Canada
Australia
Start Searching
Coupon Override
Please Call
For drivers under the age of 25, additional fees and/or restrictions may apply.
For information and assistance in completing your reservation, please call:
1-866-921-7925Sorry
We're unable to find your location.
* Indicates required fields
* Indicates required fields
Something went wrong while performing the search. Try again, or call
Palm Springs: More than Golf
When my parents bought a condo at a golf club some 20 years ago or so, I thought it was a great idea for them. They both played golf and the weather was great. I didn’t really think I’d like it as a vacation destination (I don’t play golf), but I was very wrong. Having been to the area many times over the last 20 years, I’ve explored and discovered many different places and activities that are enjoyable and fun for adults and kids.
The Palm Springs airport is on the smaller side and easy to navigate. However, if you find the prices are a bit high, or availability is an issue, the Ontario airport is a great second choice. It is about an hour drive to the greater Palm Springs area and in my personal travel, I have found it consistently a less expensive flight option. Airlines tend to reduce their schedules during the summer because of smaller demand. Temperatures start going up over 100 in April/May through September. Most of my visits have been in April as that is my niece's spring break when we go as a family, and it can be quite warm but manageable.
There are many small towns that make up the Greater Palm Springs - Opens a dialog area, including Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, and La Quinta, just to name a few. They all blend together and, since everything is a fairly close drive, a rental car is quite useful.
El Paseo in Palm Desert features high-end shopping.
If shopping is your forte, there is plenty of it. Go to El Paseo in Palm Desert for more upscale shops like Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany and Co. This is also the location of one of my favorite restaurants, Tommy Bahamas. It is a clothing store, but upstairs there is an open-air restaurant. It is shaded and has a great view out over the valley. Nothing like sipping a crisp glass of wine while the warm breezes float through the restaurant.
If you prefer outlet shopping, the Outlets at Cabazon is your place. They have all the typical outlet stores, like Adidas, Under Armour and Brighton. Across the street is the Desert Hills Outlets, with more upscale offerings, such as Michael Kors, Burberry, Coach and Kate Spade. (I bought my first Kate Spade purse here on a visit this past June.)
With eye-catching desert landscapes, Joshua Tree National Park is a great place for hiking.
Don’t forget about classic downtown Palm Springs. The neighborhoods approaching the area showcase the mid-century modern architecture that the city has become famous for. There are a lot of restaurants and boutique shops along the main drag. You might even see some classic cars.
If you have kids with you and you want more kid-friendly activities, these are the places that I have been to with my nieces that we all enjoyed.
- Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert: Features over 80 hands-on exhibits
- Palm Springs Air Museum: Displaying aircraft from WW2, Korea and Vietnam
- Living Desert Zoo and Gardens: Offers a butterfly house, petting area and giraffe feeding
- Aerial Tramway: Experience a totally different climate at the top, it can even snow in the winter. Amazing views of the valley
- Joshua Tree National Park: With eye-catching desert landscapes, a great place for hiking
- Indian Canyons: Also great for hiking
Don’t forget about classic downtown Palm Springs. The neighborhoods approaching the area showcase the mid-century modern architecture that the city has become famous for. There are a lot of restaurants and boutique shops along the main drag. You might even see some classic cars.
If you have kids with you and you want more kid-friendly activities, these are the places that I have been to with my nieces that we all enjoyed.
- Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert: Features over 80 hands-on exhibits
- Palm Springs Air Museum: Displaying aircraft from WW2, Korea and Vietnam
- Living Desert Zoo and Gardens: Offers a butterfly house, petting area and giraffe feeding
- Aerial Tramway: Experience a totally different climate at the top, it can even snow in the winter. Amazing views of the valley
- Joshua Tree National Park: With eye-catching desert landscapes, a great place for hiking
- Indian Canyons: Also great for hiking
With eye-catching desert landscapes, Joshua Tree National Park is a great place for hiking.
Resort pools in Palm Springs are a great way to cool off with the family.
Another fun option is to purchase day passes to local area resort pools. If you happen to be staying in a place with no pool, or just want a different pool to play in, this is a fun way to spend the day. You can purchase individual day passes, or even get a cabana for the day. There are also spa day passes available at some resorts. One resort that has a great pool area is the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa - Opens a dialog . The resort features dueling water slides, a lazy river and a splash pad with dumping buckets and water cannons, making it a great destination for families. You can also rent poolside cabanas that offer food and drink service (additional cost), which is a fun way to feel pampered while the kids play in the water park.
Of course, golf is a prominent activity with over 100 courses in the area. Palm Springs has been called a golf mecca. Many top-rated courses are here, some are private, but a course to fit your abilities and tastes can be found with so many choices available.
Whether you want to lounge in the sun, shop, golf, or hike, there is something for everyone in this desert valley.
Sign Up for Costco.com Emails
If you are interested in great deals Costco Travel has to offer, click here to sign up to receive emails. This will ensure that Travel and Costco.com values are sent directly to your inbox.
Once You Are Ready to Travel Again, Costco Travel Can Help
We invite you to take some time to browse around and dream of your next vacation, rental car or cruise, whether you’re booking for next month or toward the end of next year.
