Whether it’s a romantic getaway or an escape from the city, Greater Palm Springs has hundreds of activities—and hotels—for every budget. Here are three sample itineraries for a three-night, four-day trip with options for outdoor enthusiasts, art lovers and foodies.
**Please note: Rates are subject to change depending on the season and time of booking. These prices represent the average nightly rate for accommodations throughout the year.
Caliente Tropics Resort (Palm Springs), Vagabond Motor Inn (Palm Springs), Palm Canyon Resort (Palm Springs), Desert Oasis-The Mod Pod (Cathedral City)
Arrive, take a guided architecture tour, visit the Palm Springs Art Museum, explore Sunnylands Center and Gardens, dinner at Tac/Quila
Breakfast at Townie Bagels, hike the Murray Hill Trail (free), dinner at John’s Restaurant; OR enjoy a few games of tennis (free courts at DeMuth Park and Ruth Hardy Park), take a self-guided tour to photograph the windmills (free; the best spots are along Indian Canyon Drive and Dillon Road, pictured above) and check out the Palm Springs VillageFest (free)
Explore the Shields Date Garden (free), lunch at The Cafe at Shields, grab food to-go from The Sandwich Spot, take a guided night hike with Friends of the Desert Mountains (free); OR visit Palm Springs Air Museum ($25 per person for adults), lunch at Lulu California Bistro, enjoy live music at Rock Yard at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino (free) and dinner at Twelve
Breakfast at Bit of Country, followed by a stroll through the Moorten Botanical Garden ($7 per person for adults, pictured above)
Saguaro Palm Springs (pictured above), Best Western PLUS Las Brisas Hotel (Palm Springs), Homewood Suites by Hilton La Quinta (La Quinta) and Hampton Inn & Suites (Palm Desert)
Arrive, ride into the sunset with Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tours ($125-300 per person for adults depending on group total), dinner at 4 Saints at the Kimpton Rowan
Coffee at Ernest Coffee, go horseback riding with Smoke Tree Stables (group rides prices start at $60 per person), or head over to Steve's ATV Rentals (starting at $60), cruise along the Pines to Palms Highway (pictured above at sunset), dinner at Del Rey
Breakfast at Wilma and Frieda, learn about the valley's wind turbines with self-driving Palm Springs Windmill Tours ($45-49 per person for adults), visit The Living Desert zoo ($27.95 per person adults, $17.95 for kids), walk through the Backstreet Art District (free on the first Wednesday of the month from 5-8 p.m.), dinner at Melvyn’s
Breakfast at Farm Palm Springs, take a ride up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway ($10 parking, $28.95 per person for tram ticket)
Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs (Palm Springs), La Quinta Resort & Club (La Quinta), The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage (Rancho Mirage), JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa (Palm Desert)
Arrive, catch live entertainment at the McCallum Theatre (prices vary depending on the show), dinner at Rooster and the Pig
Breakfast at Grand Central Palm Springs, shop around Downtown Palm Springs at Mojave Flea Trading Post and other local shops, dinner at Peaks Restaurant; OR speed around on a three-hour racetrack session at BMW Performance Center West at The Thermal Club ($300), dinner at Paul Bar/Food
Day Three:
Breakfast at Cheeky’s, architecture tour with Palm Springs Mod Squad (starting at $75 per person)
There's always something happening in Greater Palm Springs — Continue to explore and make the most of your time in this Southern California oasis with these events.