Palm Springs is one of my favorite places to visit in California. It’s also the perfect California destination to visit in winter and spring! This quirky desert oasis is known for their mid century modern architecture, artsy vibes, and thriving LGBTQIA+ community and nightlife. Sitting at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, this is also a beautiful area for hiking! Below we share 8 of our favorite unique things to do in Palm Springs, California.

Whether you’re looking to nerd out about the architecture, go on a hike, or enjoy the city’s amazing food, there’s something for everyone in Palm Springs! It’s also a great jumping off point for adventures in Joshua Tree, Bombay Beach, and Death Valley National Park.

All of our suggestions below are family friendly things to do in Palm Springs, California!

The best things to do in Palm Springs, California

Ride the aerial tramway, enjoy a meal on a mountain, and go hiking at Mount San Jacinto State Park

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is one of the most unique things to do in Palm Springs. Opened in the 1960s, this tram carries passengers from the desert floor up nearly 6,000 feet up near the top of San Jacinto Peak. At the top visitors will be greeted with a totally different climate and environment. You’ll go from a hot desert to a chilly alpine environment that is 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than Palm Springs. Make sure to pack warm layers! 

Fun fact: this is actually the largest rotating aerial tram in the world! The tram slowly rotates to give all guests a 360 degree view of the mountain and the desert valley as you ascend and descend. The ride takes about 10 minutes in each direction.

There are a lot of activities on top of the mountain. Many people come up in winter and spring to go sledding. The top of the mountain is home to Mount San Jacinto State Park, and there are also excellent hikes and camping options. Additionally, there are several restaurants in the tramway building, including some fine dining options.

This was one of the most unique activities we did in Palm Springs, and I highly recommend it. We visited in April and encountered some snow on the ground on the top of the mountain, even while the desert below was hot and full of wildflowers. I was glad I packed my coat! I had quite the outfit change from the top and the bottom of the aerial tramway.

This activity is perfect in all seasons, and great for families, couples, and groups of friends.

Get round trip Palm Springs Aerial Tramway tickets here.

Ticket costs vary, but adult tickets start at $35.

Treat your taste buds to a famous Palm Springs date shake 

Date shakes are a famous regional specialty available in Palm Springs, so this is a must-do activity in Palm Springs. Date shakes are essentially milkshakes with dates blended into the ice cream. This makes for a uniquely rich and caramel-y shake! Usually the shakes are topped with whipped cream, too. A date shake sounds kind of weird, but it’s honestly SO good.

You can find a LOT of different date shakes in Palm Springs. We’ve tried a few of the different options, which means we can tell you where to get the BEST date shake in town! I think the best place for date shakes in Palm Springs is Lappert’s Palm Springs. 

Unlike many other locations in town, Lappert’s Palm Springs uses real date paste in their drinks, rather than date crystals. As a result, the carmel-y flavor of the dates really shines through more than in the other date shakes we have tried! Plus, I appreciate that Lappert’s uses ultra premium ice cream, making this an extra indulgent treat. They also have dairy free and vegan options available. As of this writing, a 16 oz date shake will run you about $10. Note that date shakes are quite sweet, so you may want to split one with a friend or partner.

Fun fact: the reason date shakes are so popular here is because 90% of U.S. date production happens in the nearby Coachella Valley. That means dates are local, and extra delicious!

Hike to a palm oasis

There are a few palm oasis hikes in Palm Springs that charge an entrance fee, but our favorite palm oasis hike is FREE! Jane’s Hoffbrau Oasis Trail takes hikers to a lush and unique palm oasis tucked amongst the mountains and the desert. The hike is 3.1 miles round trip, and in spring you’ll pass by beautiful wildflowers on the way to the oasis. 

Make sure to pack plenty of water and sun production for a hike like this. If you want to have the palm oasis to yourself I recommend going late in the evening, shortly before sunset. We got to enjoy the oasis to ourselves, and we then hiked back to our car while wearing headlamps. 

