Located just east of Los Angeles, the desert region of Coachella Valley is a unique and beautiful destination that offers something for everyone, from outdoor enthusiasts to those seeking relaxation and culture.
While Palm Springs is one of the more popular locations within Coachella Valley, there are plenty of other activities and attractions within the area that cater to every type of traveler.
As a Southern California local who frequents this stunning area, here are some of my favorite places to explore and things to do.
Downtown Palm Springs
Palm Springs is probably the most popular destination in this region, housing some of the best resorts, restaurants, and golf courses in southern California. It’s also a perfect weekend getaway trip for LA residents looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
A stroll through downtown is a great way to kick off any visit to this area, and you’ll find a lot of cool thrift and antique stores as well as collectible items like cigars or crystals to bring back as a souvenir.
Uptown Design District
Head uptown to find a more retro vibe that matches the charming energy of this desert oasis. If you like mid-century modern this is the district for you, with dozens of stores adorned in high end furnishings.
This area also has some of the trendiest restaurants in the area, with Birba being my favorite on any list. With farm-to-table fare and a stunning outdoor patio it’s the perfect place to sink in with an aperol spritz after a day of shopping.
Indian Springs Neighborhood
A walk around this neighborhood is a photographer’s dream, and you’ll find yourself fully immersed in the cute houses and palm tree lined streets. It’s a great place to get a feel for the area or snap a few instagram shots.
Kreem
You really can’t go wrong with any of the ice cream shops in Palm Springs, but Kreem is one of my favorite stops when visiting. The shop offers vegan versions of almost all of the flavors and also has an incredible cold brew flavor that makes it acceptable to eat ice cream for breakfast, which I highly recommend.
Palm Springs Walk Of Stars
Hollywood isn’t the only place with a celebrity walk like this, as the Palm Springs Walk Of Stars features over 400 “golden palm stars” bearing the names of notable locals and celebrities.
It’s a fun way to walk through town (especially if you’ve got your icecream in hand). This is a must do if you are planning a day trip to Palm Springs and have a limited amount of time.
Aerial Tram
This rotating tram car is the largest of it’s kind in the world, and is a fun way to get up above the desert ground and see the entire valley. The views are stunning, and there are several hikes off the top as well as a restaurant with panoramic views that make for a perfect sunset spot. The temperature also drops drastically from this vantage point, so it’s a great escape from the desert heat for an afternoon.
The Pink Cabana
Tucked in the Sands Hotel, this restaurant features Mediterranean and Morrcoon influenced dishes in a chic setting. The pink and green tiled patio is dreamy for brunch, or you can post up in the pink booths for a fun dinner in the stunning indoor room. This spot was a favorite on one of my girls trips to the area and a prime photo op. The food is also fantastic making it a must stop.
Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway
Also known as the House of Tomorrow, you can tour the house in Palm Springs where Elvis honeymooned for four days. The house is well maintained and a cool way to travel back in time and visit a place in music history.
Air Bar
Hidden within a liquor store is an aviation-themed speakeasy that literally feels like you’re inside an airplane. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch one of their fun “In-Flight Entertainment” shows that’s worth catching if you have time.
Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium
This garden houses a stunning collection of exotic desert plants dating back to the 1930s and is a stunning spot for an afternoon picnic or photoshoot.
Cabot’s Pueblo Museum
This museum gives you the chance to visit an old trading post and Hopi inspired pueblo. The grounds are stunning and the museum has done an excellent job preserving the desert habitat.
La Tablita
This laid-back Mexican restaurant is located in a strip mall in Cathedral City but is without a doubt the best Mole in Coachella Valley. The atmosphere is great, and the inside is super cute, with vibrant colors and fun music.
Indian Canyon Golf Resorts
There is no shortage of excellent golf courses in this area, but Indian Canyon is one of the most highly regarded. Formerly a private club, the 36-hole facility is well known among celebrities and was a favorite of Frank Sinatra.
Palm Springs Windmills
As you drive into the valley, you’ll pass over 4,000 windmills that have become a bit of a landmark for the area. A popular photo spot during the Coachella Music Festival, you can actually take a tour of the farm that takes you through the history of the windmills and also gives a fascinating overview of renewable energy as a whole.
Old Town La Quinta
A bit south of Palm Springs, you’ll find the charming town of La Quinta, which boasts some of the best local boutiques in the area. You won’t see a chain in sight here, and it’s a great place to do some shopping for homemade goods and local trinkets that you can’t find elsewhere.
Joshua Tree National Park
Less than an hour away from Palm Springs, you can access one of my absolute favorite national parks. While I recommend you spend at least a full weekend exploring the park, it’s worth a trip even if you only have an afternoon. Most of the park’s main attractions are closer to the northwest entrance, with dozens of easy-going hikes amidst the rolling boulders and mystical yuccas.
Keys View
This vantage point within the park is a truly magical place to watch the sunset over the mountains and valley. Bring a picnic and enjoy the panoramic views. If you’re lucky enough to come during a full moon, you can enjoy the stunning drive out under the stars with the tress silhouetted under the night sky.
