Top Things to do in Coachella Valley
Top Hotels in Coachella Valley
- 1. Best Western Plus Las Brisas Hotel
- 2. Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel
- 3. Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs
- 4. Caliente Tropics Resort
- 5. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
- 6. Hotel California
- 7. La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton
- 8. Palm Mountain Resort & Spa
- 9. Palm Canyon Resort & Spa
- 10. 7 Springs Inn & Suites
Countries
What to do and see in Coachella Valley, California Desert: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Coachella Valley, United States including San Jacinto Mountain, Coachella Valley Vista Point, Palm Springs Art Museum, Cabot's Pueblo Museum, Children's Discovery Museum, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Springs Air Museum, Painted Canyon, Coachella Valley Preserve, VillageFest.
Restaurants in Coachella Valley
1. San Jacinto Mountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 928 reviews
Reviewed By 811raulg - Doral, United States
Returning to Palm Springs, after more than 20 years, was a unforgettable and splendid experience! The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the world’s largest rotating tram car, travels over two-and-one-half miles along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon. It is a ten-minute journey, tram cars rotate slowly, allowing spectacular vistas of the valley below. At the Mountain Station, you will find two very good restaurants, observation decks, natural history museum, gift shop and awesome trails! (over 50 miles of them!) .
2. Coachella Valley Vista Point
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By sdbctb - Brooklyn, United States
This highway is very nice to drive to palm springs from San Diego or anywhere on the west coast, it takes you through the mountains with switchbacks on the roadway and scenic views, this view is the winner as far as i saw. you see the valley from up high with amazing views of mountains and valley as well as the picturesque view of the roadway the rest of the way down. almost like the pikes peak roadway. if your stomach is sensitive and get nauseated on the roadway though this is not for you.
3. Palm Springs Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,691 reviews
Located in downtown Palm Springs (with a branch location in Palm Desert, CA), the Palm Springs Art Museum offers compelling art exhibitions from national and international artists. The museum's extensive permanent collection includes significant works by modern and contemporary artists, western, contemporary and glass artists, and features several temporary exhibitions throughout the year. The museum is open free every Thursday night and the second Sunday of every month. It also offers a range of theatrical and musical performances in its Annenberg Theater. Throughout all these programs, the museum is dedicated to creating memorable and inspiring interactions through educational and cultural opportunities.
Reviewed By PSforever - Palm Springs, United States
Right in the middle of downtown Palm Springs..this little museum packs a big punch..An eclectic collection of art, a beautiful sculpture garden with a lovely cafe..It also contains the Annenberg Theater which is a beautiful venue for music. Don't miss it!
4. Cabot's Pueblo Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 361 reviews
The structure is hand-made, created from reclaimed and found objects. The Pueblo is four-stories, 5,000 square feet and includes 35 rooms, 150 windows and 65 doors. Visitors will notice many unique features: including windows and doors collected and reassembled from abandoned homesteads, old telephone poles, buck board wagon parts and many other materials used creatively.On the guided tour, visitors journey through the life of Cabot Yerxa and his family including artifacts collected from their adventures dating back over 100 years. Hear his story from the Dakota Territory to Mexico, Cuba, Alaska, France, throughout California and the Southwest, including the founding of Desert Hot Springs, California.
Reviewed By lindal369
If you find yourself in the Desert Hot Springs area this gem is a must-see. Wonderful pueblo, great history of the area, entertaining guides (definitely take the guided tour). We thoroughly enjoyed our visit!
5. Children's Discovery Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 169 reviews
An interactive museum with hands-on exhibits allows children to explore and learn.
Reviewed By NYTravelerBD - Larchmont, United States
We visited this wonderful children's museum with a group of children ranging in age from 4 to 8, and they all had a blast. The museum is highly interactive and does a great job of offering activities/exhibits that are geared to younger children as well as kids who are closer to 8 to 10. There isn't a whole lot to do for children in Palm Springs, so this made for a very nice day with our 6-year-old daughter.
6. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,006 reviews
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a nonprofit, accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, ensuring the highest standards of all aspects of animal care, education, conservation, public service, and operations. The Zoo is active in conservation research, habitat protection, breeding programs and education initiatives around the world, as well as in its own community. The Zoo has been a top attraction in the Palm Springs area for nearly 50 years. The Living Desert is located at 47900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260.
