3 to 4 Days in Palm Springs: Aerial Tramway, Mid-Century Architecture, Indian Canyons & Joshua Tree

This itinerary follows the natural rhythm of Palm Springs: schedule canyon hikes and mountain tram rides in the cool morning hours, enjoy poolside sunshine from midday to mid-afternoon before the sun drops behind Mount San Jacinto, and spend late afternoons and evenings exploring Mid-Century neighbourhoods, museums and courtyard restaurants. Read our practical briefing before Day 1.

Day 1: Aerial Tramway, Architecture Loop & Downtown

• Morning: have brunch at Cheeky's or Farm, then drive 10 minutes north to board your pre-booked Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up Chino Canyon to the 2,596-metre Mountain Station and walk the 1.5-mile Desert View Trail.
• Afternoon: stop at Albert Frey's 1965 Visitor Center, relax by your hotel pool, and cycle or drive a self-guided Mid-Century Modern Architecture Loop through Vista Las Palmas (Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway & Kaufmann House) and Twin Palms ('That Pink Door').
• Evening: park free at Museum Way to see the 26-foot 'Forever Marilyn' Statue, visit the Palm Springs Art Museum (free on Thursday evenings during VillageFest), grab a Date Shake at Great Shakes, and dine on Palm Canyon Drive before cocktails at Bootlegger Tiki.

Day 2: Indian Canyons, Tahquitz Falls & Hot Springs

• Morning: drive 10 minutes south into Indian Canyons to walk the 1-mile Andreas Canyon Loop beneath skirted fan palms and Cahuilla mortars, then visit Palm Canyon (or climb 350 granite steps to 60-foot Tahquitz Falls).
• Afternoon & Evening: lunch at Sherman's Deli, then spend the afternoon at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum & The Spa at Séc-he soaking in a 40°C mineral bath (or visit the Palm Springs Air Museum), followed by dinner at Rooster and the Pig or Melvyn's.

Day 3 (and Day 4): Joshua Tree Loop & Coachella Valley East

• Day 3: drive 45 minutes up Highway 62 (via Pioneertown) into the West Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park to see Hidden Valley, Keys View, Skull Rock, Arch Rock and the Cholla Cactus Garden, returning on I-10 West past the Windmills and Cabazon Dinosaurs.
• Day 4: head 20 minutes east to feed giraffes at The Living Desert Zoo, stroll Sunnylands and El Paseo, drink a Date Shake at Shields Date Garden, and take a San Andreas Fault Red Jeep Tour or hike Ladder Canyon.