Many people’s first impression of Palm Springs is a ridiculously hot desert community with a large influx of people over the age of 60. While both of those statements may be true, I can assure you, Palm Springs’ tourism, art scene, and posh parties are booming as well. Palm Springs on a budget
With caravans of millennials visiting the weekend getaway destination from Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco on the regular, Palm Springs has experienced a huge revival of culture and entertainment. From facelifts of former motor lodges to transformations of vacant lots, Palm Springs is now manifested by its swanky boutique resorts and Midcentury Modernism architecture.
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Table of Contents
What to do in Palm Springs on a Budget
Admire the Palm Springs Windmills
There are about 4,000 windmills that stretch between Banning and Edom Hill across the Coachella Valley. The only way to get up-close and personal with the turbines is on a tour for $98, but there are plenty of turn-offs where you can admire their strength and beauty from a distance.
Each turbine stands about 150 feet tall and weighs between 30,000-45,000 pounds. The structures cost about $300,000 and produces 300 kilowatts of energy, enough to power a home for a whole month.
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Visit Palm Spring’s Modern Art Museums
Palm Springs has two different locations for its Modern Art Museum. The main hall is located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs; the other is in Palm Desert along SR 111, the main highway cutting through the Coachella Valley. This is one of my favorite activities to do when visiting Palm Springs. We pretty much go every time we’re in town! Not only do you get a chance to escape the heat, they have rotating exhibits so there’s always something new for you to check out.
Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for students. Personally, I’m a huge Chihuly fan, so I was excited to see they had one of his pieces on display.
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Explore Palm Springs’ Midcentury Modernism
If you didn’t already know that Palm Springs is famous for its Midcentury Desert Modernism architecture, you haven’t been doing your research! Starting in the 1920’s, architects fled to the area to start a revolution in the design world. Its use of glass, geometry, and special building materials for both indoor and outdoor spaces, evokes a lifestyle of simple elegance and informality.
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There are both hosted and self-guided driving tours throughout the area showing some of the most iconic traces of Midcentury Modernism, like the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Elvis’ Honeymoon Hideaway, and The Wexler Steel Houses. While their beauty is not shy from the outside, the real elegance can be found inside these homes. You can either visit during Modernism Week and pay a premium to go behind the scenes, or you can do what we did, and visit some open houses on the market.
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Go Vintage & Thrift Shopping In Palm Springs
“I’m gonna pop some tags. Only got 20 dollars in my pocket.” That’s how I feel every time I visit Palm Springs. Thrift shopping here is a uniquely-praised experience with a wide range of hand-selected antique furniture pieces and vintage clothing. Personally, I’m always on the hunt for a colorful piece, and there are plenty of these gems around at shops like The Frippery.
Palm Springs is also known for its accomplished artist community, so walk down Palm Canyon Dr. and you’ll find a ton of galleries ranging from Neoclassical paintings to modern contemporary sculptures. Best vintage shopping in Palm Springs
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Visit Sunnylands in Palm Springs
Walter and Leonore Annenberg established the The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands in 2001 to address issues facing the United States and the world. They wanted Sunnylands to be an inspiring backdrop for solution-driven meetings to promote world peace and international agreement.
In 2012, the 200-acre property was open to the public. In order to tour the entire estate, you must sign up for a guided-tour on the 15th of each month for the following month. Tickets are $45 for 90-minutes, but well worth it to explore the beautiful pink home and surrounding, beautifully-manicured golf course.
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The Center and Gardens at Sunnylands are open Thursday through Sunday from 8am – 4pm and free of charge. There is a free guided tour of the facility each Thursday at 11am, or you can explore on your own. Be sure to check their website for days with live music too. There’s also a coffee shop on the premise, which is a perfect place to meet a friend for drinks. Things To Do in Palm Springs on a Budget
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Lay by the Pool in Palm Springs
You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg at one of the posh hotels to enjoy the summertime vibes year-round. Some hotels like The Saguaro and Ace Hotel & Swim Club will let vistors enjoy the pool scene even if they aren’t staying at the hotel for free or a small cost. Depending on what time of the year you are visiting, you can expect to see many mid-20 and 30-year-olds celebrating life around the pool with a DJ in the background. If you’re looking for something a little more peaceful and secluded, I recommended checking out one of the smaller boutique hotels. Things To Do in Palm Springs on a Budget. Best Pools in Palm Springs
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Relax & Drink Coffee with a View
My favorite place to grab some coffee with friends or get some work done is at the original Koffi in North Palm Springs. Located in the Uptown Design District with Mount San Jacinto as a backdrop, this Koffi location is both a preferred gathering spot for locals and an oasis for visitors.
My other favorite coffee spot in town is Ernest Coffee, which is just a bit North up N. Palm Canyon Dr. from Koffi. They baristas are all very friendly; it has a chill vibe, and most importantly, the coffee is delicious!
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Just two hours away from Palm Springs is Los Angeles. Perhaps you flew into here or just want to make a side trip. Here are 3 neighborhoods you should visit:
Where to Eat in Palm Springs
Hadley Fruit Orchards
No trip to Palm Springs is complete without a stop at the Hadley Fruit Orchards store in Cabazon. They are famous for their date shakes, and all I can say is WOW! There are two flavors (date or date with banana) and honestly, I struggle to pick which one I want every time I visit. Both have distinctly unique tastes, so you ought to grab one flavor for you and the other for your friend!
Even if you don’t fancy dates, Hadley is worth a pit-stop as they have a full market of locally grown fruits and vegetables; and if you love trail mix as much as I do, they have every nut/dried fruit mixture you can imagine.
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Chicken Ranch
While traveling, I’m always on the hunt for healthy, yet cheap meals (which are often hard to come by). We stumbled across Chicken Ranch right on the main N. Palm Canyon Dr. and it was everything we could have asked for. Rotisserie chicken served 10 different ways with delicious veggie and potato sides.
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Shanghai Red’s
If you’re in the mood for some seafood, Shanghai Red’s Oyster Bar is a must. This almost-divey joint is located right behind the Main Street but is unknown to many tourists. It’s almost like a little taste of Cabo right at your backdoor with a fun nightlife scene as well.
Where to Stay in Palm Springs
You have your big hotel chains like Marriott and The Westin, but for a real Palm Springs experience, I recommend staying at the boutique hotels like Ace Hotel & Swim Club with its vintage desert modernism, The Saguaro with its vibrant decor, or the budget-friendly Delos Reyes. If you’re looking for something a little more quiet and romantic, I’d recommend The Amado or Los Arboles Hotel.
PRO TIP: During summertime when the temperature are high and tourism is low, you can score a room at the top hotels for less than $200 a night.
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Head South from Palm Springs to visit the charming old Western town of Julian, tucked into the Cuyamaca mountain range.
RECAP: 7 Things to do in Palm Springs on a Budget
- Admire the Palm Springs Windmills
- Visit Palm Spring’s Modern Art Museums
- Explore Palm Springs’ Midcentury Modernism
- Go Vintage & Thrift Shopping in Palm Springs
- Visit Sunnylands in Palm Springs
- Lay by the Pool in Palm Springs
- Relax and Drink Coffee with a View
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I’ve been to P.S. many times, but haven’t ever thought about a tour of mid-century modern homes. Also loved your update about thrift shops with colorful clothing. Gotta love that the older community does a spring cleaning to free up their closets. Mine has plenty of room.
Send this to ps tourist bureau
Sent from my iPhone 7 Steve Sherlin,JD
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I LOVE Palm Springs! Thanks for the great post!