How Locals Spend Free Time in Palm Springs
Curious about what you'll do when you live in Palm Springs? If you like the idea of hiking under desert sun, getting artsy in midcentury galleries, and are daring enough to try soaking in natural springs, Palm Springs is calling you home! This list of fun things to do will take you from sunrise trails to neon nights and give you a full taste of Palm Springs's laid-back creative energy.
Holley, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Holley lives in Palm Springs, which still feels a little surreal after years of dreaming about desert life from afar. After moving across the country six times, she landed in the Coachella Valley for the palm trees, mountain views, and a history so layered it feels like it was built for her. She has worked at two presidential libraries, hosts a history podcast, and writes archival based stories that bring the past back to life, which makes a place steeped in Old Hollywood, politics, and quiet celebrity exactly her speed. When she’s not golfing or disappearing into another archive treasure hunt, she’s happily leaning into local life, and exploring the best date-shake stands. At Snappy Scout, Holley edits with a historians eye and a locals instincts, turning California from a postcard into a place with texture, memory, and meaning.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Will You Do in Palm Springs?
From weekend adventures to iconic road trips, here's how locals spend their time off.
on a Saturday with perfect weather
Hiking Indian Canyons before the desert turns into a convection oven
when the gals come to town for the weekend
Soaking at Two Bunch Palms, then committing to poolside rosé
dude hangout
Golf at sunrise then crushing tacos in your pastel polo
rainy dreary day
Admiring midcentury architecture while staying bone dry in your vintage Cadillac
artsy
Gallery hopping during VillageFest where even the dogs wear statement jewelry
outdoorsy
Aerial Tramway ride to see actual pine trees and a 40 degree temperature drop
fitness oriented
Sunrise hike up Cahuilla Hills before the Instagram influencers wake up
if you're a shopaholic
El Paseo, essentially Rodeo Drive with palm trees and fewer freeways
with your dog
Palm Canyon Drive, where pups outnumber children three to one
in need of a selfie
The pink Paul Kaplan door, single-handedly responsible for a thousand basic posts
you have to see this
Those spinning Cabazon Dinosaurs from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, looming off I-10
on a budget
Thursday night VillageFest street fair, complete with seven-dollar pad thai and live music
My Favorite Local Spot in Palm Springs
Melvyn’s at the Ingleside Inn. I love the Old Hollywood feel and knowing I’m dining where famous legends like Lucille Ball and Frank Sinatra once frequented. It’s hard to beat ordering Melvyn’s Prime Burger paired with a classic Melvyn’s Manhattan.
— Holley Snaith
California Local Expert
Ready to See If Palm Springs Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Palm Springs guide for the bigger picture.