Ten great things to do in Palm Springs before your wedding

Before the big day and your honeymoon, spend some time with your guests at the various attractions in Palm Springs itself. There are enough activities to do, indoors and out and for all ages, that your guests will love their stay before your wedding!

Palm Springs Tram: One of the most spectacular journeys you will ever take lasts 12.5 minutes as you ride a rotating tram from the valley floor to close to the top of Mount San Jacinto. Rising almost 6,000 feet to an elevation of more than 8,500 feet, your trip will include rotating tram cars so you can see everything as you slowly go up the mountain. When you arrive at the top of the mountain you can go hiking or just enjoy the cool air in the summer. In the winter, enjoy cross country skiing or a snowball fight before descending back to Palm Springs 80-degree days. Make it a longer stay by eating lunch or dinner at one of two restaurants. Note, the tram pictured is an older car, to see the new and more luxurious cars and for more information see  http://www.pstramway.com/index.html

Downtown Palm Springs: Palm Canyon Drive, the historic center of Palm Springs, has enough options for the whole family to enjoy. Stores and restaurants of all types allow for a quick browse or serious shopping for anything from tourist items to gallery art. Stop by Ruby’s Diner at 155 S. Palm Canyon Drive for a quick bite in the heart of the shopping.

Indian Canyons: The Indian Canyons in southern Palm Springs offer several trails for anything from a relaxing stroll to a more strenuous hike. The difference in the canyons from the desert is striking, as the canyons showcase many more plants and animals. One of the great features about hiking the canyons is seeing bedrock mortars and other signs from when the Agua Caliente Indians lived in the canyons. See more at  http://www.indian-canyons.com/index.html. For more information on many more hikes in the Palm Springs area, see  http://www.visitpalmsprings.com/overview/play/hiking-in-palm-springs/13681.

Star tours: Palm Springs has been the close-by getaway for Hollywood stars for decades. You can go on a walking tour of Palm Canyon Drive and see the Walk of Stars. Anyone interested in seeing where stars lived can drive around town and see the former homes of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Liberace, Bob Hope and more. Find out more about Palm Springs’ connection with the stars at  http://www.visitpalmsprings.com/page/hollywood’s-playground/8183

Palm Springs Air Museum: This air museum has a great collection of WWII and other planes as well as memorabilia, photos and other artifacts. Video documentaries explain more about aviation history and the planes you see. For more see  http://palmspringsairmuseum.org/

The Hair of the Dog bar: Mix with the locals for a refreshing beverage at this English pub. The pub offers British beer on tap as as well as soccer and NFL games as you take a break. Patio seating is great during the winter for people-watching and even during the summer, misters help keep you cool. The Hair of the Dog is located at 238 N. Palm Canyon Drive.

Spa Resort Casino: This recently renovated downtown casino offers all the games you love. Stop by the buffet for lunch all week or try The Noodle Bar for Asian fare on the weekends. The Steakhouse has higher-end dining in the evenings. As the casino’s name implies, you can also treat yourself to a spa visit with all the money you win. See more at http://www.sparesortcasino.com/index.html.

VillageFest:  Every Thursday night, Palm Canyon Drive comes alive with a street fair which features artists and entertainers as well as food booths serving up fruit, snacks and more. The fair is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the winter and 7-10 p.m. during the summer.

Palm Springs Art Museum: The museum offers a large permanent collection as well as special rotating exhibits throughout the year. Some highlights include desert landscape paintings and indian artwork. Find out more about the collections and upcoming exhibits at http://www.psmuseum.org/index.php

Soak City Palm Springs, Knott’s Berry Farm: Keep kids of all ages cool in the summer with a visit to this water park just minutes from downtown. Attractions include a river ride, slides and a wave pool. See more at http://www.soakcityps.com

Want to know about Palm Springs and valley movie theaters?

Check out our blog post on the best movie theaters in Palm Springs and nearby towns … Top Five Palm Springs movie theaters