Giant Rock
If you’re feeling the sacred energy, then you absolutely have to check out Giant Rock, which is said to be the largest free-standing boulder in the world at roughly seven stories high. The rock has been a spiritual site for Native Americans for years, but has gained recent fame for it’s alleged Alien sightings. It’s a popular gathering spot for UFO believers and has a truly wild history.
Pioneertown
Just outside of Joshua Tree is the quaint Pioneertown, originally built by a group of Hollywood investors set on making a living movie set in the desert. It really does feel like an old western movie, complete with saloons, stables, and motels. It’s far from an abandoned set, though, and you can spend an entire afternoon just strolling the main street and popping into the shops and galleries.
Poppy & Harriets
My favorite spot in Pioneertown, this BBQ joint doubles as a live music venue and has hosted great musicians like The Arctic Monkeys and Band of Horses. Check the linup as there are always fantastic artists coming through here from small names to some of the legends. During Stagecoach Festival in particular you may find some surprise artists popping into this iconic venue.
Painted Canyon Trail
Few people know that California actually has slot canyons that rival those of Utah, found just under an hour from Palm Springs.
The Painted Canyon Trail is a fun intermediate day hike that takes you through a labyrinth of slot canyons via ladders until you reach a stunning 360-degree view of the valley. There are also a few other hikes from this trailhead if you’re not up for the ladders but still want a fun day hike! The best part of this trail is that the slots provide some great shade from the desert sun.
Salton Sea
Just south of Palm Springs lies one of the most interesting areas in the region, the Salton Sea. Formerly a resort town for Hollywood celebrities in the 1950s, rising sea levels sadly killed off the fish population and left the area an abandoned ghost town.
While you won’t find people vacationing here anymore, it’s become a unique crossroad for hippies and artists. It’s worth a trip just to imagine what used to be. Photographers, look no further than this area for some of the most unique landscapes and art installations you’ll come across anywhere.
Bombay Beach
The former hub of tourism at the sea, this desolate beach community is just under 400 people now and feels like a true ghost town. It’s a bit eerie to walk around as it’s literally a shell of what it once was, but you will also stumble upon some very weird but cool spots. Along the beach itself, you’ll come across many interesting abandoned things like a pirate ship made out of driftwood or the giant metal cube that feels out of a sci-fi movie.
There is also a giant airplane exhibit on the beach that was one a burning man exhibit but now resides on the beach permanently. The rest of the town carries out this artistic beat and If you can lean into the vibe and embrace it you’ll find yourself occupied for an entire day by all of the oddities hidden within the area.
Ski Inn
The only bar in town and an absolute must on your tour of Bombay Beach. It will give you a sense of what the beach town was like during the ’50s and also has some pretty solid cheap drinks and food.
Strike up a conversation with one of the bartenders or locals, who are really the best insight to this ever-changing area. Many artists are also moving to the area to work on longer installations and can be found mingling at the bar from time to time.
Bombay Drive Inn
This art exhibit was the coolest stop we made when visiting, boasting rows and rows of vintage cars lined up as if ready to see an old Hollywood blockbuster. It almost feels like you’re walking through a junkyard, but it really is an eclectic art exhibition, with many of the cards decorated with quotes or interesting paint.
The entire place is a testament to the artists who have transformed the deserted beach town into a vibrant destination.
The Polaroid Museum
Originally created for the Biennale Festival, an immersive art fest that takes over the area one weekend each year, this exhibit now resides permanently in the town. It looked closed when we visited (it is unclear if there are real operating hours), but the door was open, so we decided to check it out anyway. Inside, it feels like a 1960s motor home with interesting Polaroids strung up around the interior.
Bombay Beach Estates
On the corner of 5th Street, you’ll find a row of abandoned houses that people call the Bombay Beach Estates. They’re constantly changing as people continue to graffiti the outsides and fill the properties with quirky installations. My favorite was the “Bombay Opera House,” where someone painted the bright blue walls and placed a cardboard piano at the center.
Salvation Mountain
Just outside of Bombay Beach lies the man-made adobe of Salvation Mountain. Originally created by Leonard Knight as a religious tribute, the 50-foot structure is a truly magnificent ode to the theme of Love regardless of your faith. Spend an hour here just walking the labyrinth of decorated walls and installations scattered within the mountain.
For any Jon Krakaeuer fans, you’ll recognize the spot from Into The Wild.
Slab City
Just under a mile away, you’ll find the free community of Slab City, often referred to as “the last free place” by its residents. The isolated desert community was formed by a group of transient people, all living off the grid in old converted school buses, trailers, and tents. Utterly untethered from any power grid or city services, the community has grown to a few thousand people and even named streets and a local library.
There’s an incredible sense of independence here, and speaking with some of the community members will give you a true understanding of the ideologies surrounding this part of the region. It may not be for everyone, but it’s interesting to see the community continue to maintain the free energy while still aiming to build some structure for those living there.