Every April, the Coachella Valley attracts over 200,000 visitors for the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, turning Greater Palm Springs into a major destination for music fans. However, even those without festival wristbands can find plenty to do in the area.
One option is The Surf Club at the Palm Springs Surf Club, which offers DJ sets, performances, a wave pool, surfing sessions, water slides, and a lazy river. Guests can also enjoy cabanas, wellness zones, gourmet food, and poolside cocktails.
The Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium provides another experience. Established in the 1930s as a private garden and now open to the public for a small fee, it features more than 3,000 species of cacti from around the world. Visitors can join daily tours led by master gardeners or shop for succulents.
For those interested in unique drinks, Bootlegger Tiki occupies the former home of Don the Beachcomber’s tiki bar. The bar serves cocktails with ingredients like passion fruit and lemongrass in an atmosphere inspired by Polynesian pop culture.
History enthusiasts may consider joining a guided tour with the Palm Springs Historical Society. These tours highlight celebrity homes—including those of Elizabeth Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio—and explore Modernist architecture such as William Cody’s 1947 hotel.
Art lovers can visit Desert X installations throughout Greater Palm Springs. Since its debut in 2017, Desert X has featured works from artists like Sanford Biggers and Kimsooja. The next series will run from March 4 through May 7, 2026; some previous installations remain accessible via an online map.
Shopping options include The Frippery vintage shop in Palm Springs. The store offers colorful kaftans and accessories suitable for desert weekends.
Outdoor enthusiasts can travel less than an hour from downtown Palm Springs to Joshua Tree National Park. The park is known for its distinctive landscape where two deserts meet and offers opportunities to see cactus gardens, wildflowers, boulders, and starlit skies at night.
