Palm Springs Area | Southern California

Located within the Colorado Desert at the western edge of the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs Area features 350 days of sunshine each year and moderate temperature from October to April. In summer, a daytime temperature may rise up to 120°F, though evenings are cool on average at 70°F.

The area is located within a few hours of driving from major cities, roughly 55 miles east of San Bernardino, 107 miles east of Los Angeles, and 123 miles northeast of San Diego. Palm Springs Area knows also as Greater Palm Springs includes Indio, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Coachella, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, and Indian Wells.

The first known people of the Palm Springs area were the Cahuilla tribes who lived here as far back as 2,000 years ago. In 1823 Mexican explorers, who were looking for a northern route through California, recorded the existence of this isolated oasis and native people living there.

The first European who settled in the area in 1862 was a stagecoach station operator Jack Summers. Slowly growing, Palm Springs became a resort city in the 1900s. Many hotels were constructed during this time including Desert Inn in 1909, El Mirador in 1927, and Hotel Del Tahquitz in 1929. Over the years Palm Springs became a prime destination for tourism as well as residency for many people.

Since the mid-1900s the Palm Springs Resort Area is a hideaway for celebrity elite, artists, politicians, and athletes. In the 1920s, Al Capone opened Two Bunch Palms Hotel in Desert Hot Springs. In the 1940s, Marilyn Monroe was seen in the Palm Spring tennis club. Elvis and Priscilla Presley stayed in Palm Springs during their honeymoon in 1966. Barack and Michelle Obama enjoy vacationing in their Palm Springs house.

The population of the city of Palm Springs is 48,375 people (2018 census data). However, the city's population triples from the end of fall to the beginning of spring. There are over 130 hotels and resorts of various styles and prices, over 100 cafes, restaurants, and other dining establishments.

There are a variety of activities available in the Palm Springs area. A lot of prime locations in the mountain and desert terrains are available for hiking and horseback riding. Swimming, biking, tennis, and golf are also common past times.

Palm Springs is also a favorite destination for art and architecture lovers. The city is well-known for its mid-century modern architecture which is characterized by open floor plans and ample windows. The concept of this architecture style is space open to the light and sky, enclosed by a building. Many examples of Palm Springs mid-century modern architecture include Palm Springs City Hall, Del Marcos Motel, City National Bank (currently Bank of America), Palm Springs Tennis Club, Oasis Hotel, and many more.

Palm Springs hosts a variety of events for movie lovers including the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January and Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films in June. Other festivals are the festival of the Native Film and Culture, The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival, and The Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival.

Listing all of the possibilities for visitors in Palm Springs requires a thick guide, not a short article. Museums, art galleries, cultural events, the beauty of Southern California nature, gourmet meals of a variety of cuisines, and healing hot springs. Your options for recreational activities are limitless in Palm Springs.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is one of the most significant attractions. This is the world’s largest rotating aerial tramway which will take you from the bottom of the Coachella Valley almost to the top of nearby San Jacinto Peak. The Tramway Valley Station (elevation 2,643 ft) is located about 7 miles west of the city.

Address: 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA
Phone: 888-515-8726
pstramway.com

The ride by the aerial tramway to the Mountain Station (elevation 8,516 ft) takes about 10 minutes offering visitors a chance to enjoy picturesque bird's-flight views of the valley, town, and surrounding mountains.

On the top of the Aerial Tramway route, the Mount San Jacinto State Park offers a great outdoor adventure with miles of trails for hiking in the Long Valley. For day hikes or camping, fill out a free Wilderness Permit and find out current trail conditions at the Ranger Station. In winter, the park is covered by a few feet of snow. Skiing and sledding are available.

There are a restaurant, bar, gift shop, and visitor center in the Mountain Station.

Sweaters and jackets are recommended even in summers. Use sun protection (sunscreen and glasses) on higher altitudes.

Desert Hot Springs

Desert Hot Springs is a town located 12 miles northeast of Palm Springs also known as "Spa City" offering a wide range of accommodations from exclusive luxury resorts to retro-motels with access to mineral pools and hot tubs.