The Palm Springs area has long been a playground for the celebrity elite. In the 1920s Al Capone opened the Two Bunch Palms Hotel in Desert Hot Springs (with multiple tunnels to help him avoid the police); Marilyn Monroe was discovered poolside in the late 1940s at a downtown Palm Springs tennis club; Elvis and Priscilla Presley honeymooned here—the list goes on.
Over the years the desert arts scene has blossomed as spectacularly as the wildflowers of Anza-Borrego. Downtown Palm Springs is laden with urban-chic contemporary artwork (check out the Backstreet Arts District), but the surrounding rural areas are also artist enclaves: Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Pioneertown, and Twentynine Palms all have noteworthy galleries, art installations, and natural scenic views. Each April attention centers on Indio, where the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, California’s largest outdoor concert, culls droves of Angelenos, and music lovers from all over the world.
Things to Do
Things to Do
Explore Things to Do
Where to Stay
Where to Stay
Hotels by
Where to Eat
Where to Eat
Restaurants by
Find the best food tours and activities in Palm Springs and the Desert Resorts.
Things to Know
Things to Know
Nearby Airports
PSPNeighborhood Guides
Discover the best neighborhoods in Palm Springs and the Desert Resorts with curated recommendations from our editors.
When to Go
Desert weather is best between January and April, the height of the visitor season. The fall months are nearly as lovely, but less crowded and...Read More
transportation
essentials
resources
Articles
Articles See All
This Art Exhibit Takes Up 45 Miles of the California Desert
Explosion of Wildflowers Happening in Southern California’s Deserts
Design Lover’s Guide to Palm Springs
These 9 Palm Springs Haunts Will Make You Feel Like You’re Frank Sinatra
