1 Hike the canyons of Palm
Springs
Palm Springs is a hiker's paradise, which is
evident by the many hiking trails mapped out in
and around its numerous scenic canyons and
gorges. Here the diversity of wildlife is as
contrasting as the breathtaking landscape. From
catching a glimpse of the rare and endangered
Bighorn Sheep to watching the clever antics of
the smallest desert creatures, the canyons of
Palm Springs are a must see for any visitor to
the area.
Tahquitz Canyon is situated on the Agua
Caliente Reservation and is one of the most
beautiful desert attractions to be found in Palm
Springs. Boasting of a spectacular 60-foot
waterfall, rock art, ancient irrigation systems,
abundant native wildlife and plants, a hike
through this unique and diverse canyon will not
be forgotten any time soon.
Palm Canyon features fifteen miles of mapped
trails that gives hikers an intimate glimpse of
the area's indigenous flora and fauna situated
against a contrasting, rugged landscape of rocky
red and gold gorges and the barren desert lands
in the distance. Here you can hike, explore,
picnic and horseback ride against the
breathtaking canyon backdrop.
2 Tour the oases of Palm Springs
A beautiful contrast to the barren desert
landscape are the many lush oases of Palm
Springs. Consisting mainly of tall Fan Palms,
the oases offer more than just respite from the
extreme desert temperatures, which descend upon
the area daily.
The oases of Palm Springs are intricate
ecosystems boasting of numerous different kinds
of plant and animal life including snakes,
rodents, lizards and spiders.
Thousand Palms Oasis is situated on the
Coachella Valley Preserve and straddles the San
Andreas Fault line. Consisting of emerald green
undergrowth, soaring Fan Palms and the
endangered Valley Fringe-toed Lizard, the
Thousand Palms Oasis is the perfect place to
start your tour of the Oases of Palm Springs.
The Oasis of Mara, formerly known as
Twentynine Palms Oasis, is located in the Joshua
Tree National Park. Once revered as an “Oasis of
Fertility” by the natives, this oasis is indeed
a fertile ground for many types of flora, fauna
and wildlife.
3 Entertain your whole family in Palm Springs
What once has been known as a Mecca for the
retired, the rich and golf enthusiasts, Palm
Springs is beginning to show its inner child.
From museums and amusement parks to miniature
golf and arcades, there is no end to the
family-friendly attractions to be found in Palm
Springs.
Located on East Palm Canyon, Camelot Park
boasts of activities and entertainment to keep
the whole family occupied for hours. At the
center of this whimsical attraction is a
fantastical castle surrounded by video games,
miniature golf, go-carts, bumper boats and much,
much more.
The Living Desert Wildlife and Botanical Park
is located on Portola Avenue, and is full of
amazing wildlife and creatures that will be sure
to amuse the adults and children alike.
Featuring species such as coyotes, the
endangered bighorn sheep, cheetahs and meerkats,
the Living Desert is a must-see attraction in
the Palm Springs area. The park also boats of a
discovery center where children can watch
demonstrations and have hands-on interactions
with small creatures such as snakes, turtles and
tarantulas.
4 Tour Palm Springs by bike
There is no better way to get up close and
personal with an exotic destination like Palm
Springs than by leisurely strolling through the
many lush oases and barren landscapes typical of
this desert paradise. But hoofing it through the
miles and miles of desert attractions in and
around Palm Springs can take a great deal of
time and energy. That is why it has become very
popular to tour Palm Springs by bike, and there
are several mapped bike tours and guides
dedicated to this popular activity.
One of the most popular bike tour agencies in
Palm Springs is Big Wheel Bike Tours. They offer
several different courses which range in
difficulty from beginner to Advanced and can
vary in length from a couple of hours to a full
day. Many of the courses meander through
breathtaking landscapes and popular tourist
attractions.
5 Palm Springs Casinos
Boasting a handful of casinos all featuring
low and high-stakes gambling, fine dining and
other luxurious attractions, Palm Springs is
prepared to take care of all of your gambling
wants and needs. In fact, the only hindrance
that you may find when it comes to Palm Springs
casinos is deciding exactly in which casino you
want to place your bets.
No matter what your gaming preference or
budget, there is a gaming facility in Palm
Springs to meet your every need. From
high-stakes Poker and slot machines to Bingo and
Blackjack among others, you will find plenty to
keep your gambling hand occupied during your
stay in Palm Springs. Some of the many casinos
in the area include the Palm Springs Spa Resort
Casino, the Agua Caliente Casino, the Fantasy
Springs Casino and the Trump 29 Spotlight
Casino.
6 The Native Americans of Palm Springs
Palm Springs is a desert paradise with
sparkling waters, tree-lined canyons and
bubbling hot springs. This rich, desert oasis
has been the site of civilization for thousands
of years beginning with the native inhabitants
of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.
For centuries, this band of Native Americans
lived off of the bounty to be had in this unique
desert, ecosystem.
The region was ideal for habitation, and the
Agua Caliente took advantage of the resources in
the area and survived by living off of the land.
They used multitudes of desert plants for food,
clothes, medicine and hunted game such as deer,
bighorn sheep, rabbits and other small animals.
They also used an elaborate irrigation system to
aid in the production of crops that were brought
by the Spanish including corn, squash, beans and
melons.
Sadly, in 1862 a small pox epidemic brought
about by the influx of whites into the area
almost completely wiped out the Agua Caliente
altogether. In 1925, only 50 Agua Caliente
remained. Today, there are 240. They still hold
the majority of the land in the Palm Springs
area and run successful casinos and other
tourist attractions in the area.
7 How Palm Springs was named
The first non-Native American to settle in
the Palm Springs area was Judge John Guthrie
McCallum. Arriving in Palm Springs in 1884 from
San Francisco with family in tow, McCallum
worked alongside the Native Americans to build a
19 mile stone-lined ditch from the Whitewater
River Springs to irrigate the dryer parts of the
area.
Continuing throughout the 19th century,
numerous explorers, colonizers and soldiers came
through the desert and remarked on the lush
oasis to be found in the Coachella Valley, but
no formal name had been given to the site. Often
referred to as Palm Springs, Agua Caliente or
Palm Valley, it wasn't until 1890 when Harry
McCallum wrote his address as Palm Springs that
the region came to be known under those terms.
