Top Rated Attractions in Palm Springs

A thrilling cable car ride shuttles visitors from the desert floor to the heights of Mt. San Jacinto, where you might experience a 40-degree temperature drop in just a few minutes. While many visitors just hop up for the view, it can be a starting point for many outdoor activities like hiking and mule rides. At the top, you’ll also find a cocktail bar and restaurant with stunning views.

Deserts provide great conditions for preserving planes, and this huge collection of historic planes is a Palm Springs landmark. Enjoy getting an up-close view of aerial history in huge, air-conditioned hangars, and then watch a movie in the Buddy Rogers Theater. There is a gift shop filled with airplane-themed souvenirs. Special events include air shows largely featuring aircraft from the World War II-era as well as children's activities and lectures that are often presented by the men and women who originally flew the planes.

Backstreet Art District is a collection of art galleries in Palm Springs specializing in modern contemporary art. This is one of the city's major artistic and cultural hubs which offers an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, single print designs, handcrafted ceramicware, photographs and fashion accessories made by upcoming and established artists from all over the country and overseas. Their collection is a constantly rotating one, keeping visitors updated with the latest and trending pieces of art from around the world.

Situated at the foot of scenic Mt. San Jacinto, this art museum in downtown Palm Springs offers lovers of art a treat. It's not just paintings that you get admire here, as the museum also has extensive performing arts programs. Expand your knowledge about natural science or just take in the beauty of your surroundings. The various exhibitions held here shouldn't be missed.

Spread alongside the zigzagging South Palm Canyon Drive, the Indian Canyons have been the ancestral homes of the Cahuilla Indians' Agua Caliente Band for nearly a millennium. Revered by local Native Americans, these beautiful canyons are treasured by scientists and paleontologists for their vivid rock artwork and petroglyphs that offer insights into tribal life. A much-needed getaway from the sometimes glitzy atmosphere of Palm Springs, the sparkling streams, and the untamed arid wilderness allows its visitors to be one with nature. A phenomenon named the 'Witch of Tahquitz Canyon' can be occasionally spotted here which is essentially an eerie shadow cast on the slopes of the canyon.

Palm Canyon Drive is the main street of Palm Springs and the pulse of this desert resort city. It has everything a tourist needs - shops, attractions, galleries, restaurants and more. Dotted by tall palm trees throughout with the San Jacinto Mountain as a backdrop, it is where most of the action lies. Shop at unique stores and the farmer's market to take away something as a gift or souvenir. Check out the Villagefest held every Thursday. Some of the interesting places to visit are the Palm Canyon Theatre, Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs Visitors Center, Desert Art Center, Annenberg Theater, The McCallum Adobe and Palm Springs Walk of Stars.