Reviewed By LaurieStory - Santa Monica, United States
Lovely desert gardens, fabulous model train display (huge), lots of interesting animal chats, free tram around the park, and wide selection of animals in large natural enclosures. I could happily spend several days there. Lots of places to sit in the shade and have a snack, good bathroom facilities (and plenty of them), nice combo of sunny and shady pathways. Not to be missed!
7. Palm Springs Air Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,004 reviews
Rated by CNN as one of the top 14 Air Museums in the World. This facility Gives visitors an up-close look at the legendary fighters and bombers of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
Reviewed By geoffreyh551 - Phoenix, United States
Everywhere we went in Palm Springs people told us to go here. You need to go here as soon as it opens ( open 7 days a week 10 Am until 5 PM). The Air Museum is very well set up . Airplanes are located in two hangars to the left as you enter and two hangars to the right. There are 9 people fully employed and 400 volunteers ( docents). All of the docents are veterans and have extensive information that they are ready to personally share with you. Plenty of on site parking. Admission is either $18 or $16 Senior/Military persons. You need to plan on spending many hours going from hangar to hanger-exhibitions of World War 2 and Vietnam. Many hands on exhibits that detail what specifics of the war was happening. Docents all over the area to assist and explain details as to what you are looking at. Don't forget to save time to go upstairs to the very extensive library. We looked up in the large collection of Life Magazines specific issues in our life time that were of interest to us. There is also a docent who will personally assist you on a Flight Simulator ' actually help you simulate a flight. Last visit an actual plane B-17 before you exit ( donation $5.00), but you can board it and walk through the entire plane. Highly recommend We spent 3 hours there .
8. Painted Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 224 reviews
A variety of colors paint the rocks here, giving this unique location its name.
Reviewed By AKKris - Juneau, United States
Long drive in to the parking area on bumpy, dirt road. Took it very slow with the car. No bathrooms available once you get to parking area (there are bathrooms on the road on the way). From parking lot, head in and keep eyes peeled for big arrow pointing to the left. Also if you see a park sign on the left with an arrow, look around on ground in area by it for the arrow made with rocks to the left. It will look like you are going to walk into a big rock wall but once you are by the rocks, you can see a path to start climbing. If you get to the wash area, you missed the arrow and should turn around and go back looking for the arrow. You need to be able to climb ladders that at times are not in the best of shape. It will take you through some beautiful slot canyons. We've done the loop where you turn towards the right once you are on top towards the tower and follow the path down. It takes you through the wash area and is not that much fun to walk through. Or you can get on top and follow the path back along the canyon and it will take you through two ropes to climb down. Our group didn't feel comfortable doing so but have talked with others who have and sounds easier than the first rope looked. We also have hiked through the ladders back to the parking lot and really enjoyed that. Really enjoy this hike.
9. Coachella Valley Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 727 reviews
Formed by a system of sand dunes, this 20,000-acre sanctuary is home to several species of rare wildlife and a number of palm oases.
Reviewed By JudyP1614
Come see how Palm Springs was named! My husband and I took an easy, leisurely walk with some friends through this preserve and were treated to sun, desert, gorgeous flowers following a recent rain, palm trees surrounding an oasis! A docent welcomed us to the trails and explained this particular area had more ecological diversity than most any other in the area! Another docent further up the trail explained the amazing array of flowers often not present. We extended our 2 mile loop an additional stretch to catch more wild flowers. It was well worth it. Although I have lived in the Inland Empire area for ten years this was my first time to savor the beauty of the springs. Wow! Nature gave us a spectacular morning! The whole experience was picturesque, pristine (not one piece of trash anywhere to be seen) with sand, water, palm trees and snow capped mountains in the distance. The beauty of this spot cannot be fully captured without feet in the sand and eyes to the sky. Thanks for an unforgettable preserve!
10. VillageFest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,781 reviews
The place to meet new friends is at this old-fashioned street fair with sidewalk performers, musicians, farmer's market, gifts and lots of food.
Reviewed By V3855POhelena - Santa Monica, United States
I happened upon this Palm Springs experience a few months ago, and have repeated it ever since. It's very pleasant walking down the main street among arts and crafts, good stands, a mini farmers market, locals walking their dogs, and a village atmosphere on a large scale. I specially like the tiles/coasters made from retro posters and have started a collection. They can be found at stelladivina.com. These and other excellent arts and crafts make it worth spending at least a couple of hours browsing, and sampling some of the street food while mingling with the locals and tourists.
