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News / Travel guide to Greater Palm Springs, Southern California’s most storied resort oasis
There's always something chill happening in Greater Palm Springs
Greater Palm Springs consists of the following cities — Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella.
Here's is a a guide to help you experience all Palm Springs has to offer!
Desert Hot Springs
Desert Hot Springs, also known as “California's Spa City,” is home to some of the purest hot and cold mineral springs in the world, and resorts and boutique hotels welcome overnight and day guests to soak in the waters. Nestled in the foolish of the San Bernardino Mountains just north of Palm Springs, the city's unique geology has made it a world-famous destination.
Hike through the nearby Mission Creek Preserve - a protected part of the Wildlands Conservatory that includes lush wetlands, a perennial stream and native flora and fauna; explore a bit of history at Cabot's Pueblo Museum, a Hopi-inspired pueblo built by early 20th century homesteader Cabot Yerxa; or tour the San Andreas Fault and other natural wonders on a Jeep or Hummer tour.
Cathedral City
Cathedral City shines as a haven for the arts, with several public art pieces on display and a growing number of art galleries.
Perez Road, the city's art and design district, has become a popular place for finding one-of-a-kind treasures and vintage furniture pieces.
Look for Fountain of Life sculpture downtown, which is the site for many community events, from the annual Taste of Jalisco and Hot Air Balloon Festival to food truck fairs and outdoor movie screenings.
The city's Mary Pickford is D'Place Theatre houses a Mary Pickford museum featuring personal belongings and costumes of the world-famous silent screen star ad also hosts screenings for the Palm Springs International Film Festival each tear.
Palm Springs
A blend of Old Hollywood glamour and a charming village atmosphere has enticed visitors to Palm Springs for almost a century. Today, a thriving arts and culture scene, as well as many signature events, including the Palm Springs International Film Festival and Modernism Week, draw visitors from around the globe.
Other points of interest include the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway - the world's largest rotating tram car that transports visitors more than 8,000 feet up to Mountain San Jacinto, where 54 miles of hiking trails await - the Indian Canyons, the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza, and VillageFest, an outdoor street fair in the center of downtown on Thursday evenings featuring food, music, and arts and crafts vendors.
Rancho Mirage
A luxurious lifestyle meets a playful landscape in Rancho Mirage, home to stellar fold courses, sprawling estates and first-class dining.
Several past U.S. presidents have stayed in the city at Sunnylands - the former estate of U.S. Ambassador Walter Annenberg and his wife, Leonore. Admission to Sunnylands Center & Gardens is free, and tours pf the historic estate are offered with advance ticket reservation.
You can also attend a “stargazing party” or lecture at the Rancho Mirage Observatory, or check out what's playing at The Show, a $75 million high-tech, 2,000-seat entertainment venue at Agua Caliente Resort Casino and Spa.
Palm Desert
Palm Desert, centrally located in Greater Palm Springs, is a center for shopping, entertainment, and recreation. Visitors can catch a show at the McCallum Theatre, visit the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, shop on El Paseo, tour several international art galleries, or head outdoors on one of the hiking trails in the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains.
For a local vide, check out the Street Fair art College of the Desert, held every Saturday and Sunday morning.
If you're there at the spring, the city hosts Fashion Week El Paseo, the largest costume fashion show on the West Coast, and Palm Desert Food & Wine, a three-day culinary celebration with celebrity chefs and premium food and beverage tastings.
Indian Wells
Begun as a Cahuilla Indian village, Indian Wells now hosts world-class cultural events and attractions, including the Indian Wells Arts Festival, Ironman 70.3 and BNP Paribas Open, brining tens of thousands of art lovers, athletes, sports fans and epicureans to this oasis of luxury each year.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower regularly visited the city and even owned a winter home at Eldorado County Club. Hollywood stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were also residents, founding the Indian Wells Resort Hotel in 1957.
The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, ranked one of the top zoos in the United States, is located in both Indian Wells and Palm Desert, occupying approximately 80 acres.
La Quinta
La Quinta, knows as the “Gem of the Desert” embraces the outdoors and the arts with its scenic hiking trails through the Sant Rosa Mountains, phenomenal golf at PGA WEST, luxury resorts like La Quinta Resort & Club and SilverRock, and a quaint downtown with whitewashed adobe walls and blooming bougainvillea galore.
Old Town La Quinta, the city's charming main street, features shops and boutiques, restaurants and even a local brewery.
It's also a home to several events, including a Sunday-morning farmers market, an annual Cinco de Mayo festival as a reoccurring art fair on select Saturdays.
Indio
Dubbed the “City of Festivals,” Indio - the first incorporated city in Greater Palm Springs - is home to the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Stagecoach County Music Festival an International Tamale Festival, as well as Sunday polo matches at the Empire Polo Grounds or Eldorado Polo Club from January through April.
It's also home to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, the historic Shields Date Garden (established in 1924) store and cafe, and the Indio Open air Market Wednesdays and Saturdays, which features everything from clothing and unique housewares to fresh produce picked from the nearby fields.
Coachella
Culture comes alive in the "City of Eternal Sunshine," where Coachella's rich Mexican heritage shines through in community events like Día de los Muertos the acclaimed Coachella Walls mural project and authentic Mexican cuisine you won't find anywhere else in Greater Palm Springs.
In the 1960s snd ‘70s, the city became a hub for the Cesar Chavez-led civil rights movement from farmworkers, and today the surrounding are is used for farming fruits and vegetables, including dates. Together with neighbouring cities Indio, Thermal and Mecca, Coachella produces 90% of the nation’s dates.
Visitors can embark on a self-guided walking tour of the Coachella's Walls throughout the historic downtown or try their luck at one of the city's two casinos: Augustine Casino and Spotlight 29.
Getting to Greater Palm Springs
Get by car:
- Los Angeles: 2 hours
- San Diego: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Newport Beach: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Anaheim: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- San Bernardino: 1 hour
- Phoenix/Scottsdale: 4 hours
- Las Vegas: 4 hours
Get by air:
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is served by several major carriers, many with nonstop flights. Other airports, all within approximately 2 hours of Greater Palm Springs, offer additional flight options.
- ONT (Ontario) - 1.25 hours
- SNA (Orange County) - 1.5 hours
- LAX (Los Angeles) - 2 hours
- SAN (San Diego) - 2.25 hours
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