norma’s

With its seemingly hidden street entrance and bright orange front doors, the Parker Hotel features great representation of mid-century decor throughout its grounds.  We dined here for brunch and had a fabulous meal!

Norma’s at the Parker Hotel | Palm Springs

Inside, the lobby is decorated with unique decor and the bar is a perfect depiction of the Art Deco era.

The Parker Hotel | Palm Springs

11.  Visit the Palm Springs Art Museum

WEBSITE:  Palm Springs Art Museum

For a town known for its homes with colorful doors, it is no surprise Palm Springs has its own art museum.   The Palm Springs Art Museum is actually comprised of three campuses, two in downtown Palm Springs and a sculpture garden located in Palm Desert.   With thousands of art from a variety of media on display, this is a great option to get out of the hot sun for a bit and experience some fantastic art displays.

12. Soak in the Sun

You’re in Palm Springs, one of the sunniest cities in the United States, so take advantage of the sun!  We relished our time in the pool at our Airbnb, enjoying the sun’s warm rays.  

Fun in the sun in Palm Springs

Almost every day is a sunny day in Palm Springs, with temperatures generally mild in the winter and reaching into the triple digits in the summer.  Take precautions if visiting in the summer, but most likely you’ll be visiting outside of these hot months and will get to enjoy the abundant sunshine.  This is a great place to relish the outdoors, whether it be bike riding, walking, or chilling poolside!

Palm Springs makes for a great weekend getaway or part of a larger southern California road trip, like we did.  With its beautiful homes, great shopping and dining, as well as close proximity to Joshua Tree National Park, it’s a fabulous place to vacation!