PALM SPRINGS
MIDCENTURY MAGIC
Vibrant and colourful, rich with old Hollywood glamour and mid-century modern design, Palm Springs is a celebrated international tourist destination. Its laid-back vibe and year-round perfect weather have enticed visitors since the 1920s, when it was first popularized as a playground for Hollywood's famous faces.
Celebrities past and present, such as Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Bob Hope, Barry Manilow, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and former mayor Sonny Bono, have all called Palm Springs home. Their enduring legacy is etched not only in the city's history but quite literally on its sidewalks. More than 450 current and former residents have been honoured with a Golden Palm Star embedded in the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.
Palm Springs is also known for its significant architectural history, particularly its contribution to mid-century modern design, celebrated annually during Modernism Week. The coveted split-level homes of the 1950s and '60s, dotted throughout Palm Springs, showcase signature features like asymmetrical lines, floor-to-ceiling windows, vibrant colour palettes, manicured lawns, and sparkling pools. Contemporary condos, Mediterranean cottages, and Spanish villas are also common here, adding to the city’s reputation of sophisticated, laid-back style. Homebuyers looking to invest in Palm Springs can expect to pay an average of $760,000 for a single-family home.
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Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the city is famous for its art scene, fine dining, eclectic shopping, and endless entertainment options. It's a welcoming vacation spot for members of the LGBTQ community, and for young travelers looking for "good vibes only!"
At the heart of Palm Springs is Palm Canyon Drive, which extends through Downtown Palm Springs and its trendy restaurants, elegant boutiques, and art galleries; and the Palm Springs Uptown Design District, popular for its vintage stores, antique shops, and eclectic home furnishing showrooms.
Alive with activity, Palm Springs is home to many high-profile festivals and events, a first-rate casino, exceptional spa resorts, and prominent air and art museums. There is also an international airport to get you there.
Is Palm Springs on your bucket list?
EXPLORE PALM SPRINGS REAL ESTATE
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ATTRACTIONS
Ascend 8,516 feet above sea level in the world's largest rotating tram car for breathtaking views of the desert valley. This swift 10-minute, two-and-a-half-mile journey to the summit of Mount San Jacinto State Park brings adventure seekers to countless hiking trails, horseback riding, and, in winter, cross-country skiing.
History comes alive at the Palm Springs Air Museum, home to one of the world’s largest collections of static & flyable warplanes. More than 50 vintage and iconic aircraft are on full display in this barrier-free space that allows visitors to interact with the exhibits and get an up-close look at the legendary fighters, bombers, and trainers that flew in WWII and the Vietnam and Korean Wars.
Spread over multiple locations, the Palm Springs Art Museum is the largest cultural institution in the Coachella Valley. The main museum features a rotating collection of contemporary art, a vast permanent collection, two outdoor sculpture gardens, and the Annenberg Theater. Five blocks away, the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture & Design Center at the Edwards Harris Pavilion showcases exhibits of provocative architecture and design.
Every Thursday evening, Palm Canyon Drive, between Alejo and Ramon Road in downtown Palm Springs, closes to traffic and transforms into a lively, pedestrian street fair of local vendors, market stalls, artists, entertainers, and food trucks. It’s an essential Palm Springs experience, and it’s free!
The sidewalks of Palm Canyon Drive are engraved with more than 450 Golden Palm Stars that celebrate the extraordinary entertainers, humanitarians, civic leaders, artists, authors, and sports legends who have contributed to the city’s character and fame. Honourees include: Al Jolson, Shirley Temple, Clark Gable, Ginger Rogers, Arnold Palmer, Elizabeth Taylor, Truman Capote, and Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford.
Feeling lucky? Experience the hottest entertainment, slots, table games, and high-limit gaming every night of the week at the Agua Caliente Casino in downtown Palm Springs. The 24-hour, 30,000 sq ft casino boasts award-winning fine dining at The Steakhouse and live music and dancing at the Cascade Lounge.
A privately-owned arboretum, or cactarium, as coined by the Moortens themselves, the Moorten Botanical Garden features a rare collection of more than 3,000 varieties of desert trees, cacti, and succulents from around the world in concentrated habitats of real terrain. Be sure to stop by the garden nursery to purchase your own desert treasure.
RESTAURANTS
621 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Located in the historic Cary Grant estate, Copley’s serves contemporary American dishes with hints of tropical and European flavours. Consistently rated among the top restaurants in the Valley by Zagat’s and the New York Times, this sophisticated yet welcoming restaurant is the perfect spot for a romantic night out.
