The Best Sightseeing Destinations in Palm Springs and Coachella Valley, California
The Coachella Valley of California is in a incredible place to plan a relaxing, warm getaway to a reliably sunny area of the west coast. It rains here only a handful of days of the year!
While it may not be directly on the beach, Palm Springs and all of Coachella Valley make up for that in hiking, sightseeing, relaxation, restaurants and pooltime. This arid region of California lies about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, and 150 miles west of Arizona. Here you'll find tips on what to see and do in this incredible desert community of Southern California.
What's Palm Springs Like?
Warm, sunny, dry desert paradise in Southern California
The Palm Springs area lies in the middle of the Mojave Desert of Southern California. The temperature in the winter months usually still stays in the 70s during the day, while night temperatures will be comfortable 50s. Summertime temperatures increase dramatically, peaking above 100 regularly in May, June, July, August, and September. Despite this seemingly hostile summer weather, the air is very dry and managable if you stay hydrated and use sunblock.
Palm Springs night shot by boscco.
Many different cacti line the desert floor, along with dry, colorful brush. The towns in the valley are completely surrounded by the San Jacinto Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains. No matter where you are in the valley, you'll always have a great view of mountains all around you. Natural running water is scarce, but can be seen in the wetter winter months from snow melt and rainfall. Wildlife varies from jack rabbits to coyotes, desert snakes to roadrunners.
Ascending the surrounding mountains around the valley will bring about very different landscapes and wildlife. The temperatures cool greatly in towns like Idyllwild, and offer a wide array of hiking, plant life, and wildlife.
Aerial Shot of Palm Springs Area
To the North...
Yosemite National Park lies to the north of Palm Springs, about 8 hours away, but a surely unforgettable trip to one of the United States' greatest treasures.-
Yosemite National Park
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The Crown Jewel of the Sierra Nevada There are over 3.5 million visitors yearly that come to take in the awe-inspiring panorama of Yosemite National Park. The California National Park of the High Sierras is one of the best places to camp, kayak, sig...
Palm Desert
Only minutes away from Palm Springs
Palm Desert lies in the middle of the Coachella Valley area, next to Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells on Highway 111. The town is home to the highly visited Rodeo Drive-like El Paseo shopping district. High end stores line this boulevard, along with restaurants and many desert galleries.
Also in Palm Desert is the "Living Desert" Zoo. This zoo is surprisingly large, and houses some very cool animals like giraffes, meerkats, bighorn sheep, ocelots, and the gila monster.
Palm Desert is an excellent place to stay, offering some of the best hotels in the valley. Marriott's Shadow Ridge Resort is one of the finer places to stay, along with the Renaissance-Esmeralda Resort.
El Paseo
Can't Stand the Heat??
Palm Canyon, Palm Springs, California, USA
Framed Art Print
Summertime temperatures in the months of June, July, August and September regularly reach over 100. Is this your type of thing?
The San Andreas Fault
San Andreas Fault Hummer Tour - Palm Springs
A cool tour of the San Andreas Fault - largest fault in the Western Hemisphere! Palm Springs California - near Palm Springs.
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Steaklovers Rejoice!
The Palm Springs area has some of the most well known and all around best steakhouses in the country. LG's Steakhouse, The Chop House, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, and The Falls are some of the areas most visited. They're all worth a try!
Vegas Isn't Far!
Vegas is only about 5 hours away from Palm Springs. Why not spend a day or two in Sin City?-
Las Vegas Hotels
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Spend Some Time in Paradise! No really! If you're headed to Las Vegas, you're technically headed to Paradise. Tell your friends. The majority of the Las Vegas strip is in an unincorporated town called "Paradise," which is right beside the city of La...
Indian Canyons
Beautiful canyons in the mountainsides of Palm Springs
If there's any one thing that you shouldn't skip in Palm Springs, it's this. The Indian Canyons define the city, and are one of the only naturally occurring areas of palms in the vicinity. Three distinct canyons, Murray, Andreas, and Palm Canyon, cover the area. Andreas is an easy hike, with a year-round river running through the middle. Palm Canyon and Murray Canyon are longer, but afford incredible views of mountains, wildlife, palms, and true desert.
Pines to Palms Highway
Go from dry desert heat to cooler shady mountain temps and views!
Pines to Palms Highway is a scenic road along Route 74. It starts in Palm Desert off Highway 111 near the El Paseo shopping area. This road will lead directly into the San Jacinto Mountains, slowly ascending to the high peaks above the desert. Before you make the trek up, be sure to stop by the Visitor's Center located on 74 in Palm Desert.
California - View of Mt. San Jacinto Near Palm Springs
Giclee Print
Just one of the Indian Canyons of Palm Springs
Death Valley National Park
A great day trip on your Palm Springs trip!
