Palm Springs is a fantastic vacation destination for any traveler who is craving some much-needed sunshine and fun. While Palm Springs is definitely packed with well-known attractions to check out while you’re here, it might end up being the lesser-known experiences that stick out in your mind most when you return home. To that end, the following are 10 hidden gems in Palm Springs for your next vacation when you’re looking for something truly memorable to add to your itinerary.
Moorten Botanical Garden & Cactarium
While the Moorten Botanical Garden is only an acre large, when you visit, you’ll find more than 3,000 species of cacti and desert plants on-site! It’s a destination that’s designed to inspire, whether you’re looking to encounter gold mining relics and fossils or you’re all about rare specimens waiting to be discovered in the greenhouse. Head over to 1701 S Palm Canyons Drive to enjoy time in this beautiful and educational space that you’re not going to want to miss while you’re in town.
Sunnylands Center & Gardens
In nearby Rancho Mirage, you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Sunnyland Center & Gardens at 37977 Bob Hope Drive. Once functioning as the winter estate of media moguls Walter and Leonore Annenberg, Sunnylands is now open to the public and free to tour. When you do, you’ll find you can stroll acre upon acre of gorgeous terrain hosting reflecting pools, desert flora, and rotating art exhibits, too.
Ruddy’s General Store Museum
History buffs heading to Palm Springs searching for a hidden gem to explore won’t want to overlook Ruddy’s General Store Museum. Located at 221 S Palm Canyon Drive, Ruddy’s General Store Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am until 3:30 pm and on Sundays from noon until 3:00 pm. Stepping inside is a chance to step back into the 1930s as you explore a space that hosts everything from vintage packaging and products to an antique cash register, too. Every detail here is original, so don’t be surprised when you end up lingering for longer than you originally planned.
Cabot’s Pueblo Museum
Just 10 miles from the heart of Palm Springs via Palm Drive, those looking for a hidden gem attraction will find it in the form of Cabot’s Pueblo Museum in Desert Hot Springs. This hand-built pueblo is truly fascinating, and tells a story of homestead Cabo Yerxa. The influences are a unique blend of Spanish, Indigenous, and Swiss, making it a one-of-a-kind artistic landmark that really stands out in a crowd.
Palm Springs Walk of Stars
Many visitors heading to Palm Springs on vacation might be surprised to learn that the city has its very own Walk of Stars. Built into Palm Canyon Drive, this stretch of sidewalk honors Palm Springs’ own celebrity lineup with golden palm stars numbering well over 400. The tributes paid here honor everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Frank Sinatra, and are a great backdrop for a memorable photo with family and friends.
Indian Canyons
The landscapes that surround Palm Springs are breathtaking, and when you head to Indian Canyons, every trek is a chance to embrace a new, hidden gem experience. Just minutes from downtown, Indian Canyons is packed with hidden-away waterfalls, scenic hiking trails, and palm-laden oases as well.
PS Air Bar
Palm Springs is a place where you’re never far from an upscale dining opportunity. However, when you’re looking for something quirkier, heading over to PS Air Bar is always a great option. This speakeasy-style bar and restaurant is located at 2080 N Palm Canyon Drive and is built right into a vintage airplane cabin. Wait staff wear flight attendant uniforms, and you’ll settle into your airplane seats to enjoy your themed drinks and fare.
Volkswagen Spider Sculpture
If unique art is what you’re after during your next Palm Springs getaway, you’ll want to take time to check out the Volkswagen spider sculpture while you’re here. Sitting at 6545 Garnet Avenue in nearby Desert Hot Springs, this giant-inspired work of art showcases a full vintage Volkswagen Beetle as its body. It’s an outdoor art installation that you can either drive by or stop at for photos if you want to capture the one-of-a-kind moment at a slower pace.
Take an Architecture Tour
Palm Springs is a city that’s earned a reputation for excellence around its collection of mid-century modern architecture. A fun way to set your sights on some true hidden gems in town is to book an architecture tour with a local company like Palm Springs Mod Squad. Depending on the tour you book, you might even have the opportunity to go inside a few select homes, seeing these accommodations in a brand-new light.
