Greater Palm Springs has always been a hotbed of creativity. Here, midcentury homes dot the hillsides, local art galleries host fascinating exhibitions, and boutiques stock the very best in designers and retro pieces. In fact, this creative buzz is what’s attracted the free-spirited to this destination for decades! Certainly, the well-trodden path of the city’s best-loved architectural monuments and museums won’t disappoint, but what if you’re looking to dig a little deeper into what makes Palm Springs special?

Unearth Hidden Gems in Greater Palm Springs

Beyond the midcentury landmarks and mountain views, Palm Springs hides some fascinating cultural enclaves. In Desert Hot Springs, Cabot’s Pueblo Museum is a hand-built, four-story adobe structure created by homesteader Cabot Yerxa. It’s an eccentric labor of love filled with artefacts and desert lore, offering a glimpse into the area’s pioneering spirit. Keeping with the desert magic theme, try the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium. This family-run desert garden showcases an extraordinary collection of rare cacti and succulents. Its petite glasshouse, the “cactarium,” is an otherworldly, Instagram-worthy stop.

The Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum, is a striking open-air installation sprawling across ten acres in Joshua Tree. Constructed almost entirely from found objects, the large-scale sculptures transform scrap into social commentary, blurring the line between junkyard and gallery.

Unexpected Icons and Offbeat Sights

Beyond the pools and palm trees, Greater Palm Springs is full of eccentric detours that surprise even seasoned visitors! History buffs can step inside the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway, a midcentury gem frozen in time, or explore Ruddy’s General Store Museum, stocked wall-to-wall with original 1930s packaging. In La Quinta, Marvyn’s Magic Theater delivers unforgettable nights with shows that combine magic, comedy, hypnosis, and surprise guest acts! For something super iconic, the Cabazon Dinosaurs are a popular pilgrimage for fans of offbeat, roadside attractions.  

In Joshua Tree, the World Famous Crochet Museum sits inside a lime-green photo-processing booth behind downtown storefronts—open 24/7 and packed with everything crochet, from smiley faces to stuffed animals. Nearby in Pioneertown, what began as a 1940s Western movie set has become a dusty-cool destination for quirky shops and live music at Pappy & Harriet’s. 

Dining Outside of the Box

Eating out in Palm Springs often comes with a twist, and nowhere is that truer than at PS Air Bar. Styled after a vintage Pan Am jetliner, complete with airline seats and trolley service, this bar is a nostalgic nod to the golden age of travel without ever leaving the ground!

Or, for a more involved dining experience, PS Underground stages themed dinners that mix theatre and live music. At each event, there’s a surprise, and the thrill lies in the unexpected! For a more laid-back atmosphere, head to the King’s Highway Diner. Set in a converted diner at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, its retro interiors and inventive dishes make it a favorite for those who enjoy a little character with their breakfast or late-night snack.

Palm Springs may be famed for its architecture and desert landscapes, but it’s the unexpected that reveals the source of the city’s creative spark. For more unique things to do in Greater Palm Springs, check out more dining options, places to stay, and local attractions.