The design day
Architecture + Uptown + dinnerFollow a self-guided architecture route, browse the Uptown corridor, then make Workshop Kitchen & Bar the dinner plan.
Palm Springs Travel Guide: Things to Do, Dining & Neighborhoods
Celebrity Vacation Homes · 02 / Desert
Palm Springs Travel GuideGood design.
Better downtime.
Mountain drama, architecture worth slowing down for, and a dinner reservation to look forward to. Leave a little room in the plan for Mercury Palms.
A few ways to spend the day
Set your desert tempo.
The mountain day
Aerial Tramway + an unhurried eveningTrade valley scenery for mountain views, then return to Mercury Palms for a game-room rematch.
The downtown day
Art + history + something good to eatChoose the Art Museum or Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, then plan a meal nearby. On Thursday, consider VillageFest.
01 / Get out + explore
Go see the desert.
From a few different angles.
From canyon trails to cultural history, these are reasons to get out and explore. Check the linked operator for your dates.
Mountain scenery · A change of elevation
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Ride into a mountain setting above the valley. Bring a layer and give yourself time to take in the view.
Check operating status and mountain weather before leaving.
Plan your visit ↗Palm oases · Trails
Indian Canyons
Explore canyon landscapes on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, with a route suited to the day’s conditions.
Check heat restrictions, trail access, admission, and hours.
Plan your visit ↗Downtown · Art + architecture
Palm Springs Art Museum
Build an afternoon around the exhibitions and the museum’s architecture. A strong choice when you want indoor time.
Confirm the location of your chosen exhibition.
Plan your visit ↗Downtown · Tribal history
Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
Learn about the history and culture of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians at the Cultural Plaza.
Check current exhibitions and visitor information.
Plan your visit ↗Downtown · Thursday evenings
VillageFest
Stroll the street fair along Palm Canyon Drive for artists, vendors, and food. Leave space for an unplanned stop.
Check seasonal hours and event notices.
Plan your visit ↗Design · Neighborhood exploring
Architecture + history tours
Follow a guided tour or the tourism bureau’s self-guided route to see why architecture is part of the Palm Springs experience.
Many featured homes are private. View from permitted public areas.
Plan your visit ↗Regional day trip · Desert landscapes
Joshua Tree National Park
Give the boulders, desert scenery, and designated trails a separate day on the itinerary.
The park is outside Palm Springs. Plan your entrance, water, and route.
Plan your visit ↗02 / At the table
Brunch has plans.
So does dinner.
These four restaurants are listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Each gives the day a different flavor; inclusion is not a claim of a Michelin star.
Uptown · Californian
Workshop Kitchen & Bar
Dinner with a design point of view
Seasonal, wood-fired cooking in a striking architectural setting on North Palm Canyon Drive.
Pair with: an Uptown design day.Restaurant details ↗South Palm Canyon Drive · American
Bar Cecil
Give the evening a reservation
A restaurant and bar with a distinctive dining-room setting. Check availability before building the night around it.
Pair with: an evening on the south side.Restaurant details ↗Downtown · Mexican
Tac/Quila
Make it a taco-and-conversation night
Mexican cooking and tequila-focused drinks on North Palm Canyon Drive. An easy addition to a downtown outing.
Pair with: downtown browsing.Restaurant details ↗North Palm Canyon Drive · Breakfast + lunch
Cheeky’s
Start with something worth sitting down for
A daytime stop with a changing menu and house-made pastries. Leave a little flexibility for the wait.
Pair with: an unhurried start.Restaurant details ↗03 / Know the setting
Get to know
the neighborhoods.
Architecture, location, and the route to your plans are useful ways to compare. Views, shade, street activity, and wind exposure vary by property.
Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, and La Quinta are separate cities. A “Greater Palm Springs” address may be well outside Palm Springs itself.
Vista Las Palmas
West of the Uptown corridor, with a concentration of Alexander-era midcentury homes.
Plan around this: Home to Mercury Palms. Check the actual walking route to dining and shops.
Old Las Palmas
A distinct neighborhood east of Vista Las Palmas, with estates and a mix of architectural styles.
Plan around this: Do not treat Old Las Palmas and Vista Las Palmas as interchangeable locations.
Downtown / Historic Tennis Club
The central shopping and restaurant area and the mountain-edge neighborhood just west of it.
Plan around this: Compare the exact block, parking arrangements, and distance to Palm Canyon Drive.
The Movie Colony
East of Indian Canyon Drive, with historic homes and varied revival and modern architecture.
Plan around this: Check proximity to your intended destination. Sinatra’s Twin Palms estate is not in the Twin Palms neighborhood.
Deepwell Estates
South Palm Springs, with midcentury and ranch-style architecture.
Plan around this: Compare routes to South Palm Canyon dining and downtown separately.
Twin Palms
South Palm Springs, known for early Alexander development and modernist rooflines.
Plan around this: A residential neighborhood distinct from the property named Twin Palms in the Movie Colony.
Indian Canyons
South Palm Springs, with golf-course surroundings and midcentury custom homes.
Plan around this: The residential neighborhood is different from the separately operated Indian Canyons hiking attraction.
Racquet Club Estates
North Palm Springs, with a concentration of Alexander-built midcentury houses.
Plan around this: Check the specific address, outdoor layout, and routes to downtown and the tramway.
04 / Come home to this
A little music history.
A lot of room to settle in.
Mercury Palms brings its own story to your Palm Springs trip.
Vista Las Palmas · City ID #3538
Mercury Palms
Built in 2000 by Mercury Records founder Irving Green, this home has a story of its own. Music-inspired bedrooms, mountain views, and a game room with a pool table make time at home part of the trip.
6 bedrooms5 bathrooms3 levels + elevator
Room-picking tip: one bathroom is shared between two bedrooms, and two bedrooms do not have private patios. Review the layout together before assigning rooms.
The useful little details
Know before you go.
Heat + hiking
Plan outdoor activity around the forecast, carry water, and follow trail closures and heat restrictions.
Get the details ↗Music + outdoor time
Outdoor amplified music is prohibited at Palm Springs vacation rentals. Indoor music must not be audible at the property line.
Get the details ↗Pool + spa update
Equipment repairs remain pending with no confirmed return-to-service date. Contact us before booking to confirm availability for your dates.
Get the details ↗Your next stay
Your desert chapter
starts here.
Explore Mercury Palms’ rooms, views, and music history. Then talk with us about your dates and current amenity availability.