What is there to do around Palm Springs?

[Xithras]

I'm being sent to Palm Springs at the end of February for a business conference, but a combination of meeting and flight schedules has conspired to leave me there for an extra day after it's over (i.e., I have a free, one day Palm Springs vacation).

I've never been there, and haven't had much luck finding stuff on the Internet about it. I understand that it's a tourist destination, but from what I can see, my choices are Golf, Golf, Golf, Golf, or riding some silly tram up and down a mountain all day. Come on SoCal DU'ers, please tell me that there's more to Palm Springs than this!

[Trajan]

1. You basically have it ...

Golf ...

Tram (snow, alpine hiking terrain, pretty views ..)

LOTS of little clubs and bars ...

Usually some great hotels with pools and spas (with poolside bars) ...

I would add: Breakfast at 'The Rock Garden Cafe' ...

How bout' Banana Date Shakes at 'Hadley's Fruits and Nuts' in Cabezon ??? ... The Morongo band casino on the 10 ???... and if you like to shop: the Outlet stores just west of Hadley's on the 10 ?? ....

PS is all about weather ... and about golf ...

But you can find more there ....

[Jack_Dawson]

2. You can go golfing, or ride the tram...

Sorry. Depends what you're into. Do you go to clubs? Do you go on nature walks? Do you like to watch tumbleweed? There's a lot to do but it depends on your interests.

[Xithras]

4. Outdoor stuff mostly...mountain bikes, hiking, photography

What kind of nature walks? I had figured that a city in the middle of the Mojave Desert wouldn't have much nature outside of cactus, tumbleweeds, and rattlesnakes. There's nothing wrong with hiking through cactus, tumbleweed, and rattlesnakes, but not for an entire day.

How far away is Joshua Tree National Park? I found a few pictures of it and some of the rock formations look interesting enough to visit, but haven't decided if it's worth the trip (how long a drive is it from Palm Springs?) Is it just cactus, tumbleweed, and rattlesnakes with a few rock piles tossed in?

I don't club (not without the wife anyway), and shopping is incredibly boring to me. I'm fairly cereberal, so art galleries, museums, and historical sites are always an interest.

*sigh* I wonder how much it would cost to take up golf?

[Richardo]

3. The Tram is not that bad...

...I grew up in PS (through High School) and it's a pretty amazing ride. In February there will be snow at the top station (>8,000 ft) which is pretty cool for the desert (at least we thought so as kids).

The thing was built in 1963 and was pretty amazing engineering for its day - towers brought up by helicopter, etc.

Other than that and golf, there's tennis, museums (a good natural history museum as I recall) and other outdoor stuff.

[Menshevik]

5. NOTHING

heh, just kidding.

I grew up in PS (well, Palm Desert, actually) and am currently here for the holidays, bored as hell.

February, eh? You're going to have some nice weather.

I'd recommend the Indian Canyons (http://www.indian-canyons.com/) if you want to do some hiking. The tram is cool, and the view is amazing, but personally I think it's a bit overrated.

If you like wildlife, check out the Living Desert (it's like a zoo, but for desert animals) http://www.livingdesert.org/

As for eating, Las Casuelas Terraza on Palm Canyon (http://www.lascasuelasterraza.com/index.html) is excellent, as is Tyler's Hamburgers (also off Palm Canyon).