America's Desert Playground
Things to Do in Palm Springs
Palm Springs has been called “America’s Desert Playground” and a haven for some of California’s biggest and brightest stars. Palm Springs offers visitor’s miles of palm-lined streets, beautiful canyons, desert flora, cascading waterfalls, and even big horn sheep.
In the heart of the California Desert, Palm Springs proper is a mixture of rich heritage that’s steeped in Indian, Western and Mexican cultures coupled with modern sophistication and a world-class business district. It as also been referred to as one of the golf capitals of the world, with over 100 championship courses.
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Year-Round Activities
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is great for visitors looking for some spectacular views and sight seeing. It is a wonder of multiple ecosystems, traveling from the desert floor all the way to the top of snow-capped mountains. Keep in mind that if you happen to be afraid of heights this might not be the ride for you.
Palm Springs is a popular bustling city that is alive with several historic sites and festivals, trendy antique shops, unique boutiques and excellent restaurants. The majestic Mt. San Jacinto towers behind the city and offers visitors a chance to hike, bike and horseback ride through many picturesque trails and scenic routes. Palm Springs is sunny nearly 350-360 days a year, making it the perfect setting for days of play.
Horseback Riding and Hiking
Coyote Ridge Stable is a great place for the entire family and offers horseback riding for all levels from beginners to professionals. They also have horse shows for those that just like to watch the horses in action. It has been in business for over 15 years and is owned and operated by Sue Lund and Sally Ellis, who along with several of their horses volunteer their time with the S an Bernardino County Sheriff’s Mounted Search and Rescue. With such deep knowledge of the area, they have excellent guided trail rides that take you through the canyons of Morongo Valley. Their picturesque views of the San Gorgonio Mountains and Mount San Jacinto will captivate you. The 3200 ft. elevation of the mountain terrain gives you multiple opportunities to see some of the abundant wildlife and plant species along the way. You could catch a glimpse of golden eagles, red-tailed hawks and kestrels flying high above. You might even see some coyote pups wrestling as they play together and hear covies of Gambel’s quail chirping while they hide under the cover of creosote bushes. All rides are accompanied by a professional rider and at times are offered at a special discounted rate.
Exotic Car Shows and Auctions
In 1981, United Kingdom native Keith McCormick was a successful entrepreneur dreaming about living in Palm Springs so he could devote his time to his family and his intimate passion for exotic cars. He soon turned dream into reality, and in 1985 McCormick hosted his first Palm Springs exotic car auction. Today, the Palm Springs Exotic Car Auction is a tradition that has become world famous. His dedication has produced one of the most respected, prestigious and successful car auctions in America. His showroom is full of classic, vintage and modern day cars that are all privately owned. There are so many awesome vehicles here that every member of the family will find something to amaze them. Never before have there been so many cool cars in one place at one time. Of, course all cars have a hands off policy, so no one is allowed to touch them without permission from the owner.
Sportfishing and Whale Watching
Whale watching in the desert? Not quite, but close by. Just a short 90-minute jaunt from Palm Springs is Newport Landing. Here you will discover some of the greatest whale watching and sportfishing in the world. The fishing trips are offered off the Laguna Beach coastline, Catalina Island and in several other destinations. You can catch many types of fish including yellowtail, white sea bass, halibut, red snapper, and lots of others. In fact, catching hundreds of fish in just one of these trips in not uncommon. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see giant blue whales, grey whales and several others. You’ll even come across dolphins and seals that can be seen swimming along as they try to catch a meal. -
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