A short drive from Greater Palm Springs leads to unexpected discoveries.
Day Trips
How to Go Apple-Picking at Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen
Craving a seasonal adventure? A short drive from the desert leads to an apple-picking paradise. Roughly 40 miles northwest of Palm Springs in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, Oak Glen is home to Southern California’s oldest and largest apple farm: Los...
How to Spend a Day in Twentynine Palms
The Old Schoolhouse Museum in Twentynine Palms displays a list from a 1950s edition of The Desert Trail newspaper titled “29 Reasons for Living in Twentynine Palms.” The list highlights, among other attributes, “no fog, smog, smudge”; “glorious sunsets — star-studded...
Quirky New Places to Visit in the High Desert
Spaghetti Western at night.PHOTO BY MARTINA ALBERTAZZIThose collecting national park patches and posting #vanlife pics in Joshua Tree haven’t shied away from trailblazing. According to visitation data, more than 3 million visitors entered the park in...
Side Trips: Borrego Springs
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY VISIT GREATER PALM SPRINGSThe only California town that’s surrounded entirely by a state park, this locale blooms with raw desert beauty. It’s a great choice for outdoor recreation and camping. A certified International Dark Sky...
Side Trips: Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree
The national park known for fantastical rock formations and twisty Seussian trees can be accessed from either side of the valley. For a scenic drive through the High Desert, take Interstate 10 west to Highway 62 and Yucca Trail. While in the area, don’t miss these...
Events, Tickets, Specials, and Good Reads
Wake Up With the Desert
Each morning, Palm Springs Life curates good reads and insider recommendations of the best things to do across Greater Palm Springs. Get The Daily Guide for fresh ideas, local flavor, and a daily dose of inspiration that’s actually worth reading.
Side Trips: Cabazon
A short drive west from Palm Springs, this community has become known for its high-rise casino and lengthy strip of designer outlet stores, which summon drivers on Interstate 10. The town’s namesake, Chief Cabazon was a leader of the Desert Cahuilla...
29 Hours in Twentynine Palms
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATE ABBOTTMore than a gateway to Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms is home to the largest U.S. Marine Corps base and has burgeoning arts, music, and food scenes. While it may seem like a trek from Palm Springs — 48.5 miles to...
Side Trips: Salton Sea and Niland
The Salton Sea actually has active volcanoes.PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLA STALLINGERSalton ButtesDid you know there are active volcanoes at the Salton Sea? Five small lava domes along the southeastern edge of the sea are fueled by geothermic activity below...
Side Trips: Head up to Idyllwild
PHOTOGRAPH BY VISIT GREATER PALM SPRINGSHighway 74, aka the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway, will connect yomountu to Highway 243 and the mountain town of Idyllwild — an artisan-centric community with quaint cabins, rustic boutiques, and miles of ponderosa forest...
Summer Oasis
Just in time as temps in the desert move to triple digits. Lake Fulmor offers a cool alternative.PHOTOGRAPHS BY JULIE PENDRAYMany desert denizens enjoy the art and live music in mile-high Idyllwild on Mt. San Jacinto, on the other side of the Palm...
Highway 74 Revisited
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FREDRIK BRODÉNOur journey to the bloom appeared doomed.A portent of this looming disaster occurred 20 minutes earlier in a semi-derelict mini-mall parking lot in Lake Elsinore when we pulled up to a drive-thru coffee shack. We suspected...
Get Lost
You know it’s festival season in Greater Palm Springs when the usually breezy Interstate 10 chokes up with cars decked out in Carpoolchella paint and RVs destined for the world’s largest country fête. With 100,000 people (give or take, depending on the...
Wander List: Off the Beaten Path
Venture off the beaten path to peculiar places beyond the borders of Greater Palm Springs — to wild country, where rainbows and eccentric ideas prevail, and even the misfits fit right in.Integratron andGiant RockAviation engineer George Van Tassel...
Hit the Road
A cool escape from the heat holds extra appeal during the summer. So pack up your tote bag for a day trip. Whether you crave a mountain adventure or a spa day, these destinations are within 90 minutes of town.Lake ArrowheadThe Lake Arrowhead experience...
The Wild Wild East
For adventures and the unexpected, take a day trip to East Coachella Valley and explore Slab City, Painted Canyon, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.Anza-Borrego Desert State ParkGrab a bite for breakfast at Red Ocotillo in Borrego Springs, then drive...
Don’t Beat the Heat; Join It
Content sponsored by Trilogy at The Polo Club, 51750 Polo Club Drive, Indio, 760-775-5522.For more information, please visit the Explore 52 day trip kiosk at the Trilogy at the Polo Club.
Night Sports
Footgolf at Desert WillowA combination of golf and soccer, footgolf offers two ways to feel like a klutz, but at least you get a cardio workout. You play with soccer balls and 21-inch diameter holes, and rounds can range from 90 minutes to three...
The Great Escapes
PHOTO COURTESY OF LANGHAM HUNTINGTON PASADENAPHOTO COURTESY OF LA VILLA DEL VALLEPHOTO COURTESY OF DESCANO GARDENSPHOTO BY RYAN MILLER, COURTESY OF THE BROADCatalina IslandSimply finding your way to Catalina can turn into a trip highlight if you arrive...
Get Elevated
Content sponsored by Trilogy at The Polo Club, 51750 Polo Club Drive, Indio, 760-775-5522.For more information, please visit the Explore 52 day trip kiosk at the Trilogy at the Polo Club clubhouse.
Kate Hudson on Music, “Song Sung Blue,” and Life in Palm Desert
