From tram rides to stargazing, here’s how to get to know this one-of-a-kind desert city.

Top 5 Cant Miss

Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Play a round of golf at Escena.

Stagecoach sign from 2024

The Nicklaus Design championship golf course offers gorgeous views of the San Jacinto Mountains towering in the distance.

Take flight at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Spend a night stargazing.

A crowd at a festival during sunset

Take a midcentury modern architecture tour.

Alternatively, it’s possible for you to book aguided tourwith a local operator for a more in-depth experience.

Get inspired at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Palm Springs, a city in the Sonoran Desert of southern California, is known for its hot springs, stylish hotels, golf courses and spas. It’s also noted for its many fine examples of midcentury-modern architecture.

Have a date shake at Hadley Fruit Orchards.

But its thick and perfectly sweet date shakes are what really draw a crowd.

Enjoy, and thank us later.

Wooden post marking points of interest and distance from Palm Springs’s portion of the San Andreas Fault

Get some sun at Sunnylands.

Greet the animals at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.

Head to theLiving Desert Zoo and Gardensto see animals ranging from leopards and rhinos to mongooses and lizards.

The pool area of a mid-century modern house in Palm Springs

Indulge in some retail therapy.

MattGush / Getty Images

In need of some new threads?

Post-pampering, stop by one of the many art galleries and see if anything speaks to you.

The pool area of a mid-century modern house in Palm Springs

Credit:Mariah Tyler / Travel + Leisure

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., you could catch classic cars cruising the avenue.

Visit Moorten Botanical Garden.

Discover the more than 3,000 plant varieties, including spiky cacti and desert-dwelling trees.

View of mountains from the Palm Springs Tram

Mariah Tyler / Travel + Leisure

Drive about 20 minutes from Palm Springs to this quirky roadside attraction on Interstate 10.

In addition to two massive concrete dinos made in the 1960s, theCabazon Dinosaursboast more than 100 colorful figures.

Find your favorite celeb on Palm Springs Walk of the Stars.

Aerial view of Escena Golf course surrounded by mountains

Courtesy of Escena

Count more than 400 names as you stroll, or just hunt down your favorite.

Book an outdoor adventure with Red Jeep Tours.

Explore Tahquitz Canyon.

A air force fighter jet at the Air Museum in Palm springs

Taylor McIntyre / Travel + Leisure

First, stop by the Visitor Center to learn about the areas unique history and culture.

Go for a drive to spot Joshua trees.

Cruise about 45 minutes outside of Palm Springs toJoshua Tree National Park.

Circular stars trails over wind turbines on a hill.

Buena Vista Images / Getty Images

Get behind the wheel at the BMW Performance Center.

Courtesy of BMW Performance Center

Feel the need for speed?

Check out some of the BMW Driving Excursions hosted all over the globe.

Statue of car outside the Palm Springs art museum

Mariah Tyler / Travel + Leisure

Tour fabulous homes during Modernism Week.

One of my favorite events isModernism Week," she said.

Attend the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Hadley Fruit Orchards in Palm Springs

Courtesy of Hadley Fruit Orchards

Party at Palm Springs VillageFest.

Walter Bibikow / Getty Images

Palm Springs loves a good partyso much so that it hosts one weekly.

Cacti in Sunnylands

Mariah Tyler / Travel + Leisure

Rams on a large pile of rocks at the Living Desert Zoo

Mariah Tyler / Travel + Leisure

Aerial view of downtown Palm Springs, California.

MattGush / Getty Images

Closeup of a cactus in Palm Springs

Cavan Images / Getty Images

Left: Close up of legs on large dinosaur statue Right: T-Rex statue among palm trees

Mariah Tyler / Travel + Leisure

A tourist walks along the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California, with granite stars and names of celebrities who once lived in the greater Palm Springs area, including Elvis Presley

Robert Alexander / Getty Images

A red jeep in the mountains during dusk

Mariah Tyler / Travel + Leisure

mountain terrain from hiking trail in Tahquitz Canyon, Palm Springs

Kim Grosz / Getty Images

Wide view of a car going through Joshua Tree

Mariah Tyler / Travel + Leisure

A red BMW going down a track with mountains behind it

Courtesy of BMW Performance Center

A white house with yellow front doors in Palm Springs during Modernism Week

Lisa McDennon Design / Courtesy of Modernism Week

Ruth E. Carter (L) and Angela Bassett (R) attend the 34th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival’s Talking Pictures Screening of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Q&A on January 06, 2023 in Palm Springs, California.

Amy Sussman / Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Society

CA, Palm Springs, Setting up for Villagefest

Walter Bibikow / Getty Images