Sites and Places of Interest

Concerts in the Park: Free concerts in the park happen at 6 p.m. each Thursday night in October. When the sun slips below the mountains to the west and the lights come up on the Palm Desert Civic Center Park amphitheater, you know you’re in for a delightful evening of music by some of the top acts from across the region. Held each spring and fall for 25 years, Palm Desert’s free Concerts in the Park series has become a “can’t miss” series of events for residents and visitors alike.

The River: The premier destination for shopping, theatre, and dining complex with many restaurants, a multi-plex theatre

Casino: Home to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and the Agua Caliente Casino. The casino is a popular destination for locals, tourists, and gambling enthusiasts offering many big acts such as Steve Martin/Martin Short, Howie Mandell, and many others.

Parks and Trails: The city and the area offer numerous parks and trails, endless opportunities to go hiking, rock climbing, or simply have a picnic.

The Living Desert: One of the main Palm Springs Valley attractions, this 1,200-acre park located in Palm Desert features desert animals and plant life from around the world. It includes many animal enclosures, allowing visitors to see the giraffes against the mountain countryside or the stunning butterfly tent with thousands of breeds of butterflies. It is an unforgettable experience.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: Take the tramcar 8,516 feet above the desert floor to the mountain top and enjoy the 360-degree view of the valley.

Palm Springs Art Museum: In downtown Palm Springs, the Palm Springs Art Museum features 15,000 square feet of sophisticated collections of art, loaned or donated by many local and national affluent residents. The collection rivals urban metropolitan museums and includes works from Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Donald Judd, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, and many more. It has two outdoor sculpture gardens, a café featuring American and Continental cuisine, and a museum store that includes one-of-a-kind gifts and art-related merchandise.

Golfing: Palm Desert has many golf courses, some private, some public. And it is adjacent to all the courses in La Quinta and Rancho Mirage. Throughout the valley, most country clubs have their own golf course, some of which are public. As a resident or as a tourist, you have more choices than almost any other destination in the world.

Shopping: There are so many great shopping areas in the valley, it’s hard to mention them all. Whether you are a bargain hunter or high-end shopper, we have it all. From the Shops at El Paseo (the Valley’s own rodeo drive) to downtown Palm Springs to Old Town La Quinta to the many wonderful consignment shops where you can find hidden treasures for your closet or your home. There is something for every shopper.