Greater Palm Springs Holidays
Gangster Al Capone hid from pursuers in a bulletproof stone house in the Desert Hot Springs hills
A spa city stacked with Hollywood glitz and glamour
Beautiful Palm Springs, California's prime desert holiday destination, is best known for its natural hot springs, smart hotels, oodles of exceptional golf courses and famous natural volcanic spas. It's also home to some deliciously attractive and hugely stylish mid-20th century architecture, world-class shopping and bling to die for on Palm Canyon Drive, with funky vintage boutiques, vibrant eateries and, of course, the stunning Coachella Valley it sits in.
Experience one of the finest mineral water aquifers in the world, naturally heated to 180 degrees.
Greater Palm Springs has upwards of 50,000 swimming pools, the most pools per head of population in the entire nation. But there's much more to do here than simply keep cool.
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Pick your favourite Coachella Valley skydiving operators and hurl yourself out of a plane for a thrilling sixty second freefall
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Get busy with casino treats including slots, poker, blackjack, bingo and craps
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Cycle the breathtaking Earthquake Canyon Express for real geological drama
Dramatic Box Canyon Road is an absolute must whether you're on a bike, on horseback or in a car, with brilliant views of the Salton Sea, All-American Canal and Mount San Jacinto.
The infamous Hollywood Rat Pack adored it here, misbehaved here, lived, loved, played golf and partied here. The real stars are the native Cahuilla Indians, who own more than 40% of the city.
Take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for unforgettable thrills, where the world's biggest rotating tramcars take you on a dizzying eight minute ride from desert floor to high mountain station, one of the steepest ascents on the planet.
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Check out the amazing live music scene at Coachella or Stagecoach
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Discover remarkable natural beauty on foot: try the wonderful Coachella Valley Preserve
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Play a set or two on one of the city's 600+ excellent tennis courts
Experience all three for a genuine flavour of this eccentric, incredibly hot, dry and seriously wealthy desert city.
Greater Palm Springs is home to more than 115 golf courses, which is why so many people call it "the Golf Capital of the World."
Really rich? You can hire Frank Sinatra's ex-home for a wedding or holiday. Soak up some culture in one of the city's art museums or tour a majestic mid-century house. Visit the excellent Palm Springs Air Museum or wander into the terrifyingly hot and remote desert area, the iconic Joshua Tree National Park. The entire region is one of extreme natural beauty with a multitude of hikes and tours to choose from. Indian Canyons, and the splendid, breathtaking Tahquitz Canyon await you. The desert's unique flora and fauna are revealed at the Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Garden. Top class alfresco dining downtown - with people-watching thrown in for free - is not to be missed. And the Moorten Botanical Garden is quite simply extraordinary.
This is the ultimate desert playground. Catch a glitzy floor show at a local casino, enjoy a splendid theatre production or discover one of the area's many film and art festivals. Spend a day exploring the brilliant Palm Springs retro shopping scene along Palm Canyon Drive, or pop in and out of an endless choice of excellent places to eat. Go for big brands and independent shopping in the El Paseo District or combine quality retail therapy with eating out and evening entertainment at The River in Rancho Mirage. This is the life!