Palm Springs is one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in America. Backed by mountains and drenched in sun, it boasts a stunning city scape and comes with manicured parks, class boutiques, and quality golf courses. Despite being somewhat expensive, there are good national travel deals here, while mountains and many fine drives make having a rental car in Palm Springs a must.
Getting there
Palm Springs International Airport is just to the east of downtown and receives a flotilla of scheduled and charter flights, including with nearby Los Angeles. LA-Ontario International Airport is farther west and an alternative, from where the city is about an hour by car rental to Palm Springs. For drivers, I-10 serves from Los Angeles, while Sunset Limited Amtrak trains make stop off on the LA-Arizona route.
Key attractions
The dazzling streets are one of the main attractions, including Frank Sinatra Drive and Bob Hope Drive. You can go celebrity spotting along these, at fine restaurants, and in the foyers of the swanky hotels. The Aerial Tramway to Mount San Jacinto is a big hit also and provides the best views, but to learn more about Palm Springs, visit the Village Green Heritage Center. Look online for national deals on travel to Palm Springs.
Out and about
The 20-mile Highway 111 loop from Palm Springs by rental car takes in intriguing towns in the area, including Rancho Mirage and Cathedral City, while the longer Highway 74 goes via Idyllwild and mountain scenery ride the Palm Springs Tramway. Joshua Tree National Park is off to the east and boasts great walking and rock climbing.
Leisure options
Palm Springs’ golf courses are manicured and high quality, though expensive for a round. Most are south of town by car rental from Palm Springs. The town is also noted for its mineral pools and many hotels allow non-residents to indulge. Kids will love the Oasis Water Park, and skiers can head to Mount San Jacinto for its ski slopes in winter.
Safety
Gay-friendly Palm Springs is safer than your average US city, though parks and quiet streets are best avoided at night. It gets scorching hot in the summer and hiking the desert any time of year requires extra water and you should always notify people where you are.