best attraction and Best Children’s activity in Palm Springs
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
“In less than 12 minutes, you go from Sonoran Desert to alpine wilderness,” says Greg Purdy, vice president of marketing and public affairs for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. “The views are the No. 1 reason people go — then they discover everything else.”
Climbing 2.5 miles into Mount San Jacinto State Park, the tramway delivers visitors to 14,000 acres of forest, more than 50 miles of trails, and a Mountain Station that features panoramic observation decks, a natural history museum, two restaurants, and two theaters screening short films on the tram’s construction and the history of the wildlands. Summer offers cool mountain air. Winter brings snow. Seasonal events include holiday choirs, an Easter sunrise service, and the new German-themed Autumn Fest.
Completed in 1963 after 23,000 helicopter missions to haul materials, this engineering feat earned its nickname: the Eighth Wonder of the World. The best way to experience it? Often. “We have one passholder who’s on the first car every morning,” Purdy says, “ready to hike — rain, snow, or sun.”
best outdoor activity in La Quinta
Full Moon Hike
The shrill yip of a coyote. The erratic flap of bat wings. The skitter of a neon scorpion under black light. It’s another Full Moon Hike — the coolest nightlife in the La Quinta Cove neighborhood.
Led by night-owl volunteers from Friends of the Desert Mountains, five small groups (15 to 20 hikers each) set out every 15 minutes, starting just after moonrise. “Walking in the desert after dark is a completely different way to experience a hike and connect to the land,” says hike program leader Ada Nuckels. “The later you go, the higher the moon, the better the reflection.”
The lunar glow illuminates the gentle, mostly flat 2.5-mile route. Along the way, docents share tidbits about local geology, plants, wildlife, and the nonprofit’s conservation work — sometimes setting up a telescope so hikers can admire the full moon or glimpse distant constellations.
Each two-hour trek is free, but reservations go fast. Sign-ups open at midnight, two weeks in advance. Since launching in 2016, the monthly treks have become a local favorite, one of many valleywide activities made possible by approximately 50 volunteers.
The Full Moon Hike in La Quinta Cove neighborhood sometimes includes viewing stars with a local astronomer.
BEST FURNISHINGS & DÉCOR in cathedral city
Hedge
“Oh, that’s from Hedge.” The phrase carries a hint of discovery and a dash of bragging rights. Whether it’s an Italian table lamp or a buttery teak sideboard, fans of vintage furniture and art fawn over the treasures they bring home from this Perez Road landmark.
Twenty years ago, Thomas Sharkey and Charles Pearson opened a midcentury-and-more showroom in The Perez Art District. Designers took notice. Flattering press ensued. Modernism Week visitors added the shop to their whirlwind agendas — and the magnetism hasn’t waned. Meanwhile, neighboring spaces have flourished, and “the Hedge guys” cheer them on.
Peculiar wall art at Hedge in Cathedral City.
Art and chairs in the Hedge showroom.
The duo’s retail hospitality and penchant for design from the 1950s to ’70s nurture loyal clients, who love that the on-site owners recall what they’ve collected and what’s on their wish lists.
So, what qualifies as Hedge-worthy? “We bring beautiful things back to their original splendor,” Sharkey says, “then mix in industrial objects, found art, and contemporary pieces from young painters and furniture makers we meet on our travels to Bali.” The blend is unexpected yet cohesive, a global conversation curated for the desert.
No wonder, two decades on, “That’s from Hedge” still lands like a badge of great taste.
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El Tranvia
El Tranvia dishes up rich, soulful flavors steeped in generations of family tradition— owner Oscar Ventura’s grandparents launched the family business as a food truck in 1969. Many recipes come straight from Ventura’s abuela, who taught him to cook as a child.
Guests rave about the mole, which takes 10 hours to make, and the equally beloved enchiladas. Ventura continues to evolve the menu while staying true to its roots. “We decided to add more dishes,” he says. “A lot of the seafood recipes are new.” (Try the charred octopus.)
Raised in restaurant kitchens, Ventura now carries on the family legacy, holding fast to time-honored techniques and a desire to share delicious eats with the community, one slow-simmered sauce at a time.
The dining room at El Tranvia in Coachella.
best fine dining in rancho Mirage
Wally’s Desert Turtle
Wally’s is more than a restaurant — it’s a legacy. Opened in 1978 by Wally Botello (founder of the Velvet Turtle restaurant chain), the fine dining institution is now run by his granddaughter Madalyn Botello. In a world of fast fads, Wally’s holds steady to its old-school charm, service standards, and commitment to exceptional ingredients.