It's not that far, only about 5-6 hours from Palm Springs. Death Valley is also only an hour or two from Las Vegas!The weirdness, strangeness, and record-breaking hot temperatures are just a few of the things that Death Valley is known for...but did you know that it has some of the most unique landscapes on the planet? It almost looks like a different planet...
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Death Valley National Park
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For over a hundred years, visitors have been flocking to the strange, secluded desert of fascinating Death Valley. Sharing sections of California and Nevada, this massive National Park is the largest in the lower 48 states by far, covering 3.4 millio...
It's a Big State!
Not only is California the third largest state in the country, but it offers a huge variety of scenery and activities. In San Diego, you'll find pristine beaches, cool clubs and fun amusements. Los Angeles has some of the most famous sites in the world, like Hollywood and Santa Monica Pier. To the west, you'll find Coachella Valley and the Inland Empire. To the north lies coastal communities like Santa Barbara, Morro Bay, and Monterey, followed by San Francisco and the Bay Area. To the northeast lies Napa and Sonoma, the famed wine country region. Back on the coastline, Redwoods shoot to the sky. On the Nevada border, you can find Lake Tahoe, which isn't too far from Yosemite National Park. Further south is Death Valley, the hottest place in North America. Each of these sites offer days and days of sightseeing that you'll definitely need a good amount of information for...
California (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 07/12/2009)
List Price: $30.00
Used Price: $8.03
Eyewitness Travel Guides always makes an excellent guide for your vacations. One of the best features is its size, which is just right for traveling. It's also very easy to read on the go, so you won't be wasting your time flipping through the book during your precious vacation time. Highly recommended.
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Palm Springs Links
A Greenhouse Cactarium in Moorten's Botanical Garden
Where is it?
Palm Springs is only 100 miles east of Los Angeles, 142 miles north of San Diego, and 4 hours west of Phoenix. It has its own International Airport, or you can fly into LAX or San Diego International Airport and drive there.
The Living Desert
Palm Desert's impressive outdoor zoo
The Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert is an eclectic mix of not just desert animals, but animals from all over. For example, the Reticulated Giraffe is one of the featured animals, and they're from Africa! Also, there's meerkats, scorpions, wolves, cranes, bobcats, warthogs, and even a gila monster! There's also special desert exhibits and a huge cactus garden featuring cacti from around the world.
East African Crowned Crane, found at the Living Desert Zoo
Tahquitz Canyon
Right in downtown Palm Springs!
It's desert wilderness at its best, and its basically 1/4 mile from the highway...what more could you ask for? Tahquitz Canyon is a long hike to the end, so go early in the morning before the heat sets in and you'll be rewarded with the cool desert oasis waterfall at the end.
Tahquitz Canyon, Palm Springs, California
Art Print
Palm Springs Timeshares
Come back to Coachella Valley year after year!
Center of Palm Springs at Sunset
Photographic Print
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Palm Springs Air Museum
A gem in the heart of Palm Springs!
The Palm Springs Air Museum contains a huge collection of WWII airplanes, artifacts, history and artworks...it's surprisingly great trip and very interesting! Real, working WWII planes sit in several different hangars, as well as war memorobilia like WWII newspapers, guns, medals, Nazi uniforms, and documentary videos...it's a trip back in time that is very well done by the museum.
Palm Springs Aerial Museum Memorial Day Flower Drop
Palm Springs Postcards
Classic postcards of this Hollywood era California town!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byCurrent Weather in Palm Springs
Chances are, it's sunny right now in Palm Springs!
Current weather conditions in Palm Springs, CA (92262)
Local Pollen Reports
106°F (Feels like 101°F)
Last update: 7/12/09 10:53 AM PDT
Humidity: 11%Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 42°F
UV Index: 8 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 29.86in steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: calm From: Airport Conditions
Today
Fair
High: 113°F
Low: 84°F
Sunrise: 5:45 AM
Sunset: 7:59 PM
Monday
Jul 13
Sunny
High: 114°F
Low: 82°F
Sunrise: 5:46 AM
Sunset: 7:58 PM
Tuesday
Jul 14
Sunny
High: 113°F
Low: 82°F
Sunrise: 5:46 AM
Sunset: 7:58 PM
Wednesday
Jul 15
Sunny
High: 113°F
Low: 82°F
Sunrise: 5:47 AM
Sunset: 7:58 PM
San Jacinto Mountains
Beautiful photos of Palm Springs surrounding mountains!
Looking south from desert view trail. Mt san jacinto state park.
Palm trees bend in the wind with the San Jacinto mountain range in the backgroun...
Took this shot this afternoon near Yucaipa, Ca. We drove from Palm Springs to Jo...
There's a cable car to take you up. It's high enough that you get a little brea...
View of Mount San Jacinto State Park. It was a mere 50 degrees up here at 8500 f...
The San Jacinto Mountains are beautiful from Twin Palms Ranch. Mustard plants m...
