- Travel
5 Days in Palm Springs
– The Ultimate Itinerary
- September 29, 2022
Palm Springs is a city of leisure. For much of the 20th century, this town of 50,000 people was a favorite getaway spot for Hollywood royalty. Today, its glamor is still very much on display in the vibrant downtown where cool cafes, chic boutiques, and elegant restaurants shine.
Palm Springs is also a feast for the eyes, as much of the town is graced by fine mid-century modern architecture and design. If that’s not enough, there are also numerous golf courses, enthralling museums, and hiking trails to delight and excite visitors of all dispositions.
Here is our guide for what to do for five days in Palm Springs:
Day 1
Morning:
Greet the day with a “namaste”. KEY can arrange a private and personalized in-home yoga session for you in the comfort of your own Palm Springs home. The tranquil one-hour session can be for an individual or a group.
Afternoon:
Rent a bike and explore Palm Springs. We’ll not only organize the rental of a beach cruiser bike for you but will ensure that the bike, helmet, and lock are delivered at your convenience, even before your arrival, and picked up at a time that suits you when you’re done. Pedal your way down Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs, and on to the Moorten Botanical Garden, which first opened in 1938 and boasts a spectacular collection of cacti, trees, and desert plants (Please note: the garden is closed July–September).
Evening:
Continue your Palm Springs adventure with a sunset hot air balloon ride. As the balloon rises up over Coachella Valley, marvel at the dramatic Southern California sunset while sipping champagne paired with an exquisite cheese plate.
Day 2
Morning:
Celebrating an occasion, or simply ready to enjoy the life of leisure in style? Start your day by savoring a delicious brunch board delivery. Imagine artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, breads, smoked salmon, hummus, fresh fruit, honey, and other edible delights delivered right to your door. Your only obligation is to have an appetite.
Afternoon:
Because you really can’t get enough of the wonderful views when you visit Palm Springs, enjoy an afternoon ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. This fun journey lifts you high above Chino Canyon to the peak of Mount San Jacinto, where you can take in panoramic views of rugged mountains and the valley floor far below.
Evening:
Hit the town and the plethora of bars and restaurants in downtown Palm Springs. Get around in style with a private driver to take you wherever you want and then safely back home again later. Palm Canyon Drive hotspots might be a good place to start — try Azúcar Restaurant and Bar for watermelon margaritas on the rooftop, Eight4Nine for New American cuisine in stylish surroundings, or Copley’s for sophisticated dining at a table out on the leafy patio.
Day 3
Morning:
Want to up your golf game? There’s no better way than to let KEY organize a golf lesson for you with a PGA or LPGA pro. The two-hour session is guaranteed to help take your golf game to the next level.
Afternoon:
For a relatively small city, Palm Springs is home to a wonderful art museum. The Palm Springs Art Museum houses an exceptional modern and contemporary collection featuring works by artists including Henry Moore, Louise Bourgeois, and Anish Kapoor, as well as an important architecture and design collection. If it’s overwhelmingly hot outside in Southern California, an afternoon visit to the Palm Springs Art Museum is also a great way to keep cool in the air-conditioned galleries.
Evening:
Midway through your five-day stay in Palm Springs, consider staying in for an evening made memorable by a private chef who can prepare a delectable feast at your home away from home. Choose a menu inspired by American, Asian, Mediterranean, Latin, or Italian specialties. Or create a custom culinary experience based around your favorite specific dishes.
Day 4
Morning:
Take a morning stroll down historic Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs to appreciate the mid-century modern architecture. Home to the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, Palm Canyon Drive is also the town’s main shopping street with design stores and vintage boutiques, as well as great cafes serving up premium coffees and tasty date shakes.
Afternoon:
Why not take what you learned from your private golf lesson and put it into practice on the course? The pros at KEY can book your tee time at one of Palm Springs’ world-class golf courses. All you have to do is show up and get ready to swing. And if you want to do it all in a golf cart, KEY can arrange that too — even delivering it straight to your door.
Evening:
If all that golfing has helped you develop a thirst, relax for the evening and let a professional sommelier lead you and your guests through an in-home wine tasting. Choose French or Italian for carefully selected bottles from these great wine-producing nations. Or go “Bubbles” for the night and savor the effervescent delights of five handpicked sparkling wines.
Day 5
Morning:
After morning coffee on your final day, experience the spectacular Southern California desert surrounding Palm Springs on a private Jeep eco-tour. Explore slot canyon walls and a natural palm oasis on the San Andreas Fault Tour, or discover the flora and fauna of Andreas Creek on a guided walk led by an expert local naturalist as part of the Indian Canyons Tour. Alternatively, the otherworldly rocky landscapes peppered with the distinctive spiky desert plants after which Joshua Tree National Park is named are yours to behold on the Joshua Tree Jeep Tour.
Afternoon:
Celebrate the miracle of flight with a visit to the Palm Springs Air Museum. A vast collection of US military aircraft dating from WWII onward is displayed throughout five air-conditioned hangars in which you can marvel at an F-4B Phantom fighter jet and sit inside a P-51 Mustang.
Evening:
End your trip with ease and style by letting the local experts at KEY book you a private airport transfer to Palm Springs International Airport. All you have to do is send your flight details and then relax after completing your perfect Palm Springs itinerary.