The dining room is a time capsule of desert glam by legendary designer Steve Chase, and it remains untouched — a reverent nod to the past. Live music, specialty cocktails, and a sultry bar scene round out the experience.
“We want to lean into who we are,” Madalyn says. “We don’t want to change everything and become a modern restaurant that has a 10- or 20-year shelf life. We want to maintain something that lasts.” At Wally’s, timelessness wins — again and again.
Wally’s Desert Turtle owner Madalyn Botello.
best attraction, best outdoor activity, and best children’s activity in palm desert
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Sweeping three categories, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens earns top honors by “always investing back into the park so our guests can have the best day ever,” says president and CEO Allen Monroe. Families who frequent this world-class zoo in our own backyard know that well.
The new Oasis Splash Pad gives kids a playful way to cool off. Nearby, the air-conditioned Bighorn Café features a shaded deck with front-row views of bighorn sheep scaling the mountain — plus a fresh, vegetarian-friendly menu. These recent additions complement year-round programming that includes animal encounters, events like ZooCamp and WildLights, and access to 7 miles of scenic hiking trails.
Animal care curator Jared Moeller poses in front of the Rhino Savanna habitat at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.
In the works, the Lion Ridge habitat will provide a home for critically endangered African lions — one of many species the zoo helps protect through global partnerships and more than 80 conservation initiatives, from Tanzania to Mongolia. Closer to home, an initiative to reintroduce the Sonoran pronghorn to its native range is currently underway in the Chuckwalla National Monument.
“Part of the funds from your visits enables us to protect desert habitats all around the world,” Monroe says, “and the amazing animals that may not be here someday if we don’t act soon.”
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The Tropicale
With its party-ready playlist and charismatic staff, The Tropicale has long been a go-to watering hole in Palm Springs. “Some people have been working here for 18 years,” says chef and owner Tony Di Lembo — a sign that the good vibes go both ways.
Pink lights and a palm motif set the scene for a night that always feels like vacation. Lively conversation fills the bar and spills out onto the spacious patio (misted in summer, heated in winter).
The bestselling cocktail, a creamy coconut martini, is dangerously sippable. Pair it with shareable small plates like the fried green beans, papaya salad, and Baja shrimp tacos.
The Tropicale in Palm Springs.
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Nobu
Tucked inside Stadium 2 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Nobu serves its globally acclaimed Japanese-meets-Peruvian cuisine in the heart of “Tennis Paradise.” Open year-round (not only during tournament season), this sleek, luxurious spot delivers dishes that are as artful as they are flavorful.
Nobu’s menu unfolds in a curated progression of cold and hot dishes, designed to highlight contrast and build in intensity.
Start with something light — like sashimi or tiradito — before moving into richer, warm plates such as miso black cod or wagyu beef. Swing by during Tanoshi Hour, Wednesday through Sunday, for signature bites and drinks at a winning price — no match ticket required.
Nobu.
best boutique hotel in Desert Hot Springs
The Spring Resort & Spa
Soaking in the mineral-rich waters that give Desert Hot Springs its name has long been a source of healing. The Spring Resort & Spa has refined that experience since 1957, earning the hideaway a devoted following.
“Not because it’s the flashiest,” says co-owner Wayne Krygier, “but because it’s the most intimate, intentional, and authentically rejuvenating.” Adults-only and whisper-quiet by policy, The Spring skips phones and TVs in favor of stillness and sunshine.
Visit the Spring Resort & Spa in Desert Hot Springs.
Three mineral pools serve 13 rooms and suites, some of which have private outdoor tubs where hot mineral water flows from the tap. “You can slow things down,” Krygier says, “which actually benefits your health.”
Guests float between the Finnish sauna and spa treatments, and can optionally participate in a personalized detox cleanse.
“In the ’60s, a visiting writer said you could hear the water speak during early morning soaks,” Krygier says. “The bubbling sounded like breathing — a reminder that nature was at work beneath your feet.” At The Spring, it still is.
best burger in indio
Papa Headz
Papa Headz began as a backyard burger hustle during the pandemic, built on simple ingredients and a loyal Instagram following. Now, they’re slinging some of the tastiest patties in town from a walk-up window in downtown Indio. The signature smashburger keeps it classic: meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and Thousand Island dressing, though some customers spice it up with crunchy jalapeño rounds.
Loaded fries are where creativity shines — smothered with toppings like cheese and carne asada, or barbecue chicken and ranch. “We know what we want,” owner Matt Moreno says. “We train people to our standards, use simple ingredients, and do it all with good intentions.”
Burger and fries from Papa Headz.