Dine at Boozehounds
If you’re spending time in Palm Springs with your favorite furry friend, dining at Boozehounds is sure to please. Located at 2080 N Palm Canyon Drive, this restaurant is designed specifically to cater to people and pets alike! The space is comfortable and inviting, and in addition to great California fare for people, they have a full dog menu to browse.
Book Your Stay in Palm Springs Today
No matter when travel plans bring you to Palm Springs, Ryson Vacations has the home-away-from-home you need to settle into comfort and style. Reach out today to learn more about our inviting collection of rental properties available, and how we can help you tailor the details of your stay that matter most.
Before you know it, Labor Day will be in full swing once again. This year, you deserve to treat yourself and your traveling crew to an incredible trip to sunny Palm Springs, California! Whether you’re hoping to kick back and relax in style in the comfort of a luxurious rental with a view, or you’re excited to get out and explore all Palm Springs has to offer, finding the idyllic balance is a breeze when this is your holiday destination of choice. Be sure to get an early start to plan your Labor Day weekend in Palm Springs this year by adding the following to your must-experience list.
Count on Great Labor Day Weather in Palm Springs
While the weather in Palm Springs is far from what many might consider “cool” in early September, things are certainly starting to dip slightly compared to mid-summer temperatures across the Coachella Valley. This gives visitors from across the map even more reasons to spend their time out and about exploring and discovering new landmarks over Labor Day weekend. Typically, daily highs in September still break 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Palm Springs, but by evening, you can often count on temperatures dipping down comfortably into the low 70s. This is a great combination for afternoons of swimming and nights out enjoying patio dining across town in luxury and style. Because school is back in session this time of year as well, there’s a good chance your Labor Day getaway to Palm Springs will come with fewer crowds to contend with compared to summertime travel too, when sightseeing is firmly on your holiday itinerary.
Make Time to Visit the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens While You’re Here
If your Labor Day travel plans have you heading to Palm Springs for the weekend with kids in town, you’ll want to make sure to make room on the agenda for time at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Easy to access in nearby Palm Desert, the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a great place to feed your sense of adventure! Open from 8:00 am until noon through September 30, this is a terrific beginning of the day stop to enjoy when morning temperatures are cooler, and the kids are energized to feed giraffes, see unique reptiles, and get up close to amazing flora as well. Whether you spend a short time strolling through or book your place on some behind-the-scenes tours, you’re in for a treat this Labor Day weekend.
Take a Ride Up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Your Labor Day weekend getaway to Palm Springs might not feel entirely complete until you’ve treated yourself to the spectacular views waiting to be enjoyed from a place on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. This rotating car showcases the best of the desert valley from above and it takes just about 10 minutes to get from the base to the Mt. San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness Area overhead. The trip spans 8,516 feet in total, and the pictures you’ll get along the way are priceless. It’s also a wonderful activity to add to your mid-day lineup over Labor Day because temperatures at the top are significantly cooler than they are at the desert floor, often by 30 to 40 degrees! That means you can enjoy some time comfortably, making the most of wildlife watching, restaurant hopping, and museum exploration as well, depending on your preferences. Feel free to book your tickets online ahead of time when you want to make your visit, ride, and experience as easy, convenient, and streamlined as possible over the holiday weekend.
Hike Your Way to Holiday Fun
If you’re an early riser heading to Palm Springs over Labor Day, that same San Jacinto peak that’s featured from the tramway is a must-experience trail when hiking is the activity that gets you in a true vacation state of mind. This trail is known and loved by trekking enthusiasts for its Coachella Valley views as well as the fact that it’s the second-tallest peak in all of Southern California. To access the trailhead, you’ll take the aerial tramway up to the drop-off point, and from here, you’ll need to set aside about six hours of time to complete the 12-mile round-trip hike to the summit. The elevation gains on this trail are impressive, so it’s best suited to experienced hikers who are up for the task of taking on rocky terrain. Just be sure to get a wilderness permit at the ranger’s station before you head out and have plenty of water on hand for the journey. When you reach the top, your Labor Day reward comes in the form of unsurpassed panoramic views that might just end up being the true highlight of your Palm Springs stay.
Book Your Labor Day Weekend in Palm Springs Today
When adventure, fun, and Southern California sunshine call you to Palm Springs this Labor Day, be sure to book incredible accommodations through the team at Ryson Vacations. Reach out to learn more about our many customized options that keep you close to the places you’re excited to explore while living in style and luxury every day of your getaway. We can’t wait to see you in Palm Springs soon!
