Located on the northwestern edge of the Sonoran Desert, the resort city of Palm Springs is home to a thriving community of retirees, many of whom are second-home owners — but the city has plans to accommodate more working professionals, as well. “We’re maintaining our hospitality and tourism, but the goal is to diversify into industries that support the community year-round,” says Wayne Olsen, Chief Economic Development Officer for the City of Palm Springs. “We have billions of dollars in commercial investment coming to the city, with a significant portion allocated to the airport. We anticipate our employment doubling over the next three years, so we want our airport to accommodate that.” Major employers here presently include the Palm Springs Unified School District and Desert Regional Medical Center, and Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is served by 13 airlines. Most of the city’s residential areas are found on the north side, while the desert dominates the landscape to the south. Palm Springs has been home to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for about 5,000 years, and today, the Agua Caliente is the city’s largest landowner, collecting land-lease fees from homebuyers and running four different casinos. The city has been a tourist destination since the 1920s, when resort hotels promoted its dry heat as a health cure. Starting in the 1930s, though, Hollywood’s “two-hour rule” — which required actors to stay within 120 minutes of Los Angeles during filming — transformed Palm Springs into a celebrity hot spot, ultimately attracting stars like Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra. The city’s Hollywood connections are today honored by the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, which features over 400 “Golden Palm Stars” along Palm Canyon Drive.
Pet-friendly dining and casinos Serving as the heartbeat of Palm Springs’ downtown, Palm Canyon Drive is lined with upscale shops and restaurants like the James Beard award-winning Workshop Kitchen & Bar. Many eateries here have pet-friendly outdoor seating, and consignment and furniture stores cater to the city’s mid century modern aesthetic. Just north of downtown, the Agua Caliente Casino has restaurants of its own and visiting entertainers, while the Palm Springs Art Museum, just west of downtown, features a sculpture garden and live art demonstrations. In the adjacent city of Palm Desert, El Paseo Drive is a popular shopping district that offers a free trolley to ferry shoppers to more than 300 stores, art galleries and pet-friendly dining and casinos.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway — with the world’s largest rotating tram cars — travels more than 2 ½ miles along the cliffs of Chino Canyon, transporting visitors to the pristine setting of the Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness.You begin the 10-minute ride at Valley Station, elevation 2,643 feet, and end at Mountain Station, elevation 8,516 feet. During this journey, tram cars rotate slowly, offering spectacular sights of the Coachella Valley below and close-up views of the rugged canyon.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway — with the world’s largest rotating tram cars — travels more than 2 ½ miles along the cliffs of Chino Canyon, transporting visitors to the pristine setting of the Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness.You begin the 10-minute ride at Valley Station, elevation 2,643 feet, and end at Mountain Station, elevation 8,516 feet. During this journey, tram cars rotate slowly, offering spectacular sights of the Coachella Valley below and close-up views of the rugged canyon.
Palm Springs Surf Club
Waterslides, waves, and a lazy river decorate this destination water park that was recently re-imagined by a few big-name surfers. Luxury, resort-style amenities include private cabanas and daybed loungers, three full bars, and two restaurants serving gourmet eats like wagyu carpaccio, ahi poke, and pork belly bao buns. Check the website for details on special events, night swims, and concerts throughout the year.
1500 S. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs
760-205-3634
Palm Springs Windmill Tours
Learn about turbine technology and snap a selfie with a wind farm backdrop. Explore at your own pace with a self-driving tour or join a guided golf cart excursion. Palm Springs Life readers named this one of the area’s best tours in the magazine’s 2023 readers’ choice Best of the Best competition.
62950 20th Ave., Palm springs
800-531-5834
Palm Springs Air Museum
You can’t help but stand in awe when you walk through the 91,000 square feet of climate-controlled hangars at Palm Springs Air Museum, home to more than 75 aircraft from World War II and the Korean, Vietnam, and Cold wars. The latest additions include a B-29 cockpit nose, Walt Disney’s Grumman 1, and the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter that flew during Operation Allied Force. Memorabilia, an expansive library, and interactive displays, including flight simulators, round out the experience. Plus, there’s a children’s area with airplane and helicopter cockpits to explore. Volunteer docents are available to answer any questions. Some share stories from their experiences during museum lecture events, which supplement annual programming such as the Props & Hops Craft Beer Festival and the Memorial Day Air Fair & Flower Drop.
Care to experience one of these planes firsthand? Warbird rides start at $195.
745 N. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs
760-778-6262
Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs
Open 24 hours, the downtown casino features slots, table games, and high-limit gaming along with a sports bar and a steakhouse. Evenings heat up on the dance floor at Cascade Lounge, known for dance music on Fridays and Saturdays, Latin beats on Sundays, and nostalgic melodies on Thursdays. Stand-up comedy shows pop up throughout the year, and Eagle 106.9 FM hosts a weekly bingo night on Wednesdays.
401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs
888-999-1995