RELAX
Palm Springs is a lifestyle. Whether you like hiking, shopping, dining, biking, swimming, sunning, exploring, or eating, you’ll find something to enjoy here.
Things to do in the Coachella Valley:
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Ride the Palm Springs Tramway 8,000 feet up to the top of San Jacinto Mountain. If you’re lucky, there will be snow waiting for you.
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Visit the Palm Springs Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.
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Hike the relatively easy Taquitz Canyon trail and see a 60-foot waterfall.
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Hike the more challenging Cactus to Clouds trail and see a panoramic view of the valley.
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Rent a bike at BIKE Palm Springs.
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Rent a motor scooter at Scoot Palm Springs.
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Visit the waterpark at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells.
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Play on the sandy beach at the Renaissance Esmeralda pool in Indian Wells.
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Go birdwatching at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage.
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Visit the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert.
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Shop on Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs or at El Paseo or Westfield Mall in Palm Desert.
Need more?
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Here in January? Attend the internationally-known Palm Springs Film Festival.
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Here in February? Attend Modernism Week, a celebration of Palm Springs’ architecture.
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Here in March? Attend the 5th biggest event in tennis, the BNP Paribas Tournament in Indian Wells.
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Here in April? Attend Coachella or Stagecoach music festivals in Indio.
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Here in June? Attend Palm Springs Restaurant Week.
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Here in July? Enjoy the Agua Caliente Casino fireworks—watch from Villa Alejo!
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Here in August? Attend Taste of Summer in Rancho Mirage or the Palm Springs Indoor Farmers Market.
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Here in September? Attend the Dinah, a five-day festival catering to the lesbian community, the largest lesbian-centric event in the U.S.
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Here in October? Attend Modern Week’s October preview.
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Here in November? Attend Palm Springs LGBT Pride festival.
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Here in December? Attend the Tamale Festival in Indio or the Festival of Lights Parade in Palm Springs.
And don’t forget Palm Springs VillageFest, a combination marketplace, art exhibit, and music party, that happens every Thursday evening from 6–10 pm, all year long, on Palm Canyon Drive, just a few blocks from Villa Alejo.
SIGHTSEEING
DINING
New to the area? Palm Springs has some great places to see that will really connect you to our one-of-a-kind destination
Here are some of the Coachella Valley’s most-well-known sights and experiences:
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Try the Palm Springs Tram for an 8,000-foot ride up to the top of the San Jacinto Mountains.
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Download the free PS Mod smartphone app and do a self-guided some of Palm Springs’ famed mid-century modern buildings (including Villa Alejo!)
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Tour Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, the former Annenberg estate and playground of the presidents.
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Have a date shake at the Windmill Market.
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Soak in some culture at the Palm Springs Museum of Art or the Palm Springs Museum of Art Architecture and Design Center, each less than a mile from the Arcadian.
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Hop over to Joshua Tree National Park, about an hour’s drive, and take in the breath-taking landscapes there.
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Visit the Salton Sea and nearby Salvation Mountain, an enormous outdoor art installation.
In Palm Springs and the surrounding Coachella Valley, you’ll find every kind of dining experience you could want, from a family-owned taco stand to chef-table elegance. Here are some favorites. A lot of these are walkable from Villa Alejo.
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Monsoon for Indian
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Thai Smile for Thai
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Bootlegger Tiki for drinks
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Sherman’s Deli or Cheeky’s for breakfast
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Melvyn’s for a Rat Pack bar experience
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Townie Bagels for bagels and pastries
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Swiss Donut for donuts and pastries
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Aspen Mills for artisan bread and sandwiches
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Yiannis Taverna for Greek
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Taka Shin for sushi
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Maru for Korean BBQ
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La Bonita’s for tacos
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LG’s Prime Steakhouse for steak
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Al Dente for Italian
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Birba for wood-fired pizza
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Native Foods for vegan/vegetarian food