233 E Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Be transported to a bygone era when jazz standards, martinis, and steak ruled the day. Mr. Lyons feels like an old-school steakhouse with a modern twist. Here, the steak is king. Prime cuts are accompanied by thoughtful sides, an impressive wine list, and impeccable service
235 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs
Hidden in the Fisherman’s Market restaurant complex, Shanghai Red’s serves up an abundant array of fresh fish and seafood, grilled steaks, pasta, and their notorious Baja fish taco famously reviewed by Anthony Bourdain. Join the locals for live Blues, Thursday through Sunday on the courtyard patio.
401 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs
Nothing beats a New York-style deli. Stacked pastrami sandwiches, matzo ball soup, chopped liver, and blintzes. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Sherman’s is always packed with happy customers eating in or taking out from their impressive menu and bakery case, filled with showstopping desserts.
330 E Amado Road, Palm Springs
A vibrant, tropical oasis, The Tropicale is a Palm Springs landmark known for its island cocktails and eclectic menu with unique offerings like Southern fried chicken salad, the pupu platter, and Kahlua-barbecued pork chops. The outdoor bar and spacious open-air patio, complete with twinkling lights and cozy fire pits, are the ideal place to mingle with friends old and new.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
More than a week, this 11-day celebration of midcentury modern architecture, art, interior design, fashion, and culture is a highlight of the Palm Springs social calendar. Boasting 350 events throughout the Greater Palm Springs Area, 120,000 attendees enjoy tours of iconic homes, films, lectures, exhibitions, nightly parties, and the Palm Springs Modernism Show. A four-day, mini-Modernism Week is also held every October.
Every January, the Palm Springs International Film Society rolls out the red carpet for the world’s biggest stars. Showcasing a diverse selection of the best international cinema, the Palm Springs International Film Festival celebrates exceptional films and filmmakers, many on the road to an Academy Award win. In addition to film screenings and the Awards Gala, the Festival hosts a variety of panel discussions, interactive events, and parties.
Long regarded as a top LGBTQ+ friendly destination, it’s no wonder Palm Springs is home to its own unique, three-day pride celebration. Palm Canyon Drive and Arenas Road transform into a vibrant festival of live music and entertainment, parties, food, a large vendor marketplace, and of course, the parade.
A three-day poolside music festival held two weekends in August, Splash House is a must-attend event for fans of dance and electronic music and frolicking in floatie-filled pools. The pool parties are held at The Saguaro, Riviera Resort & Spa Palm Springs, and Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel. The after-hours parties are at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
The city’s signature holiday event, the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade is a unique evening parade of twinkling lights, spectacular floats, marching bands, huge Macy’s-style balloons, and everyone’s favourite Snowbird, Santa Claus. The parade is broadcast live every year on NBC Palm Springs.
An annual cycling event of 10,000 riders and walkers, the Tour de Palm Springs has raised over $4,000,000 for more than 150 local nonprofit organizations in the Coachella Valley since 1999.
GOLF COURSES
1097 East Murray Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
North Course: Holes: 18 | Par: 72 | Style: Traditional | Rating: 73.1 | Slope: 128 | Yardage: 6,943 | Greens: Bermuda/Rye Grass | Architect: William F. Bell
South Course: Holes: 18 | Par: 72 | Rating: 70.4 | Slope: 118 | Yardage: 6,582 | Greens: Bermuda/Rye Grass | Architect: Casey O'Callahan
1885 Golf Club Drive, Palm Springs
Resort Course: Holes: 18 | Par: 72 | Style: Links | Rating: 71.3 | Slope: 124 | Yardage: 6,705 | Architect: Ted Robinson
Legend Course: Holes: 18 | Par: 71 | Rating: 72.4 | Slope: 125 | Yardage: 6,815 | Architect: William F. Bell
1100 Clubhouse View Drive, Palm Springs
Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Escena Golf Course: Holes: 18 | Par: 72 | Rating: 74.3 | Slope: 131 | Yardage: 7,173 | Greens: Tifdwarf Bermuda Grass
1 Desert Lakes Drive, Palm Springs
Architect: Ted Robinson
Seven Lakes Golf Course: Holes: 18 | Par: 58 | Style: Executive | Rating: 54.2 | Slope: 78 | Yardage: 2,712 | Greens: Bent Grass
