Here are some fun Palm Springs attractions to check out if you get bored of relaxing by the pool

The Palm Springs sign in front of palm trees and a blue sky — Cesar Cid / Unsplash

Although many Palm Springs vacations aren’t necessarily about getting out and exploring the local area, it’s all too easy to believe the art deco haven in the Sonoran Desert lacks cool things to do.

If you get tired of lounging around or need to shake off the effects of one too many poolside cocktails yesterday, then here are 11 fun Palm Springs things to do for everyone.

1. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

A gondola on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway — Keep Smiling Photography / Shutterstock

There’s no denying Palm Springs is easy on the eye. The blend of the green slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains contrasts perfectly with the scrub and brush of the Sonoran Desert that surrounds the city. Get a flavor of both, and stunning views of Palm Springs, with a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

This gondola-style cable car was installed in 1963 to scoop adventurers from the floor of the Coachella Valley up to the summit of San Jacinto Peak without the effort. The Tramway has evolved to include rotating cars that provide visitors with 360-degree views on the 12.5 minute ascent / descent.

You can see up to 200 miles away on a clear day, as far as Mount Charleston in Nevada, but the views across the Salton Sea make for better pictures if the weather is a little hazy.

2. Visit Joshua Tree National Park

The sun shines through the branches of a Joshua Tree — Unsplash / Cedric Letsch

Joshua Tree National Park is reason enough to stay in nearby Palm Springs, so a trip to this beautiful patch of unspoiled natural wonder should be on your to-do list anyway.

The park is famed for the eponymous trees that stand guardian over the slopes and mountains that punctuate the rocks and sand that seem to stretch forever. It’s also an amazing place to ditch city life and hike, meditate, camp, or keep an eye out for roadrunners, desert tortoises, bighorn sheep and golden eagles.

If you’re feeling adventurous, climbing is super-popular in Joshua Tree, with huge rock formations like the old woman and marble rocks offering challenging courses and easy intros to climbers of all abilities.

3. Palm Springs Art Museum

The Palm Springs Art Museum sign — Michael Vi / Shutterstock

With visitors to Palm Springs that include movie stars, architecture aficionados and those from the creative industries, it wouldn’t make much sense for there not to be a well-equipped and well-loved art museum.

The Palm Springs Art Museum hosts rotating exhibitions from circuit regulars, global superstars and emerging talents year-round. There are also permanent collection items hosted across a great range of galleries.

On top of this, the outdoor space and the building itself create an excellent place to view and appreciate diverse and carefully-selected artworks.

Tickets cost around $16 for adults depending on timings and events, so check the museum’s official website to see what’s on and book your tickets in advance.

4. Palm Springs Air Museum

A propeller plane stands outside the Palm Springs Air Museum — Steve Cukrov / Shutterstock

Right by the busy Palm Springs International Airport you’ll find the Palm Springs Air Museum. Housed across two huge interconnected hangars encompassing over 86,000 square feet, this small but perfectly formed collection of 50 vintage aircraft is a dream for history buffs and air enthusiasts.

Mostly made up of fighters that served in World War II, Vietnam and the Koream War, you can get up close to everything from Mustangs to Huey Helicopters.

The best part is that real aircraft lovers can even go up in one of the fully-restored warbirds, including a full demonstration flight to get a taste of life in the air force over 60 years ago. A perfect gift for budding pilots!

5. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

Giraffes being fed in a zoo — Gerald Peplow / Shutterstock

For families visiting Palm Springs, a trip to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a great option to keep minds active and maybe even learn a thing or two.

The carefully landscaped and cleverly designed ecosphere is home to over 500 animals including cheetahs, giraffes, rhinos, hyenas and mountain lions. There are also reptile exhibits, greenhouses and a garden that is a faithful representation of the High Desert in the Mojave, including native plants.

A big focus is on preserving and educating visitors about local species, some of which are threatened. It’s a great way to see eagles, bobcats, bighorn sheep and coyotes but you don’t have the time or inclination to go wilderness hiking!

6. Cabazon Dinosaurs

Large dinosaur statues — Logan Bush / Shutterstock

Another fun activity near Palm Springs that will keep big and small kids entertained for an afternoon are the Cabazon Dinosaurs. A typical American tourist trap, this collection of steel, concrete and latterly fibreglass dinosaur models once stood guardian over a roadside diner. The diner is long gone, but the gaudy and largely inaccurate sculptures remain, making highway motorists double take.

The highlight is Dinny, a 150-foot long Brontosaurus that once served as a gift shop, but the equally impressive T-Rex makes for some interesting Instagram snaps too.

7. Agua Caliente Casino

A sign for the Agua Caliente casino resort — Steve Cukrov / Shutterstock

If you like to spin the roulette wheel or try a hand of poker, then the native-run Agua Caliente Casino is a fun night out. It isn’t just about the gambling either, with a full-service steakhouse, a complete sports bar and regular star entertainment in the Cascade Lounge.

8. Hike Up Mount San Jacinto

A hiker stands on a rock overlooking a mountainside — Marsela Sulku / Unsplash

The San Jacinto Mountains provide the gorgeous Palm Springs backdrop that makes this particular part of the desert so photogenic. Why not lace up and burn some calories by heading to the top for some amazing views and the chance to spot some wildlife?

The mountain offers several trails, but the most rewarding is probably the Deer Springs Trail. Taking hikers 5,000 feet up into the air, this winding and often challenging hike is ideal for outdoor adventurers. However, if you aren’t physically fit, or don’t have the right wilderness gear or training, we advise sticking to a shorter hike and maybe taking the Palm Spring Aerial Tramway to the top instead!

9. Walk of the Stars

The Walk of the Stars in Palm Springs — Wild As Light / Shutterstock

You’ve heard of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but did you know Palm Springs has its own star-studded walk dedicated to famous faces from stage and screen? The Palm Spring Walk of Stars includes over 450 embedded tiles featuring everyone from Elvis Presley to President Eisenhower along Palm Canyon Drive.

10. Moorten Botanical Gardens

Cacti in a polytunnel — Steve Cukrov / Shutterstock

The privately-owned Moorten Botanical Gardens has been preserving and providing plants for Palm Springs residents and visitors since the 1930s. Naturally, desert plants are the main attraction, with over 3,000 varieties grown throughout the attraction.

The world’s first Cactarium (a word coined by the owners) hosts rare and interesting (you guessed it) cacti, including local species. The Cactus Castle in the Palm Grove Oasis is also worth seeing.

You can even take home your own little plant at the on-site nursery, and the beauty of cacti is that you can forget to water them and not much will happen!

11. Shop ‘Til You Drop on Palm Canyon Drive

Shops on Palm Canyon Drive — Smeerjewegproducties / Shutterstock

After enjoying the stars of Walk of Stars, grab your purse or wallet and peruse the boutiques, stores and galleries that line the north and south sides of Palm Spring’s main shopping street, Palm Canyon Drive.

Head to the Palm Springs Visitor Center first, not just a tourist information hub but also a great place to grab a selfie under the famous roof.

Then, check out the SHAG store for colorful clothing, The Shops at Thirteen Forty Five for your quirky and kitsch souvenirs and Destination PSP for your mid-century modern fix, including trinkets and wall prints.