Palms Springs is renowned for its abundance of Mid-century Modern architecture. You can discover many of these beautiful buildings via Modern Tours Palm Springs, including “The House of Tomorrow” where Elvis and Priscilla Presley honeymooned, the intriguing Albert Frey House II, built into the side of a colossal boulder, and the Kaufmann House (pictured), as captured in the iconic Slim Aarons photograph, Poolside Gossip. If you’re lucky, you might even get a peek inside Sinatra’s estate, which features a piano-shaped pool, or else you can enlist the team at Palm Springs Mod Squad to create the bespoke architectural tour of your dreams. If you don’t have the time for a full tour, pop into Melvyn's at the Ingleside Estate Inn where Ol’ Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra rubbed shoulders with the likes of Marilyn Monroe.

From the rocky palm-strewn scrublands of the low desert to the peaks of Palm Springs’ mighty Mount San Jacinto, this sun-baked landscape is a nature lover’s playground. Explore the diverse ecosystems of the Indian and Tahquitz Canyons on one of the area’s many scenic hikes – the relaxed 1.6 kilometre Andreas Canyon Loop is fantastic for beginners – and discover flora and fauna unique to this corner of Southern California, such as the kangaroo rat and bighorn sheep. For an easier amble, the arboretums of the Moorten Botanical Garden offer a more accessible way to be immersed in natural beauty. These privately owned gardens have cultivated 3000 varieties of cacti and desert plant life for more than 80 years, including specimens from Baja California, mainland Mexico, and as far south as South Africa.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will transport you from the base of the Coachella Valley up to the cliffs of Chino Canyon in 10 minutes. It’s the world’s largest rotating tramcar and, at the end of the journey, you’ll find yourself at Mountain Station, more than 2.5 kilometres above sea level, with glorious views of the rugged – often snow capped – mountains. For the ultimate dinner and show, book a table at Mountain Station’s Peaks Restaurant, a fine-diner above the clouds where you’ll savour a menu heroing local produce served with a side of alpine views. For a less formal bite that still delivers panoramic vistas, head to the cafeteria-style Pines Café or sip on your favourite tipple at the, Lookout Lounge.

Book your table at Peaks Restaurant then head to qantas.com to start planning the rest of your eating and outdoor adventures in Palm Springs.

If you’re a traveller who prefers to stay active during their down time, Palm Springs offers plenty of ways to break a sweat. A staggering 124 golf courses dot the Coachella Valley, many of them championship greens designed by some of the greatest golfers of all time, including Robert Trent Jones Jr, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus. Tennis players are equally well served, with Grand Slam-level courts, such as those at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, accessible to the public. If you want to satisfy your competitive side like a local, a game of pickleball is a must. This curious fusion of badminton, ping-pong and tennis is a popular Palm Springs pastime and you’ll find several arenas dedicated to the sport in the area.

The oldest mineral springs resort in the United States, Two Bunch Palms, is one of California’s top wellness destinations. Soak away your stress with a dip in a geothermal pool then make your way to the spa, where an extensive menu of treatments will have you floating on cloud nine. Our pick is the 120-minute Magnesium Body Wrap, which includes full-body exfoliation and a hydrating gel wrap, followed by a soothing massage. At the El Morocco Inn & Spa it’s not just your body you can pamper, but also your soul. Indulge in the Moroccan Mystical Ritual – a two-hour experience combining massages, aromatherapy, exfoliating scrubs and cleansing skin treatments, concluding with a “third eye” aligning scalp rub.

The sky is quite literally the limit when it comes to exploring Palms Springs. Hop into the open cockpit of a 1940 Stearman biplane and feel the wind on your face as your pilot banks and weaves through the peaks of Santa Rosa Mountains or marvel at the sprawling windmill farms along Interstate-10 on a helicopter tour. For a slightly less high-octane aerial experience, let a colourful hot air balloon loft you skyward as you watch the sunrise over the desert on a dawn flight. There are equally adventurous ways to roam back on terra firma, such as a mule-drawn covered wagon ride through the canyons of the Sonoran Desert. Along the way, you’ll learn fascinating insights about the area’s Native American and pioneer history and the geology of the surrounding wilderness. At journey’s end, live country music performances and a chuckwagon-style BBQ dinner await.

Combine indulgent spa treatments and as many games of golf as you can handle, and you have one epic holiday in Palm Springs. Book now.

The quintessential Palms Springs Motel aesthetic has long inspired roadside stays around the world – think pastel umbrellas, breeze blocks, and Mid-century Modern design – and now it's making a resurgence. Some of the region’s newest stays are proud exponents of this yesteryear vibe. The Ace Hotel & Swim Club, with its palm-fringed pool and time-warp desert diner and bar, the King’s Highway and Amigo Room, channels all the boho cool of 1970’s Cali. For a motel experience that embraces the innate camp of retro Americana, the Trixie Motel – owned and operated by drag superstar Trixie Mattel – is a study in mega-watt maximalism. Each suite is themed, from the “Yeehaw Cowgirl” room to the space age “Atomic Bombshell” room and even the saucy “Queen of Hearts” suite, which features a heart-shaped mirror embedded into the ceiling.

In the Palms Springs of your dreams, there’s always a swimming pool. And on that front the chic V Palm Springs hotel doesn’t disappoint. Enjoy the views of the amphitheatre-like mountain range from your daybed as you lounge by one of the two swanky pools or relax in a swing chair on the balcony of your room as you sip on a refreshing cocktail.

Set on more than five hectares of manicured lawns and landscaped gardens, the iconic Parker Palms Springs is a magnet for celebrities. You could dine alongside a bevy of a-listers at the onsite Norma’s restaurant, which serves decadent breakfast dishes such as turkey and sweet potato hash with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. The splashiest dish on the menu is the Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata topped with caviar – while the iteration with 10 ounces of White Sturgeon roe is listed at $US1000, there’s also the more accessible one-ounce offering, which goes for $US100.

Fly Qantas to Los Angeles and explore the Palm Springs region. Book now.

The hills of Coachella Valley turn a blazing orange as the sun sets, bathing everything in a golden glow. See the region’s wildlife on a Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tour around Joshua Tree National Park – keep your eyes peeled for rattlesnakes and coyotes in the bush before settling into a picnic lunch. The company also offers tours of the barren and rugged landscape of San Andreas Fault zone. 

There are some excellent dining options at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage. State Fare Bar & Kitchen is famous for its farm-to-fork menu, while Air Pool Bar specialises in elevated pub-style dishes. Make sure you arrive early, to give you time to enjoy the uninterrupted views of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley from the hotel’s hilltop perch.

America is renowned for discount outlets where you can buy high-end designer labels at staggeringly low prices, and one of the West Coast’s best is the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon, a 20-minute drive from Palms Springs. Bring an empty suitcase and get ready to stock it with goods from the likes of Bally, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Prada, Michael Kors, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tag Heuer, Versace and many, many more.

There’s so much more to explore in Palm Springs. Discover this stylish destination on a trip to California. Book your flights now.

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