Palm oases are an unusual sight in the desert. These unique natural areas provide shade, water, and nutrients for animals. They also stand in sharp contrast to their surrounding landscapes! According to the national park service, there are only 158 palm oases in North America, making them fairly rare. Please respect, and help protect, these beautiful places. 

Admire the mid century homes

Palm Springs has lots of neighborhoods worth visiting to admire the famous mid century architecture. Two I would recommend are Old Las Palmas and the Movie Colony. See below for more details on the Movie Colony neighborhood! 

The Palm Springs Movie Colony is a neighborhood situated right off the city’s main drag. In addition to a large (and very nice) park, you’ll find lots of beautiful modernist and Spanish Colonial Revival homes in this storied area. The area is free to visit, and it’s fun to walk around and admire the homes! If you’re interested in the former residences of big stars there is a self-guided tour option.  

Have an amazing lunch at Chef Tanya’s Kitchen

If you only get one meal in Palm Springs, this should be it! 

Chef Tanya’s Kitchen is a vegan restaurant that will truly blow your mind with their fantastic flavors and fresh foods. And before you complain that you’re not vegan…. Trust me, you won’t miss the meat and dairy. Neither Amiana nor I are vegan, but I can honestly say this was some of the best food I have ever had. Everything was incredibly fresh and vibrant, and the food is rich, comforting, and incredibly delicious.

We ordered the Gordo Chili Cheese tempeh powerburger (which features Rancho Gordo beans and a homemade tempeh burger). We also got the Modern Hippie Veggie veggie sandwich, which has vegan “crack cheese,” avocado, gomasio, tomato, jicama, shredded carrot, cucumber, purple pickled cabbage, beautiful lettuce, and mayo. We also got their Agua Fresca and CTK Coco Cafe. I highly recommend all of the above!

Chef Tanya’s Kitchen has two locations (one of which is in Palm Springs), and is open every day for lunch and dinner. They also have an extensive grab and go menu. You should expect to spend $18 – $25 per person for a drink and a meal.

Admire the iconic colorful doors of Palm Springs

Many mid century modern homes feature bright and colorful doors, which lend a fun pop of color and contrast to the landscape. Palm Springs has many colorful doors, and it’s fun to do a little DIY colorful door scavenger hunt to find the best ones! This is one of my favorite free, fun, and truly unique things to do in Palm Springs. 

We used this guide to help us find some of the city’s iconic colorful doors.

Check out South Palm Canyon Drive

South Palm Canyon Drive is the “mainstreet” of Palm Springs, and it’s a must-see! I’ll fully admit that this street is touristy but it’s also a lot of fun, with tons of restaurants and shops. Plus, there’s great people watching! Mid Century modern furniture and art thrifting is a big activity here, and you’ll also find some of the area’s iconic LGBTQ+ nightclubs and bars here. The popular Palm Springs Art Museum is also located nearby on an adjacent street.

Enjoy al fresco dining with a view at Birba

Looking for a spot for dinner? Birba is a true staple of the Palm Springs dining scene, and offers modern cuisine in a stunning patio setting designed for al fresco dining. They serve modern cuisine and fantastic cocktails, which you get to enjoy while looking at the stunning mountains surrounding the city. 

I would describe their food as leaning in the Italian direction. For appetizers we enjoyed fried squash blossom and beet and citrus salad. The salad featured red and golden beets, fennel, grapefruit, ricotta, and pistachios, and tasted super vibrant and fresh! For mains we had homemade pasta and pizza.

The food is excellent, but my favorite part of dining at Birba was the ambiance. The patio has beautiful lights and a gas fire place, making this the perfect spot for a special family meal or romantic dinner under the stars in Palm Springs. 

I hope you enjoyed this roundup of 8 unique, fun, and family friendly things to do in Palm Springs, California! You can find more California travel guides here. Looking for even more? Follow along @gwynandami on Instagram!