Places To Go
Palm Springs Art Museum
Palm Springs Art Museum was founded in 1938 as the Palm Springs Desert Museum at La Plaza in downtown Palm Springs. Natural science exhibits, Cahuilla Indian artifacts, and hiking excursions dominated the institution's programming.
The museum moved several times within the downtown Palm Springs area before building its first permanent structure in 1958, located on the southwest corner of Tahquitz-McCallum Way and Indian Ave. Over the years, fine art gained a greater measure of focus.
Agua Caliente Casino Downtown
For more than 2,000 years, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has viewed the natural hot springs located below the old day hotel at Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs to be a place of power and healing.
However, it was not until a United States government survey in 1853 that the spring took on new meaning — as a place for tourism and profit, based on the healing properties of the waters and the area's dry desert air.
What they the Tribe didn't know then was that the healing waters would also prove to be the key to their economic success.
Watch for the Agua Caliente Cultural Center due to open in 2020https://www.accmuseum.org/
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway—the world's largest rotating tram car—travels over two-and-one-half miles along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon, transporting riders to the pristine wilderness of the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. During your approximately ten-minute journey, tram cars rotate slowly, offering picturesque and spectacular vistas of the valley floor below. Once you reach the Mountain Station—elevation 8,516 feet—enjoy two restaurants, observation decks, natural history museum, two documentary theaters, gift shop and over 50 miles of hiking trails.
The Living Desert
There's so much more to explore. From school field trips and educator resources, to our speaker series and international travel, The Living Desert's mission is to educate. We offer unique learning opportunities for all ages throughout the year.
Sunnylands
For more than 40 years, Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg welcomed political, business, educational, and entertainment leaders to Sunnylands, their 200-acre winter home in Rancho Mirage, California. In 2001, the couple established The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands to preserve the estate as a place where world leaders could meet to discuss issues of national and international importance.
Palm Springs Air Museum
The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to one of the world's largest collections of flyable WWII aircraft and from Korea and Vietnam; and unlike many other museums, our air-conditioned hangars have no ropes to keep you from interacting with our exhibits. In addition to our aircraft, exhibits and activities allow visitors of all ages to gain a fresh perspective of World War II — the unparalleled event that shaped the world we live in. A new hangar opened May of 2017 holds exhibits and aircraft from the Korea and Vietnam Wars. Rides in a vintage Warbird airplane are available through the Giftshop.
California Welcome Center
Often referred to as the "gateway" to California's outback, our Joshua Tree Gateway Communities are conveniently situated just a short drive to Southern California's great outdoor destinations. With the majestic Joshua Tree National Park on its southern border, the desert communities play host year-round to visitors and outdoor recreation enthusiasts from all over the world. The unique natural surroundings of Joshua Tree National Park have made it a favorite destination for rock climbers, hikers, campers, photographers and nature enthusiasts. From Idyllwild to Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, from Palm Springs to Big Bear, the courteous Ambassadors at our California Welcome Center will show you where to eat, where to stay, and where to play while you're in our desert area and Southern California.
