Palm Springs Attractions

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Village Green Heritage Center, 219 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 323-0151. Permanent and changing exhibits portray the history and culture of the Cahuilla Indians. Exquisite basketry, artifacts, and archival photographs are displayed in the lobby of the tribe’s Spa Resort at 100 N. Indian Canyon Drive. Museum open Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun. noon to 4 p.m.

Children’s Discovery Museum 71-701 Gerald Ford Dr., Rancho Mirage, 321-0602. Kids will be in their glory at this hands-on heaven. Children’s favorite game, “let’s pretend,” gets some wonderful assistance with trunks full of vintage clothes for playing dress-up and a scaled-down grocery store just their size.

The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies The Plaza Theater, 128 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 327-0225. Riff Markowitz, a theatrical impresario of the old school, came up with the idea for this vaudeville-style revue, and he’s been packing them in for 13 years. The Follies returns for its 14th season in November.

First Friday, Shop “North Palm Canyon” is a wonderful time to browse the many shops, restaurants, and galleries in Palm Springs’ Uptown Heritage Galleries & Antique District on North Palm Canyon Drive from Amado Road to Tachevah Drive. Participating businesses stay open until 9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. 325-8979 or 778-8415.

The Indian Canyons Located on Agua Caliente tribal land, just a few minutes drive from downtown, Andreas, Murray, and Palm canyons are perfect for hiking, picnicking, or horseback riding. There’s even a trading post. The canyons are also home to the only indigenous palm trees in the continental United States. Follow South Palm Canyon Drive until it dead-ends. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.  Entrance to Tahquitz Canyon is located downtown. A two-hour, moderate-to-difficult guided hike is the only way visitors can view this treasure. Reservations are necessary. 500 W. Mesquite Ave., Palm Springs, 416-7044.

Knott’s Soak City U.S.A. 1500 Gene Autry Trail, between Ramon Rd. & Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 327-0499. Water, water everywhere — and all of it fun. Visitors enjoy 18 major water slides and attractions, including the 800,000-gallon Rip Tide Reef wave pool. For future surfers, there’s Gremmie Lagoon, a kids’ water playground, and Kahuna’s Beach House, a family-interactive water playhouse. Open March-October.

The Living Desert 47-900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert, 346-5694. It’s part zoo, part botanical garden, and totally unique. Desert animals and exotic African wildlife exist peacefully amidst native plants and scenic trails. Village WaTuTu is a must-stop. You’ll also find a gift shop, restaurants, picnicking, special stargazing events, and lectures.

Moorten Botanical Garden 1701 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 327-6555. A living museum with nature trails that weave around 3,000 varieties of giant cactuses, trees, succulents, flowers, birds, and even turtles. Available for special events.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Hwy. 111 and Tramway Rd., Palm Springs, 325-1391. This is the best show on cable! One minute you’re in the desert; 10 minutes later you’re in a lush forest — and you got there via the world’s largest rotating tram cars. At 8,516 feet, the Mountain Station offers a 30-degree-cooler, Christmas-tree scented world with hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, and restaurants. Tram cars depart at least every half hour. Discounted Twilight Tickets are available after 3 p.m.

Palm Springs Air Museum 745 N. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, 778-6262. You can’t help but be inspired by one of the world’s largest collections of flying World War II combat aircraft. Evocative photographs and memorabilia of the era enhance the experience, as do volunteer docents, many of whom served during WWII. Large-scale model ships and gorgeous vintage automobiles are also displayed in the museum’s air-conditioned hangars. The museum frequently offers special events, including flying demonstrations, speakers, and children’s programs. Upstairs is a library and computers with flight simulators. And don’t miss the gift shop.

Palm Springs Desert Museum 101 Museum Dr., Palm Springs, 325-7186; recorded information: 325-0189. Founded in 1938 to promote greater understanding of art, natural science, and the performing arts, the diverse permanent exhibits include Ice Age mammals, a Palm Springs Valley diorama, Western American and Native American art, miniatures, and a selection of art and artifacts. Actor William Holden collected beautiful pieces during his world travels and bequested the collection to the museum.

Palm Srings Villagefest Palm Canyon Dr. bet. Amado & Baristo, Palm Springs, 320-3781. Stroll under the stars, listen to music, savor international foods, shop the farmers market., listen to children laughing. All this while shopping for that perfect handcraft. A New Orleans-style venue in the heart of the village on Palm Canyon Dr., between Baristo and Amado. Thurs. 6-10 p.m. From art to artichokes, VillageFest has everything

Rocky Point Knott’s Soak City U.S.A., 1500 Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, 327-0499, ext. 122. Here’s a sport that anyone age 4 and above can enjoy. Rocky Point offers 7,500 square feet of rock to climb, with 125 different routes up to 55 feet long. Classes and programs are geared for everyone from beginners to experts. Rocky Point is open to the public, but also offers memberships. The all-outside facility is shaded and micro-cooled for year-round fun.

Ruddy’s 1930’s General Store Museum Village Green Heritage Center, 221 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 327-2156. Step back 70 years to the good old days. This vintage store carries all original products. It’s pure nostalgia. And the most you’ll spend is the 95 cents admission fee.