When you have the opportunity to add a trip to scenic and sunny Palm Springs to your calendar, you’ll always have a lot to look forward to enjoying. Home to an array of exciting and popular attractions and activities to include on your vacation itinerary in every season, there’s never any shortage of options for creating a stay here you won’t soon forget. While trips up the aerial tramway top many visitors’ to-do lists and a visit here might not feel complete without a hike through Indian Canyons or time on a mid-century modern architecture tour, Palm Springs is also home to some hidden gems well worth including in the lineup. The following are just some of the many unique Palm Springs activities and attractions you might not typically think to try when travel plans bring you to California.
Check Out Market Market While You’re in Town
South Palm Canyon Drive is a great place to indulge in some well-deserved retail therapy whenever you find yourself enjoying time away in Palm Springs. While this stretch of road is packed with incredible storefronts to explore, one that you might initially overlook but certainly shouldn’t is Market Market. So nice they named it twice, Market Market is located at 1555 S Palm Canyon Drive, and is a one-of-a-kind vintage apparel, art, home goods, and furniture emporium in the heart of the Plaza Del Sol Shopping Center. In total, Market Market boasts over 40,000 square feet of display space and if you’re willing to treasure hunt your way through the impressive collection of vintage goods on-site, there’s a good chance you’re going to find that one-of-a-kind hidden gem within it all.
Market Market inhabits a former SteinMart grocery store space but when you drop in, you’ll quickly discover there’s no remnant left of the grocery store that once was. Instead, this back-of-the-shopping-center destination offers up a place where dozens of vendor installations are scattered across the massive amounts of square footage, showcasing unique, inspiring, and sometimes mind-bending exhibits and products for sale. Somewhere between an art gallery and an antique mall, Market Market is a place where it’s certainly easy to linger for longer than you originally planned. Market Market is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm. Making a stop here even more appealing is the fact that if you’re traveling to Palm Springs with your favorite canine companion in tow, they’re more than welcome to join you in your shopping adventure! This one-of-a-kind shop even houses a full kids’ vintage section, making it a great addition to a family-friendly trip to Palm Springs as well.
Find Time to Visit Plant This in Palm Springs
If you find yourself over by 693 E. Sunny Dunes Road during your next Palm Springs getaway, an unexpectedly wonderful stop to check out is a place called Plant This. Much as the name might indicate, Plant This is all about greenery and specifically functions as a shop fully dedicated to cacti plants! Here, you’re invited to stroll through and admire cactus plants and succulents in abundance that showcase the beauty of the natural surroundings you’re bound to enjoy every time you make your way to Palm Springs, California. The mission of Plant This is clear, with the on-site team working to promote desert plant propagation at its best and get visitors excited about the drought-resistant plant possibilities featured right on-site. While the team here offers locals a one-stop resource for greenspace enhancements at their home, out-of-towners will find just as much to enjoy by window-shopping their way through a stay, or picking up pots and cactus-inspired art for gardens back home. This locally owned and operated desert plant shop supports the work of many local artisans and is open to the public Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm as well as Sundays from noon until 6:00 pm.
Treat Yourself to a Delicious Moment at Townie Café & Bakery
Palm Springs is a city that’s long been adorned with a plethora of high-end restaurants to enjoy, but sometimes, it’s the most unassuming storefronts here that host the most delicious moments of them all. That’s where Townie Café & Bakery comes in. Located at 650 E. Sunny Dunes Road, Townie Café & Bakery sits in a nostalgic mid-century modern building and is open Wednesday through Monday from 6:30 am until noon. Finding time to add a stop here into your itinerary is a great option when you find yourself in the mood for world-class boiled bagels, homemade muffins, or a hot cup of coffee served up in a welcoming and off-the-beaten-path setting. It’s a place to linger in good company, and there are no added frills to the experience. Simply come as you are, bring your appetite, and enjoy a delicious moment that’s well-deserved in Palm Springs.
Book Your Stay in Palm Springs Today
When you want to elevate your next Palm Springs stay in comfort, luxury, and style, Ryson Vacations is here to help make it happen. Reach out today to learn more about our exciting portfolio of property options available across the city and how we can help you make it a trip to remember!