An Inexpensive Way to Enjoy Palm Springs

My favorite way to spend the day is exploring my own town, Palm Springs, California.  A fun walk with a hike at the end is a little challenging but a perfect way to fill the day.  You will make unique finds and discover quiet roads and trails.  The only money it costs is what you are willing to spend on shopping (Don’t go too crazy with the credit cards).

To prepare for your walk, bring a day-pack with you to store your small purchases, bring along two water bottles for each person and store a change of clothes in your car if you are only doing a day trip.  Also, wear sturdy shoes that support the ankle and are good on dirt trails.

Begin at the corner of Tahquitz Canyon Way and Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs.  You might want to buy a Starbucks while you are there.  Take a leisurely stroll south through downtown Palm Springs, stopping to enjoy the stores and galleries along the way.

Continue on Palm Canyon until you hit Ramon Road, turn right and travel west.  A block up the road is the famous Melvyn’s Ingleside Inn.  This is a great place to stop for a delicious Cobb Salad and refreshing glass of Iced Tea.  Once you are done with lunch continue traveling west until you dead end at the mountain.  Follow the trail up the mountain.  It is not well marked at the beginning but the trail is the one to the left.  It gets more obvious the longer you are on it and it is couple of miles long heading north via switchbacks.  Be sure to take pictures as you go, the view of the valley floor is amazing.  When you reach the picnic tables, you are at the hill above Tahquitz Canyon Way.  Descend that hill carefully and you will wind up in the Palm Springs Art Museum parking lot.  Consider spending some time cooling off in the museum before heading east towards your starting point.  If you are still feeling hot and sticky, head to Knotts Soak City.  The prices are reasonable and it is a perfect way to end a relaxing day in Palm Springs.  You’ll find it off of Ramon Road on Gene Autry Trail.

The great thing about Palm Springs is that you can find plenty to do without spending a penny or you can build up the adventure by doing some shopping with the money you made from your hotel rewards credit cards in the city’s unique boutiques or by adding one or two fee based activities.  The only warning I have is that you should not follow the trail in the heat of the summer unless you are well prepared for triple digit temperatures.