While Palm Springs attracts thousands of tourists a year for its world-famous golf courses, casinos and restaurants, plenty of other unique Palm Springs activities draw visitors and locals alike.
The sunny climate, combined with the stark beauty of its oasis-like scenery at the foot of the sublime San Jacinto Mountains, creates the perfect area for multiple natural and human-made attractions.
To ensure you don’t miss out on some of the best-hidden gems of Palm Springs, we’ve come up with a guide of four lesser-known activities to do in the area.
Shields Date Gardens
Date crops have been growing in Palm Springs since the late 1800s when the USDA realized that the local climate is similar to this fruit's natural homes in North Africa and the Middle East.
Since then, dates have become a staple of Palm Springs life, as evidenced by the abundance of date farms and palm trees that line this city's streets.
One of the most famous date farms is Shields Date Garden, a seventeen-acre farm established in 1924.
Shields Date Garden is located in Indio, just a half hour from Central Palm Springs. It serves the local population as a beautiful place to tour these gorgeous gardens.
While you're there, don't forget to grab one of the Shields Date Garden's famous date shakes and stock up on the numerous varietals of these delicacies.
Aerial Tramway
Experience the beauty of this idyllic town on the world’s largest rotating tram car from over 8,500 feet above sea level.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway travels two and a half miles over Chino Canyon. It drops visitors off at Mount San Jacinto, where they can enjoy a restaurant, scenic views and hiking trails.
Twin Palms Estate, or “The Sinatra House”
Situated in the Movie Colony / El Mirador neighborhood of Palm Springs, this house boasts a layout spread over 4,500 square feet and contains four bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
Also known as the “Sinatra House,” this incredible home was commissioned to be built in 1947 by Ol’ Blue Eyes himself and lived in by the iconic singer from 1947 until 1954.
This spectacle of a house is now available to stay in as an Airbnb, where you and your friends can live like Sinatra.
Many cite Twin Palms Estate as one of the early influences of Mid-Century Modernism and an early prototype for what we now call “desert modernism.”
Designed by seminal mid-century modern architect E. Stewart Williams, this historic house has many intriguing features, such as its famous piano-shaped pool in the backyard.
Golf Cart Parade
It's time to get creative and register your golf cart in this classic Palm Desert event!
The Golf Cart Parade allegedly dates back to the 1950s. Every year, it continues with a different theme: attendees dress up golf carts and drive down El Paseo.
Classic cars can also be seen in the parade, as well as available food and beverages and access to top-notch shopping down the famous street of El Paseo.
If you aren't dressing up your golf cart for the event, join the crowd with a folding chair and blanket to watch the proceedings.
These are just a few of the hidden gems available to Palm Springs homeowners. Looking to become a Palm Springs resident yourself? Contact me, Geoffrey Moore to learn more about how you can join this thriving and diverse community.
Posted by Geoffrey Moore on
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