Tours

Palm Springs draws numerous tourists from around the globe year after year. What keeps these visitors coming back to this desert haven? Most guests praise the world-championship golf courses, although others rave about the shopping, restaurants and shows offered in Palm Springs. Whatever your preference, you will find a variety of pleasurable attractions along these tours of Coachella Valley.

Tour One: Downtown Palm Springs

Begin your tour on Highway 111, after exiting from Interstate-10. Continue along Highway 111 until you reach North Palm Canyon Drive. Charming eateries are found along North Palm Canyon Drive. Consider stopping at Crosswalk Cafe, a casual venue with fresh baked breads and goodies. Meanwhile, Hamburger Hamlet is an ideal lunchtime spot for families.

Once you reach the intersection of North Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way, take a brief detour westward to find Museum Drive. Along this strip, visit Palm Springs Desert Museum with its exquisite sculpture gardens, and Annenberg Theater where traditional opera and ballet concerts are performed.

Back along Palm Canyon Drive (which becomes South Palm Canyon Drive after the Tahquitz Canyon Way intersection), visit the Plaza Theater, a 1930s movie house that has been transformed into a modern-day theater facility. The theater hosts scores of popular attractions including the Palm Springs Follies, a wildly popular show starring only folks over 50 years of age. Near the theater, The Blue Guitar draws large nighttime crowds with blues music and a hardwood dance floor.

Slightly further south, visitors will enjoy a stretch of historical landmarks. The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum showcases artifacts from early Native American tribes. In addition, the McCallum Adobe and Ruddy's General Store, two of Palm Springs' earliest establishments, both now serve as museums.

Palm Canyon Drive eventually turns eastbound, newly dubbed East Palm Canyon Drive. Merv Griffin's Givenchy Spa & Resort is located along this stretch of land. One of the most exclusive and luxurious resorts in Coachella Valley, this establishment hosts Fashions at Merv's Place, a monthly show featuring the latest trends of upscale Palm Springs boutiques.

When East Palm Canyon Drive meets Gene Autry Trail, turn north to find Palm Springs Air Museum, an incredible display of historic planes, highlighting an extensive collection of World War II aircraft.

Tour Two: Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert

While Palm Springs offers countless attractions, its surrounding desert cities also feature notable tourist spots. After visiting the sites along the Downtown Palm Springs tour, simply drive eastbound along East Palm Canyon Drive into Cathedral City where you will find popular attractions for families. The Desert IMAX Theater shows 3-D movies on a screen that spans six stories in height. Cathedral City also features top-notch public golf courses including the Cimarron Golf Resort and Cathedral Canyon Country Club.

Once you enter Rancho Mirage, visit this community's popular museum for youngsters. The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert offers dozens of interactive exhibits for kids including an archaeological dig.

Nearby Palm Desert features the most popular attractions on this tour, found along the famed El Paseo Avenue, also called “the Rodeo Drive of the desert.” The Gardens on El Paseo is an elaborate shopping center offering everything from clothing and luggage to pottery. Meanwhile, Coda Gallery features contemporary works of art including paintings, sculptures and glass masterpieces.

While El Paseo reigns supreme among the Palm Desert venues, the city hosts a few other notable attractions. The Living Desert is a delightful display of flora and fauna accompanied by a vast range of wild animal species. In addition, McCallum Theater is located in Palm Desert, showcasing cultural and musical events.

Tour Three: Eastern Desert Cities

While Palm Springs and its surrounding desert cities boast a variety of attractions, many tourists come simply to play golf. An abundance of golf courses dominate Coachella Valley. Some of the finest courses are found along PGA Boulevard in La Quinta where the PGA West Resort Courses are located. Tee off on a course designed by Jack Nicklaus or other top-name golfers. In addition, view world-famous golf tournaments such as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, which is hosted by the Arnold Palmer Course.

Golfing action continues in the community of Indio. While this town is significantly less upscale than La Quinta, the community has earned a favorable reputation for quality public courses. In fact, Indio's Landmark Golf Club hosted the prestigious 1999 Skins Game, an annual professional tournament broadcast on network television. In addition to public golf courses, Indio also hosts the annual Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival.

Whether you are looking to tee off on a world championship golf course or simply browse through upscale shopping boutiques, select a tour through Palm Springs and its surrounding cities. Each tour offers different highlights, but you will always find variety and sunshine along these tours of the Coachella Valley.