When my parents bought a condo at a golf club some 20 years ago or so, I thought it was a great idea for them. They both played golf and the weather was great. I didn’t really think I’d like it as a vacation destination (I don’t play golf), but I was very wrong. Having been to the area many times over the last 20 years, I’ve explored and discovered many different places and activities that are enjoyable and fun for adults and kids.
The Palm Springs airport is on the smaller side and easy to navigate. However, if you find the prices are a bit high, or availability is an issue, the Ontario airport is a great second choice. It is about an hour drive to the greater Palm Springs area and in my personal travel, I have found it consistently a less expensive flight option. Airlines tend to reduce their schedules during the summer because of smaller demand. Temperatures start going up over 100 in April/May through September. Most of my visits have been in April as that is my niece's spring break when we go as a family, and it can be quite warm but manageable.
There are many small towns that make up the Greater Palm Springs - Opens a dialog area, including Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, and La Quinta, just to name a few. They all blend together and, since everything is a fairly close drive, a rental car is quite useful.
El Paseo in Palm Desert features high-end shopping.
If shopping is your forte, there is plenty of it. Go to El Paseo in Palm Desert for more upscale shops like Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany and Co. This is also the location of one of my favorite restaurants, Tommy Bahamas. It is a clothing store, but upstairs there is an open-air restaurant. It is shaded and has a great view out over the valley. Nothing like sipping a crisp glass of wine while the warm breezes float through the restaurant.
If you prefer outlet shopping, the Outlets at Cabazon is your place. They have all the typical outlet stores, like Adidas, Under Armour and Brighton. Across the street is the Desert Hills Outlets, with more upscale offerings, such as Michael Kors, Burberry, Coach and Kate Spade. (I bought my first Kate Spade purse here on a visit this past June.)
With eye-catching desert landscapes, Joshua Tree National Park is a great place for hiking.
Don’t forget about classic downtown Palm Springs. The neighborhoods approaching the area showcase the mid-century modern architecture that the city has become famous for. There are a lot of restaurants and boutique shops along the main drag. You might even see some classic cars.
If you have kids with you and you want more kid-friendly activities, these are the places that I have been to with my nieces that we all enjoyed.
- Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert: Features over 80 hands-on exhibits
- Palm Springs Air Museum: Displaying aircraft from WW2, Korea and Vietnam
- Living Desert Zoo and Gardens: Offers a butterfly house, petting area and giraffe feeding
- Aerial Tramway: Experience a totally different climate at the top, it can even snow in the winter. Amazing views of the valley
- Joshua Tree National Park: With eye-catching desert landscapes, a great place for hiking
- Indian Canyons: Also great for hiking
Don’t forget about classic downtown Palm Springs. The neighborhoods approaching the area showcase the mid-century modern architecture that the city has become famous for. There are a lot of restaurants and boutique shops along the main drag. You might even see some classic cars.
If you have kids with you and you want more kid-friendly activities, these are the places that I have been to with my nieces that we all enjoyed.
- Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert: Features over 80 hands-on exhibits
- Palm Springs Air Museum: Displaying aircraft from WW2, Korea and Vietnam
- Living Desert Zoo and Gardens: Offers a butterfly house, petting area and giraffe feeding
- Aerial Tramway: Experience a totally different climate at the top, it can even snow in the winter. Amazing views of the valley
- Joshua Tree National Park: With eye-catching desert landscapes, a great place for hiking
- Indian Canyons: Also great for hiking
With eye-catching desert landscapes, Joshua Tree National Park is a great place for hiking.
Resort pools in Palm Springs are a great way to cool off with the family.
Another fun option is to purchase day passes to local area resort pools. If you happen to be staying in a place with no pool, or just want a different pool to play in, this is a fun way to spend the day. You can purchase individual day passes, or even get a cabana for the day. There are also spa day passes available at some resorts. One resort that has a great pool area is the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa - Opens a dialog . The resort features dueling water slides, a lazy river and a splash pad with dumping buckets and water cannons, making it a great destination for families. You can also rent poolside cabanas that offer food and drink service (additional cost), which is a fun way to feel pampered while the kids play in the water park.
Of course, golf is a prominent activity with over 100 courses in the area. Palm Springs has been called a golf mecca. Many top-rated courses are here, some are private, but a course to fit your abilities and tastes can be found with so many choices available.
Whether you want to lounge in the sun, shop, golf, or hike, there is something for everyone in this desert valley.
Sign Up for Costco.com Emails
If you are interested in great deals Costco Travel has to offer, click here to sign up to receive emails. This will ensure that Travel and Costco.com values are sent directly to your inbox.
Once You Are Ready to Travel Again, Costco Travel Can Help
We invite you to take some time to browse around and dream of your next vacation, rental car or cruise, whether you’re booking for next month or toward the end of next year.
About the Author: The above piece was written by Julie Bindon, Merchandising Content Specialist at Costco Travel. Julie is a travel enthusiast who enjoys traveling just about anywhere in the world with her family and friends.