I-10
Palm Springs lies right on I-10, the interestate that runs from California to Florida. Why not plan a road trip to see some of the sites near the interestate?-
Planning a US Road Trip: The Southern Route
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If you love warmth and sunshine, this is the perfect US road trip for you where you'll get to see 8 different states. Some of the most unique areas of the country are all easily accessible from I-10, a highway that begins in Los Angeles and ends in...
Palm Springs Tram
Take a trip up the San Jacinto Mountains of Palm Springs!
Near the wind farms of Palm Springs on Highway 111 is the Palm Springs Aerial Tram. Take the Tramway Road off 111 to the parking lots at the foot of Mount San Jacinto State Park to experience five different climate zones on the way up...as well as an excellent rotating tram lift that brings you to an elevation 2.5 miles above the city. There's dining and souvenirs at the top, as well as a huge network of hiking trails. It's part of the Palm Springs experience, so if you're headed here, make this a priority!
Did you pack your sweatshirt?
If you're heading up the mountains, expect the temperature to drop anywhere from 10-30 degrees! The higher you go, the cooler it will get. Expect snow if you're hiking on some of the taller mountains, along with some muddy conditions after rainfall and during the winter.
California's Small Towns
The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of California
Amazon Price: $18.62 (as of 07/12/2009)
List Price: $40.00
Find the hidden gems waiting for you to find them in the small towns of California. From the vineyard hillsides of the Central coast to the rustic desert towns of the Mojave, the state has an unmatched diversity.
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Take a Road Trip Across California!
There's plenty to see in the Golden State...
California has so many unique places to visit, you can stay for weeks and still not see everything the state has to offer.-
California Road Trip
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California has some of the most famous, scenic and fun places to visit in the USA. The proximity of the destinations in California make sense for a road trip getaway across the state...but don't let the number of destinations fool you! It's still the...
Guestbook
QueSea wrote...
Great job on the lens. I like visiting Palm Springs. It's fabulous in April.
Posted June 28, 2009
KimGiancaterino wrote...
Nice job... I love Palm Springs! Welcome to All Things Travel.
Posted January 25, 2009
mulberry wrote...
This is great, if I find my way out there, I'm reviewing this lens before I go!
Posted January 07, 2009
mbgphoto wrote...
Great lens! I went to Palm Springs for a business meeting a few years back. Great place to hold a winter meeting!
Posted January 06, 2009
chefkeem wrote...
A hearty SquidAngel Blessing for this gorgeous lens! 5*s and fav'd.
Posted October 10, 2008
GlobalOpps wrote...
Way to go Kiwi, another great addition to the "Best Places to Visit in California" Group. Keep it up!
Posted July 11, 2008
Travel Around the World from your Computer!
Read the latest posts from the ExSquidition Travel Blog!
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Julius Shulman: Palm Springs
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Amazon Price: $34.65 (as of 07/12/2009)
List Price: $55.00
Postcards from Palm Springs
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Amazon Price: $15.96 (as of 07/12/2009)
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Palm Springs Flavors: The Best of Desert Eating, with Recipes from the Area's Chefs
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Amazon Price: $21.24 (as of 07/12/2009)
List Price: $27.95
Palm Springs/desert Cities, California: Laminated (Rand McNally Easyfinder)
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Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 07/12/2009)
List Price: $7.95
Palm Desert Timeshares
Stay for a while!
Greetings from Palm Springs, California
Art Print
Wouldn't it be great to go back to Palm Springs year after year?
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byWhat People Are Saying on Twitter About Palm Springs Right Now..
What do you think about Palm Springs? Add your Tweet here!
Best of:
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- retweet | reply larrybroughton
- Andreas Hotel & Spa (http://andreashotel.com) named the most pet-friendly hotel in Palm Springs by Animal Fair magazine. Cool, thanks!
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- retweet | reply valuator
- Palm Springs biggest little secret? It doesn't have to be expensive to live here, by any means. LIVE !!! http://www.MyPropertyIsWorth.com
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- retweet | reply PalmSpringsCA
- Today is the last day for Restaurant Week in Palm Springs. It does go down valley for the next 10 days. Great menus in Palm Springs!
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- retweet | reply btindrelunas
- just learned that it takes less than half an hour to fly from Palm Springs to LAX. Details and pix in 25 minutes...
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- retweet | reply nubbins
- After seeing thee pic of the Ace Hotel, I may need to plan another trip to Palm Springs. http://bit.ly/j5ROG
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- retweet | reply jonnyhyman
- I'm in the middle of a golf course at Palm Springs. Having an awesome time.
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- retweet | reply jamesgarland
- Grilin by the pool in Palm Springs. . . can it get any better?
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- retweet | reply HapaNative
- Had a fabulous weekend in Palm Springs. Checked out Shadow Ridge -- nice! Will definitely go back!
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