Accommodations

Palm Springs offers a nature oriented outdoors getaway with a variety of spas, vacation homes, hotels, and resorts. Choose an accommodation near any of Palm Springs's local attractions that offers comfort while making the most of the beautiful mountains and attractions at affordably priced rates.

View our Palm Springs Vacation Rentals or Palm Springs Resorts

Activities

The Palm Springs Air Museum's collection of aircraft features propeller-driven World War II aircraft in flying condition, a 60-seat Buddy Rogers Theatre of the Air, a restoration center, photographs and memorabilia. Beat the heat at Knott's Soak City USA, a deluxe, family-oriented water playground with 18 major water slides and attractions including the 800,000-gallon Rip Tide Reef wave pool. Open daily mid March thru Labor Day, weekends through October. The most famous attraction in Palm Springs is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which takes you from the floor of the Coachella Valley to near the top of San Jacinto Peak, where you can explore the alpine wilderness of Long Valley and Mount San Jacinto State Park. The air may be 40°F cooler at the top than in the desert. Visitors can walk along nature trails, take a burro ride or even play in the snow during the winter months. The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies is a vaudeville revue that celebrates the music, dance and comedy of the 30s and 40s with a cast all over the age of 55. The Follies plays host to Ms. Dorothy Kloss, the “World’s Oldest ‘Still Performing’ Showgirl.”

Events

The August “Palm Springs ShortFest” has become one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the worlds, with more than 350 short films from over 40 countries, along with more than 2,200 films available for sale. The April Art Festival at the Joshua Tree National Park features painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, and jewelry for sale to benefit the Park. During Late March, step into a 16th century European village where villagers celebrate the arrival of Spring at the Crossroads Palm Springs Old World Renaissance Festival. The Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival features such entertaining events as the Arabian Nights Pageant, ostrich and camel races, carnival rides and games, live entertainment, a parade, over a thousand exhibits, a Blessing of the Dates Ceremony, and a variety of contests.

Mountain Activities

Passengers of the Aerial Tramway disembark at the Mountain Station in the alpine wilderness of Long Valley and Mount San Jacinto State Park. Visitors can walk along nature trails, take a burro ride or even play in the snow during the winter months.

Water Activities

The Salton Sea State Recreation Area has 1,400 campsites, hundreds of day-use and picnic sites, trails, a playground, boat ramp and boat wash areas.  Popular activities include boating, water-skiing, fishing, jet-skiing, hiking, and sailboarding. It is estimated that over 1 million visitors spend time at the Salton Sea each year.

Golfing

The world's most seasoned golf pros, famous celebrities and presidents travel from around the world to play on the desert's golf courses, so rest assured it's also a great place for you to test your skills on the links. With over 110 fabulous golf courses, you're sure to enjoy a relaxing golf vacation.

History

In 1853, a government survey party mapped Palm Springs and its natural hot springs mineral pool and established the first wagon route through the San Gorgonio Pass. In 1877, the US government gave Southern Pacific Railroad title to the odd-numbered parcels of land for 10 miles on either side of the tracks running through the Southern California desert around Palm Springs. In 1884, Judge John McCallum arrived in Palm Springs with his family, seeking health for his tubercular son. The first permanent non-Indian settler, McCallum purchased land from Southern Pacific and, with the assistance of local Indians, built a 19 mile stone-lined ditch from the Whitewater River into Palm Springs bringing in pure, precious water for irrigation.

After California became a state in 1850, various stage routes crossed the desert, and a freight line began to stop at what was called "Agua Caliente." The place was known by that name or variations of "Palm Valley" until 1890, when Harry McCallum referred in a letter to his post office address in "Palm Springs." Dr. Wellwood Murray, opened Palm Springs' first hotel, called the Palm Springs Hotel, which was located directly across the road from the Indian bathhouse where his guests could take advantage of its warm, curative waters. In 1909, Dr. Harry and Nellie Coffman started a sanitorium, The Desert Inn, which served those afflicted with tuberculosis. The Inn later became a world-renowned resort hotel catering to the very wealthy.