After 5 years of living in LA, Zack and I finally made it to Palm Springs. Honestly not sure why it took us so long to get out to Palm Springs because it checks off so many things I love: hiking, mid century modern styling, cacti galore, and sunshine!
We only went for a day, and trust me – if that’s all the time you’ve got then you can absolutely make it work! Check out our one day itinerary below and let it be a guide for your visit.
GET AN EARLY START
You’ll beat the traffic AND the heat. If your plans include any hiking this is KEY!
TAKE A HIKE
Probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Palm Springs, but there are actually a ton of trails to explore! We decided to check out Tahquitz Canyon – a fairly easy 2 mile loop with stunning views of the Coachella Valley and a seasonal 60-foot waterfall.
Since it’s been such a wet winter, there was no question we wanted to see the waterfall. The waterfall was in full force and the mist was cool and refreshing. The water was very cold but we waded around to cool off and snap a few photos.
Address: 500 West Mesquite Road, Palm Springs, CA 92016
Parking: Free
Cost: $12.50 / person
LUNCH + LOUNGE
Find a restaurant or pool and spend some time relaxing. We managed to do both at The Saguaro – a rainbow colored hotel that oozes cuteness (see first picture of this post!).
We grabbed a bite at the hotel’s restaurant, El Jefe – which serves up some delish Mexican food + drinks then headed out to the pool area and chilled in the hammocks.
Address: 1800 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264
AFTERNOON SIGHTSEEING
If you’ve only got one day, make the most of it. Check out the Moorten Botanical Gardens and Cactarium. So many people told me this was a must see, and I have to agree! Every cactus and succulent you can image is there. Expect to spend around 30 minutes walking through the garden – which is why it’s perfect and easy to squeeze in during a day trip.
Address: 1701 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264
Parking: Free
Hours: Open all year, but reduced summer hours die to heat so check the website!
Cost: $5 / person
Before heading back to LA, spend some time driving around and check out the town. Palm Springs is known for it’s Mid Century Modern architecture – which is my favorite style. There are tons of architecture tours you can do, or with a little internet research, you can create your own Mid Century Modern Architecture. I’ve even seen a Palm Springs Door Tour! But you can’t go wrong just driving around either!
EVEN MORE
Like I said, there’s SO much to do, so if something on this list just isn’t for you, here’s a few more suggestions (and I’ll be adding these to my list for next time!):
• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
• Shopping and Dining on Palm Canyon Drive
• Sunnylands
• The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
We managed to fit a lot in one day – but if you have a little more time you can pace yourself accordingly. Zack and I both really loved our trip and definitely plan to visit again.
– Courtney
hardys on holiday 
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