Showing 1-13 of 13 results
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Aerial Tramway
A highlight of Palm springs, the Aerial Tramway rotates ever so slightly as it climbs nearly 6000 vertical feet, from the desert floor up the San Jacinto Mountains, in about 14 minutes. You ascend through visibly different vegetation zones, from the Valley Station (2643ft) to the Mountain Station (8516ft). It's 30°F to 40°F cooler as you step out into pine forest at the top, so bring some warm clothing.
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Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
The true historic sites surrounding the Village Green Heritage Center include the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, which has pictures of and artifacts from the tribe's history.
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Knott's Soak City
Kids go nuts at Knott's Soak City, with its slides, tube rides, wave pools and beaches. It's an ideal place to escape the soaring Palm Springs temperatures - even over-heated adults have been known to rediscover their inner water babies at this huge aquaplay oasis.
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Living Desert Zoo & Gardens
This incredible zoo, a zippy 30-minute drive from Palm Springs, has a wide variety of desert plants and animals, plus exhibits on geology and Native American culture. There's a wildlife hospital and an African-themed village with a fair-trade market shop, cafes and a storytelling grove for kids. There is fine hiking to be had, and overnight 'Starry Safaris'.
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Moorten Botanical Gardens
Tahquitz too taxing? The Living Desert too far? The Moorten Botanical Gardens packs some 3,000 specimens of cacti, succulents and other desert flora into a small lot south of town. Founded in 1938, the garden became the life's passion of Slim Moorten, one of the original Keystone Cops, and his wife Patricia; today their son Clark is an expert on low-water vegetation.
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Mountain Station
The Mountain Station at the top of the tramway has an observation area and a theater showing films on the tramway and the park, plus a lounge and restaurants.
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Mt San Jacinto Wilderness State Park
Take time (a day or two if you're a backcountry enthusiast) to enjoy the Mt San Jacinto Wilderness State Park. There are 54 miles of trails, including a nontechnical route up to the San Jacinto peak (10,804ft), for hiking in summer, and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter. There are also several primitive campgrounds (free).
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Palm Springs Aerial Tram
Escape the summer heat by riding the gently rotating cars of the aerial tramway up Mt San Jacinto, all the way to the Mountain Station at 2597m (8516ft). It's an 15min journey through five climactic zones - the equivalent, in environmental terms, of a trip from Mexico to Alaska.
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Palm Springs Air Museum
Adjacent to the Palm Springs International Airport, the Palm Springs Air Museum has an exceptional collection of WWII aircraft, photos and flight memorabilia, as well as a large theater where movies are shown regularly for no additional charge.
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Palm Springs Art Museum
Near the end of W Tahquitz Canyon Way, west of N Palm Canyon Dr, the Palm Springs Art Museum has a worthy modern art collection, including an impressive piece by Seattle glass artist Dale Chihuly, and a good selection of pre-Columbian and Native American art. The quality of temporary exhibits has greatly improved in recent years, with works of painting, glass, photography and design. The Annenberg Theater presents musical performances, films and lectures.
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Palm Springs Historical Society
Ruddy's General Store (is a reproduction of a 1930s general store; and the 1884 McCallum Adobe said to be the oldest building in Palm Springs. For more information, call the Palm Springs Historical Society.
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Tahquitz Canyon
Opened in 1999 after having been closed for 30 years, Tahquitz Canyon is a historic and sacred centerpiece for the Agua Caliente people. It was traditionally home to Agua Caliente ancestors, but was taken over by teenage squatters in the 1960s. Eventually the canyon became a point of contention between the Agua Caliente, local law enforcement agencies and squatters who claimed the right to live in its alcoves and caves.
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Village Green Heritage Center
This grassy little square of the Village Green Heritage Center in the heart of downtown has some 'heritage' attractions, though most people use it as a place to sit and eat ice cream and fudge, which you can buy at the nearby sweets store.
Showing 1-13 of 13 results
