Palm Springs

Palm Springs / Joshua Tree KOA

Nice campground with clean bathrooms. Loved the warm pool and three hot tubs (each a different temperature) that were sourced via natural hot springs. The activity director, Cindy, was wonderful and she organized walks, painting, exercises, line dancing, bands, movie nights, bingo, cards, etc. The pickleball courts and bike park were definitely a bonus. There was also public land directly across the road with miles and miles of hiking and biking trails.

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Borrego Springs Sculptures

There are 130+ metal sculptures located in the Borrego Springs, CA area. The artworks range from prehistoric mammals to historical characters, fanciful dinosaurs, and a 350-foot-long fanciful serpent. Be prepared to drive or bike to the different sculptures as they are dispersed across a wide area. Dogs allowed.

Photos - Sculpture Info

Downtown Palm Springs

Downtown Palm Springs has many great restaurants, stores, and attractions. Every Thursday evening, there is a street fair with arts, crafts, food, and entertainment. We also recommend checking out the large Marilyn Monroe statue.

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Fantasy Springs Resort Casino

The "Lit" bar in the casino has Brad's Pad rock band every Tuesday evening and country line dancing every Thursday. We had a great time at both and even learned some new line dances.

Joshua Tree National Park

For $10, you can download a self-guided audio driving tour. We learned so much about the park and it's history and highly recommend it. There are 120+ hikes in the park and many cool rock formations to view. No dogs allowed.

Action Tour Guide Info

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Definitely a "must do". The tram-ride itself is a wonderful experience, given the views along the way. At the top are miles of walking/hiking trails and you can even camp up there - it is a California State Park. We went in February and there were patches of snow but not enough to stop us from walking around. No dogs allowed.

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Barker Dam Nature Trail

Easy trail for all levels and ages. There are several placards along the way with historical information about the dam. There was also one area with petroglyphs. No dogs allowed.

Photos - AllTrails

Hidden Valley Nature Trail

Easy trail for all levels and ages. There are several placards along the way with historical information about the McHaney gang that used to rustle cattle and hide them in the valley. It had snowed the night before, in the higher elevations, so we were able to see some snow. No dogs allowed.

Photos - AllTrails

Long Canyon Trail

Easy trail for all levels and ages. The majority of the hike is along an old riverbed so it can get a little boring. We had painted rocks during a wine and paint session. Try to find the 2 painted rocks we left along the trail! We did not make it all the way to Chuckawalla Bill's cabin as we were running out of energy and daylight. Dogs allowed.

Photos - AllTrails

Samuelson's Rocks Trail

Easy but longer trail for all levels and ages. We hiked this with our friends Duane and Sarah. We found the etched musings of Samuelson. Try to find all 7! We also saw 2 coyotes along the way. No dogs allowed.

Photos - AllTrails

Wall Street Mill Trail

Easy trail for all levels and ages. There is an old gold mill at the end along with several old cars. You will also see the place where Bill Keys shot Worth Bagley over a land dispute. No dogs allowed.

Photos - AllTrails

Across from the KOA

There is quite a large amount of public land just across Dillon Rd from the KOA. Many people walk, hike, and run there as well. We rode our mountain bikes on the trails.