Welcome to Palm Springs Attractions

There are so many attractions to visit in Palm Springs. The vast number of attractions might leave one wondering what to see. One of the coolest attractions can be accessed by a drive around the Palm Springs area. The incredible towering windmills are an amazing sight to behold as they dot the landscape. From desert museum to air museum there is so much of interest. The non-stop myriad of attractions will vie for your attention. You are sure to find several that you will enjoy. And with all of its celebrity fame, you can never tell who you might see in Palm Springs. Let OnlineHotels.com show you some of our favorite places to stay and to play.

Museums

Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert
The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert motivates children to explore the natural environment of the Coachella Valley community and various cultures of the world. The museum is located at 71-701 Gerald Ford Drive in Rancho Mirage. Visit the museum's Web site for information about its hours of operation.

Coachella Valley Museum & Cultural Center
The Coachella Valley Museum & Cultural Center is a 1926 adobe home that showcases local artwork and historical artifacts. The museum, located at 82-6l6 Miles Ave. in nearby Indio, is closed from mid-June to mid-September It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Moorten Botanical Gardens
The Moorten Botanical Gardens teaches its guests about Palm Springs' native trees and plants. Visitors can learn about varieties of desert trees and cacti at this natural museum. More than 3,000 varieties of plants are on the display. It is located at 1701 S. Palm Canyon Drive.

Palm Springs Air Museum
This museum teaches the public about the contributions of World War II aircraft and pilots. The Palms Springs Air Museum has one of the largest collections of warplanes. The museum, located at 745 North Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults ages 13 to 65, and $6.50 for veterans and seniors. Children 6 years old and younger are admitted free.

Palm Springs Desert Museum
Permanent and special exhibits at this cultural museum escort visitors through the Palm Springs desert as it existed thousands of years ago. Visitors enjoy a hands-on lesson in natural science and history as they examine artifacts and information at the Desert Museum, which is located at 101 Museum Drive in Palm Springs. The museum also houses the highly admired Annenberg Theater, where visitors can view a ballet or enjoy a symphonic concert. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. It is closed on Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, and $3.50 for youths ages 3 to 17. Children 6 years old and younger are admitted free.

Village Green Heritage Center
The Village Green Heritage Center, at 219-223 S. Palm Canyon Dr. in Palm Springs, pays tribute to the city's pioneer era and its inhabitants. The cultural center is a bustling outlet that is fueled by specialty shops, art galleries, hotels, and restaurants. The four museums – Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, McCallum Adobe, Miss Cornelia White's House, Ruddy's 1930's General Store Museum – at the core of the center's activity keep a steady flow of wide-eyed tourists. The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum contains artifacts from the Cahuilla Indian culture; McCallum Adobe, a dwelling built in 1885, holds the collection of the Palm Springs Historical Society; Miss Cornelia White's House is a charming 19th-century home; and Ruddy's 1930's General Store Museum is a replica of a general store from the late 1930s to early 1940s. The seasonal center is open from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays (only from mid October through May). Operation hours vary at the museums.

Special Places of Interest/Tours

Indian Canyons
Visitors may venture a walk across the sacred grounds of the Agua Caliente Cahuilla Indians at the historic Indian Canyons in Palm Springs. The Cahuilla Indians once settled in four distinct communities of Indian Canyons – Andreas, Murray, Palm, and Tahquitz. Tourists can hike the canyons, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and learn the heritage of this special Indian tribe. Each community has unique features. Tree-line footpaths and cascading waterfalls make the journey enjoyable for explorers. Call (800) 790-3398 for more information about Indian Canyons, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Palm Canyon Drive
Flashing city lights, fringing palm trees, and a pulsating atmosphere are the elements of Palm Canyon Drive. The heavily trafficked thoroughfare lures visitors with its many restaurants, art galleries, and specialty shops. Palm Canyon Drive, the city's main drag, is the prime spot for shopping. It is also the location of several city landmarks, including the Village Green Heritage Center and the Palm Springs Walk of Fame.

Palm Springs Aerial Tram
Soar over the valley during a midair tour in one of Palm Springs Aerial Tram's steel cable cars. Visitors can view the city and surrounding mountains from more than 8,000 feet in the air or hike the scenic trails behind the Tram's mountain station. Tram cars also carry passengers to the tops of the San Jacinto Mountains for snowboarding and skiing activities. Rides in the cable cars, which depart every half hour, begin at 10 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The last ride departs at 8 p.m. Tickets are $27 for adults, $13.80 for children ages 3 to 12, and $18.80 for seniors. It is located at One Tramway Road in Palm Springs.

Palm Springs Walk of Stars
Visiting celebrities have left their marks on Palm Springs. Decorative stars with the signatures and names of famous entertainers dress the sidewalk of Palm Canyon Drive. Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and Sonny Bono are among a long list of celebrities whose gold stars are embedded in this popular roadway.

Theaters

Annenberg Theater
This high-tech theater seats 433 guests. The Annenberg Theater presents comedy acts, dance and musical performances, operas, and dramas. It is located on the lower level of the Palm Springs Desert Museum. Call the Annenberg Theater at (760) 325-4490 for information about current shows and ticket prices.

Desert IMAX Theatre
Palm Springs has a piece of the IMAX world. The Desert IMAX Theatre, at 68-510 E. Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City, entertains visitors with its six-story movie screen and crisp sound system. Call the theater at (760) 324-7333 for admission prices and a schedule of its upcoming films.

McCallum Theatre
The McCallum Theatre's European-style auditorium and desert-inspired aura are among its attractive features. Although the theater's artistic setting is a must-see, its concerts and ballet performances draw the crowds. Spectators of performing arts pack the 1,127-seat odeum throughout the year. The highly acclaimed theater is located at 73000 Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert. Call the box office at (866) 889-ARTS for information about the theater's current shows and ticket prices.

Palm Springs Follies
Fans of the swinging '30s and '40s will enjoy watching The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies sing and boogie during a three-hour extravaganza that features music and signature dances from those time periods. The performers are between 59 and 89 years old. The Follies perform at Palm Springs' Historic Plaza Theater, which is located at 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive. Call the theater at (760) 327-0225 for more information about performances and ticket prices.

The Palm Canyon Theatre
Visitors may take in a Broadway show at The Palm Canyon Theatre, the area's only professional theater. It is located at 538 North Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. Call the theater's box office at (760) 323-5123 for a schedule of its current shows and ticket prices.