A taste of Greater Palm Springs: activities and appetites

03.01.2024 - 03:03 / lonelyplanet.com

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In its early days as a capital of cool, Greater Palm Springs attracted screen legends, the Rat Pack and a steady stream of studio execs. Hence the nickname “Hollywood’s playground” (or backlot). And while that reputation still applies – as you’d expect of an oasis 100 miles from LA but feels a world away – travelers of all kinds now have compelling reasons to visit this California highlight.

Whether you’re looking for breathtaking outdoor adventures, rich cultural offerings, a thriving wellness scene or epic festivals and other pilgrimage-worthy events, Greater Palm Springs should be on your 2024 lineup. Of course, whatever kind of escape you choose, the backdrop alone is worth traveling for: a vast expanse marked by peaks, palms and even pines (at altitude) – plus night skies so starry they rival even the local celebrity hotspots. 

Speaking of: Several Greater Palm Springs restaurants are newly Michelin-recommended, a first for the region – and an acknowledgment of the ever-ascendant culinary scene. So, in each of the mini-guides below, we’re pairing the suggested activities with beloved restaurants. The combined effect? A feast for all the senses.

Home to an amazing array of ecosystems – canyons that conceal palm-fringed streams, pine forests atop soaring peaks, and multiple desert dreamscapes in between – Greater Palm Springs is an outdoor adventure lover’s playground. To start getting the lay of the land, go for a literal overview: The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway puts you into a vista-maximizing rotating car and carries you more than 2.5 miles in about 10 minutes, from the desert terrain at the base to the conifer forests that surround the mountain station (elevation 8,516 feet). Once you disembark, take advantage of the 50+ miles of trails in this part of Mt. San Jacinto State Park, where you’ll find yourself alternately shrouded by pines or gaping at wide-open vistas. 

Once you’ve descended, countless other adventures await: the trail system of the Indian Canyons, for starters, where you can hike or horseback ride alongside primordial-looking palms – many of them towering and adorned with endless layers of fronds. You’ll also find lovely water features throughout these canyons, but to experience the most dramatic, head to Tahquitz Canyon, where a 60-foot cascade falls seasonally (February-April is the general but variable window). All of these canyons are sacred to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, whose ancestors have called the area home since time immemorial. Booking ranger-led interpretive hikes will enrich the experience, as will spending time among the exhibits at the Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center.

To cover a bit more ground, book one of the famed local jeep tours, which