Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, formerly known as the Living Desert Museum, is a zoo and botanical garden in Palm Desert. The park highlights desert animals from around the world, especially North America and Africa. Highlights include the Mexican wolf, eagles, giraffe, zebras, camels, and more. The park’s garden section features cactus, a butterfly garden, and a palm oasis area, among other plantings. The best time to see the animals is in the morning, when the animals are often at their most active as it is the coolest time of day. The zoo can be quite hot, especially in the summer, so plan ahead, wear sunscreen, and drink plenty of water.
Palm Desert Aquatic Center is a popular water park in Palm Desert that is open all year round for family-friendly water fun any time of year. The facility includes three swimming pools, a number of water slides, diving boards, and several play features specially built to cater to visitors of all ages. The property spans 8 acres, providing plenty of room for water fun. For those who are looking for a special event venue, the property is available for rental. They also offer a number of exercise classes both in the water and on land, perfect for those who like to stay fit during their vacation.
The Palm Springs Art Museum is a regional museum focused on art and natural science. It is also used as a performing arts venue. The museum was founded as a museum about the desert, but has since transformed into a real forerunner in the area of the arts. The collection is especially strong in the areas of west coast art, Native American art, international modern and contemporary painting and sculpture, classic Western American art, and contemporary and studio art glass. The museum offers docent guided tours for free with museum admission. They also offer special in-depth tours for certain events and exhibitions.
The Palms to Pines Scenic Byway is a scenic drive that follows Highways 74 and 243 from just south of Palm Desert on one end to Banning Pass on the other. The byway was designated as a scenic byway because of the great amount and variety of scenery that you can encounter on the drive. It travels from scenic forests through the California desert and up into snow-peaked mountains. This degree of contrast in environments is rare in such a short distance. There are few services along the road and it is quite windy, but the scenery is certainly worth it.
The San Andreas Fault is one of the most famous fault lines in the world. It crosses approximately 1,200 km through the state of California, marking the boundary between the North American and Pacific tectonic plates. Many tourists who come to the state want to see the famous fault. Visiting the fault can be somewhat underwhelming as it is not the massive crack in the Earth that many people envision. In fact, due to the long time period since the last earthquake, it can be quite hard to make out. Many sections of the fault reside in public land and it’s possible to access much of it. If you’d like to visit with a geologist or naturalist, check with local nature centers and parks as many offer day trips.
To the untrained eye, Smiler’s Point appears to be nothing more than a simple curve in California’s State Route 74. The curve has become a pilgrimage site of sorts for film fans who have given it the name Smiler’s Point. In the 1963 hit film It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, a reckless driver named Smiler Grogan plummets to his death over the cliff from this point in the highway. It is considered an incredibly influential film by film fans and has a major fan base among film enthusiasts even today. There are no walking paths where you can see the point on foot; instead, it is typically enjoyed by cruising by at a slow speed.
Tallgrass Hiking and Tours is a tour company operating tours in the Greater Palm Springs Area. The company has been leading hiking tours as well as custom mini-coach and luxury bus tours in the area for more than 15 years. Tour destinations range from the agricultural area in the east valley down to the Salton Sea as well as select destinations in Los Angeles, Riverside, the San Gorgonio Pass, and Redlands. Hiking destinations include the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, and more. Each and every tour is led by a professional guide, who will guide you in an enjoyable and informative experience.
Fix on El Paseo is a rustic but chic coffeehouse with a full bar that serves pastries, desserts, breakfast, and lunch, all made in house. Stop by on your way to the other attractions on our list for a breakfast of oatmeal brulee with fruit or a breakfast burrito. For those looking for a tasty lunch spot while they are out exploring, Fix serves tapas, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, and lunch crepes. Alternatively, just stop in for a bite of something sweet and a cup of Joe and you certainly won’t be disappointed. They also are a popular place to purchase a wedding cake in the Palm Springs area.
Grill-A-Burger is a casual burger joint that pumps out gourmet burgers, hot dogs, and salads to many loyal locals and tourists each day. The restaurant is outfitted in kitschy island-style décor. which makes the perfect backdrop for a meal in Palm Desert. The restaurant specializes in a range of specialty burgers with some of the best ingredients around, including hormone and antibiotic-free 100% all-natural USDA beef. They offer a range of versatile choices for diners with allergies or special diets, as you can order your burger on a gluten-free bun for an upcharge or a lettuce wrap at no additional cost.
AJ’s on the Green is more akin to an entertainment venue than a restaurant. The restaurant has won awards year after year as one of the best live entertainment venues in the Palm Springs area. They are open daily and feature some of the best food and shows around. The menu is varied and leans heavily into seafood and Italian-style dishes with plenty of New American cuisine appearing as well. Whether you go for garlic shrimp and pesto pasta or prime rib, make sure you don’t get too full as you will want to leave room for their creme brulee or salted caramel ice cream. Check out their website for current entertainment options and make sure to stop by for the Sunday jazz brunch, which is not to be missed.
Appearing abruptly in the middle of the desert, the mesmerizing Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument attracts hundreds of visitors from all over the US. Within the 280.000-acre monument you will find palm oases, hot springs, snow-capped mountains and fabulous wilderness areas, begging to be discovered. The Visitor Center is the logical place to start your exploration. Here you can find out all about the many recreational facilities and the center also offers direct access to the accessible Ed Hastey Garden Trail and the Randall Henderson Trail. The monument offers both primitive back-country camping as well as a developed campground at Pinyon Flat, also suitable for equestrians.
McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts opened to the public in 1988, bringing the priceless cultural gift of live theatre to Palm Springs and Palm Desert. Today the theatre is a much-acclaimed entertainment venue which stages fabulous performances in just about all genres from music, to acrobatics to drama and ballet. The theatre boasts a state-of-the-art sound system and has received praise for its excellent acoustics. In addition to providing a full calendar of outstanding entertainment, the McCallum Theatre is also actively involved in educational programs aimed at fostering a love of the performing arts in all members of the community. Please visit their website to see what’s on and book your tickets.
Pulling on your hiking boots and setting off along the Randall Henderson Loop Trail is a wonderful way to discover the hidden gems of the Santa Anna and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. The trail encompasses 3 loops, namely the Wash, Cholla and Canyon Loops, each of which will expose you to different elements of the low-elevation desert environment. You can download a brochure (or pick up a map at the Visitor’s Centre, to guide you along the way. You will find a fascination variety of desert vegetation, admire brilliant view of the mountains and stand the chance to spot some local wildlife including the endangered Bighorn Sheep. The 2.5 mile hike is rated “easy”.
Art enthusiasts who are visiting Palm Desert are invited to spend a few uplifting hours feasting their eyes of the beautiful works of art in the CODA Gallery. For more than 30 years this gallery has been showcasing some of the best contemporary fine art from all over the state and beyond. Just about all genres of art are represented in the gallery and you can anticipate admiring a collection which includes paintings, glass-art, sculpture, photography and much more. Both emerging and established artists are represented and almost everything you see is available to buy. The gallery is open daily from 10am to 5pm.Exploring in the desert can be thirsty work; when you have worked up a good thirst you can head to the La Quinta Brewing Company. The brewery and Tap Room is located in the heart of Old Town La Quinta in Palm Desert. Established in 2013, this relatively “new” brewery has already won numerous awards in the greater desert area for its distinguished craft beers. When you visit their Tap Room you can choose from up to 24 beers on tap as well as a rotating selection of guest brews and wines. They also have a full-service kitchen which serves up delicious appetizers, salads, burgers, tacos and other popular pub grub.
74-714 Technology Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92211, 760-200-2597