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Things to do / Travel Guide
Palm Springs Getaways
Except for the green resort oasis of development around Palm Springs, this desolate area has some of the starkest scenery anywhere. As the world's tallest thermometer (in Baker, CA) indicates, Death Valley is one of the hottest spots on earth. Though despite the high temps, the desert solitude, hiking, flora, and rock climbing attract many visitors. Expect blazing sunshine and a unique, desolate landscape.
California Desert Tourist Attractions
There are three different ways to enjoy the California desert scenery: First, you can plunge into the desolate landscape of Death Valley or the Mojave Desert and embrace the desert with all of its geographic and geological quirks. Second, you can enjoy the resort atmosphere of Palm Springs and its surrounding towns by dipping in a pool, relaxing with a luxurious spa treatment, and playing a few rounds of golf at an exclusive club. Last, you can plan day trips to places like Joshua Tree National Park, Salton Sea State Recreation Area, and the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Palm Springs Tourist Attractions
Palm Springs, the oasis of the desert, is the largest city in the area and, therefore, is home to most of the resorts and tourist attractions in the California desert region. In fact, Palm Springs has been a tourist haven since 1886 when the first hotel in the area was constructed. A few years later, Palm Springs became a hot health spa zone, and today continues to attract vacationers, including people who love to hit the spas, all year-round, but particularly in the winter time. The fact that Palm Springs hosts more than 100 golf courses also adds to city's wide appeal.
Because Palm Springs is a desert, you'll want to find things to do that are either indoors, in the shade, or in the water. There are a number of popular museums in Palm Springs, and the Sculpture Garden in the Palm Springs Desert Museum is definitely worth seeing. You'll also find great shopping opportunities, a great water park (the Oasis Water Resort), and of course, some natural springs.
There are, however, some outdoor activities that are just too good to pass up, despite the heat. You'll definitely want to take a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, a 2.5 mile cable car trip that delivers awesome views of the some of the nearby parks and desert mountains. When you get to the top you'll be met by miles and miles of hiking opportunities and plenty of observation decks and lookout areas.
Death Valley Tourist Attractions
Okay, so the word "death" is in the name of this small town, but we promise, it's not nearly as lethal as it sounds. But we do want to be clear about one thing: Death Valley is hot. Very hot. And if you want to avoid any ominous backlash to your trip, make sure you drink water. And lots of it! (Just to give you an idea of how hot it is here, the Native American name for Death Valley was "Tomesha," which translates as "the land where the ground is on fire"; and the highest recorded temperature on earth was recorded in 1913 at Death Valley—it was 134 degrees Fahrenheit!)
That being said, Death Valley, while yes, very hot, is also an extremely fascinating place to visit and is definitely worth your time and attention—hey, where else can you jump in a swimming pool and dry off even before you've fully left the pool?
Death Valley's claim to fame is the Death Valley National Park, filled with rock formations, canyons, salt flats (including the "Salt Creek"), and other features that make for a unique desert landscape and a popular tourist attraction. Some of the park's highlights include the Golden Canyon, Dante's View, Zabriskie Point, the Harmony Borax Works (fascinating ruins from the late 19th century), Furnace Creek, and, as mentioned before, the Salt Creek.
By the way, if you visit Death Valley between October and April, you'll get to enjoy this bleak desert in beautiful 65 degree weather. You just may want to avoid Death Valley in the summer months.
California Desert and Palm Springs Road Trip Getaway Planner
Some of the region's desert attractions can be explored in day trips from the Palm Springs area, a good base. Death Valley should not be missed. A week should be enough to cover the major sites in the area. If your vacation is based around the coast, consider a Los Angeles to Palm Springs and Death Valley road trip. You don't really need a detailed map of the California desert to hit the road.
Tourist Attractions and Highlights in Palm Springs, Death Valley and the California Desert
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