
RELAX
Palm Springs is a lifestyle. Whether you like hiking, shopping, dining, biking, swimming, sunning, exploring, or eating, you’ll find something to enjoy here.
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Things to do in the Coachella Valley:
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Ride the Palm Springs Tramway 8,000 feet up to the top of San Jacinto Mountain. If you’re lucky, there will be snow waiting for you.
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Visit the Palm Springs Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.
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Hike the relatively easy Taquitz Canyon trail and see a 60-foot waterfall.
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Hike the more challenging Cactus to Clouds trail and see a panoramic view of the valley.
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Rent a bike at BIKE Palm Springs.
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Rent a motor scooter at Scoot Palm Springs.
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Visit the waterpark at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells.
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Play on the sandy beach at the Renaissance Esmeralda pool in Indian Wells.
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Go birdwatching at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage.
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Visit the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert.
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Shop on Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs or at El Paseo or Westfield Mall in Palm Desert.
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Need more?
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Here in January? Attend the internationally-known Palm Springs Film Festival.
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Here in February? Attend Modernism Week, a celebration of Palm Springs’ architecture.
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Here in March? Attend the 5th biggest event in tennis, the BNP Paribas Tournament in Indian Wells.
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Here in April? Attend Coachella or Stagecoach music festivals in Indio.
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Here in June? Attend Palm Springs Restaurant Week.
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Here in July? Enjoy the Agua Caliente Casino fireworks—watch from Villa Alejo!
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Here in August? Attend Taste of Summer in Rancho Mirage or the Palm Springs Indoor Farmers Market.
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Here in September? Attend the Dinah, a five-day festival catering to the lesbian community, the largest lesbian-centric event in the U.S.
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Here in October? Attend Modern Week’s October preview.
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Here in November? Attend Palm Springs LGBT Pride festival.
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Here in December? Attend the Tamale Festival in Indio or the Festival of Lights Parade in Palm Springs.
And don’t forget Palm Springs VillageFest, a combination marketplace, art exhibit, and music party, that happens every Thursday evening from 6–10 pm, all year long, on Palm Canyon Drive, just a few blocks from Villa Alejo.
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SIGHTSEEING
DINING
New to the area? Palm Springs has some great places to see that will really connect you to our one-of-a-kind destination
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Here are some of the Coachella Valley’s most-well-known sights and experiences:
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Try the Palm Springs Tram for an 8,000-foot ride up to the top of the San Jacinto Mountains.
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Download the free PS Mod smartphone app and do a self-guided some of Palm Springs’ famed mid-century modern buildings (including Villa Alejo!)
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Tour Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, the former Annenberg estate and playground of the presidents.
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Have a date shake at the Windmill Market.
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Soak in some culture at the Palm Springs Museum of Art or the Palm Springs Museum of Art Architecture and Design Center, each less than a mile from the Arcadian.
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Hop over to Joshua Tree National Park, about an hour’s drive, and take in the breath-taking landscapes there.
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Visit the Salton Sea and nearby Salvation Mountain, an enormous outdoor art installation.
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In Palm Springs and the surrounding Coachella Valley, you’ll find every kind of dining experience you could want, from a family-owned taco stand to chef-table elegance. Here are some favorites. A lot of these are walkable from Villa Alejo.
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Monsoon for Indian
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Thai Smile for Thai
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Bootlegger Tiki for drinks
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Sherman’s Deli or Cheeky’s for breakfast
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Melvyn’s for a Rat Pack bar experience
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Townie Bagels for bagels and pastries
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Swiss Donut for donuts and pastries
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Aspen Mills for artisan bread and sandwiches
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Yiannis Taverna for Greek
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Taka Shin for sushi
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Maru for Korean BBQ
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La Bonita’s for tacos
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LG’s Prime Steakhouse for steak
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Al Dente for Italian
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Birba for wood-fired pizza
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Native Foods for vegan/vegetarian food
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