Some residents and many visitors to California’s Palm Springs are not quite sure of the city’s 2,000-year-old history that includes the arrival of the Cahuilla people, who lived in isolation and spoke Ivilyuat, a dialect of the Uto-Aztecan language. In the hot summer months, the Cahuilla trekked to higher elevations in cooler Chino Canyon. Today during summer months, the Palm Springs Aerial TRAM provides easy access to Chino Canyon.

This history, along with the early Native Americans and Spanish settlers, makes Palm Springs interesting to visit. In many ways the city of Palm Springs and the smaller towns in the nearby Coachella Valley still reflect its ancient history. Today’s streets and neighborhoods include Cahuilla surnames such as Amado, Belardo, Saturnino and Chino. Sometimes the terrain will uncover ancient irrigation ditches, former dams and house pits, which can still be seen in Tahquitz and Chino canyons and Indian Canyons nature preserve.

Palm Springs continues to thrive, and with so many visitors checking out the stunning scenery and events in the high desert towns of Coachella Valley — Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, Coachella and Desert Hot Springs — as well as communities of unincorporated Riverside County and five tribal nations, the tourism board added “Greater” to its marketing name: Visit Greater Palm Springs. In fact, the annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, held in April, has become a global event.

In 2026 Greater Palm Springs continues to build and revitalize its collection of hotels, dining venues and visitor attractions, with major private and municipal projects leading the way. At Palm Springs International Airport, an ongoing $2.2 billion expansion project will accommodate the growing air traffic and tourism industry. The project includes a new north concourse, an expanded baggage claim area and 14 new gates, with the first phase costing $754 million. The second phase will develop a south concourse and a rental car storage facility and maintain the airport’s Mid-Century signature architecture. The airport expansion is expected to fuel billions in economic impact and support thousands of jobs in Coachella Valley.

© Palm Springs Convention Center

Palm Springs Convention Center is investing in its future with once-in-a-generation modernization and expansion. The $135 million city project will ensure the center continues to serve as the region’s premier gathering place for conferences, exhibitions and community events. The project will incorporate updated technology, flexible indoor-outdoor meeting and event spaces, and improved pedestrian connections to downtown Palm Springs and nearby hotels. Palm Springs aspires to be the desert’s premier center for commerce, community and culture. City planners believe the project will fuel regional economic growth; generate new cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities; and provide lasting benefits for both residents and visitors.

Greater Palm Springs also makes waves with two world-class surf experiences. Opening in summer 2026, DSRT Surf in Palm Desert will feature a 5.5-acre surf lagoon, a 92-room hotel (coming shortly), residences, restaurants and recreation spaces. In Palm Springs, Palm Springs Surf Club invites guests to enjoy crystal-clear waves, pools and a dining venue set against the San Jacinto Mountains, blending surf culture with classic desert views.

Since 1936 the historic Palm Springs Plaza Theatre has remained the heartbeat of Palm Springs, a place where Hollywood’s golden era blends seamlessly with the magic of the desert. The beautiful Plaza Theatre recently reopened after a decade of restoration.

“With the amount of public and private investment dollars we have, as a city of 45,000 people, Palm Springs is similar to a larger metropolitan area, but we still have a vibrant, small-town feel,” said Scott Stiles, city manager, Palm Springs. “New hotels, restaurants and attractions are creating lots of excitement this year in downtown Palm Springs, while the multibillion-dollar expansion of Palm Springs International Airport and the multimillion[-dollar] renovation of the Palm Springs Public Library are helping the city create smart and steady growth for residents and visitors.”

© DSRT Surf

Thompson Palm Springs, by Hyatt, located in the heart of the Design District, continues to make waves with Bar Issi, a chic new lounge attracting the valley’s upscale visitors, while next door Lip Lab invites guests to create custom lip and cheek tints for an effortless, sun-kissed Palm Springs look. The property expects to open more luxury brand shops this year. The Thompson offers 168 bungalow-inspired guestrooms, including 18 suites, all beautifully designed with private balconies and breathtaking views.

Speaking of design, many visitors come to Palm Springs for Modernism Week every February, offering the deepest introduction to Desert Modernism. Comprehensive tours take guests through unique neighborhoods to see many of the Mid-Century houses lining the palm-tree filled streets.

For visitors who are not able to attend Modernism Week, scheduled Modernism house tours run through May.

SCENIC DRIVES
California Highway 74, the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway, offers a great daytrip into the mountains to escape the heat of the desert floor. Leaving from Palm Desert, start at Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center and make your way up the mountain via a series of switchbacks. Stop at Coachella Valley Vista Point for stunning views of the desert cities below. As you continue south, desert scenery gives way to pine trees and small mountain towns. Stop for lunch at Paradise Valley Cafe, or continue to Idyllwild for more food and retail options. The total drive stretches about 30 miles.

An hour north of Palm Springs lies the town of Joshua Tree, home to vintage shops, vegan cafés and a national park. At 1,240 square miles, Joshua Tree National Park is about the size of Rhode Island and straddles two distinct desert ecosystems: the Mojave and the Colorado, which becomes obvious when driving the length of the park north to south. The upper Mojave portion houses the park’s namesake Joshua trees and large boulder formations; it proves popular with rock climbers, hikers and campers. The lower Colorado Desert region features cactus gardens, ocotillos and plenty of unpaved roads to explore for those with four-wheel-drive vehicles. There are no restaurants or gas stations within the park, so plan accordingly.