A Cultural Oasis in the Desert

Palm Springs is a vibrant oasis in the California desert. It’s known for its stunning landscapes, warm weather, and booming cultural scene. The area boasts a diverse range of attractions, from art galleries and museums to an eclectic mix of music, cuisine, shopping, and nightlife.  Our special mix make it an ideal destination for those looking for a unique cultural experience. Palm Springs also offers plenty of outdoor activities, such as hiking, horseback riding, and exploring the surrounding mountains.

With its modern amenities, Palm Springs provides a place for culture and relaxation that can be enjoyed year-round.

The Agua Caliente Tribe of Cahuilla Indians have lived in the Palm Springs area for centuries. The tribe offers their own distinct culture, language, and traditions. The Agua Caliente tribal government is based in Palm Springs and provides a variety of services to the local community, including health care, housing assistance, and environmental services. The tribe also sponsors numerous events. The tribe is committed to preserving and promoting the rich history and culture of the area, while simultaneously adapting and growing in the modern era.

Healing Ancestral Waters

Opening in April 2023, the Spa at Sec-he, located in the new Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza, celebrates the ancient healing waters of the Agua Caliente Hot Mineral Spring. This sprawling wellness space will be complete with treatment rooms, men’s and women’s bathhouses, a tranquility garden, a salon, a fitness center, and outdoor mineral pools.

The Spa at Séc-he features 22 private mineral baths, 15 treatment rooms, a cryotherapy chamber, two float pod suites, a boutique fitness area, a grounding room, an acoustic wellness lounge, a tranquility garden, a menthol dry sauna, a eucalyptus steam room, two halotherapy salt caves, a resort-style mineral pool with four Jacuzzis, luxury cabanas, full-service salon with scalp treatment beds, a cafe and a poolside bar with food service.

The water from the Agua Caliente Hot Mineral Spring is estimated to be over 12,000 years old. It is truly unique, as it contains a mineral composition that has not been found anywhere else in the world. The Tribe has shared the healing water with visitors for more than 120 years, and the hot spring was the first tourist attraction in Palm Springs. This new spa will be the fifth bathhouse or spa at the site, with the first one operating in the late 1880s.

Palm Springs Cultural Outdoor Oasis 

You’ll also experience a variety of Palm Springs cultural oasis outdoor recreation in Palm Springs to round out your visit. A few minutes from downtown on another part of the Agua Caliente tribal reservation is one of the historical and recreational gems in the desert – Indian Canyons. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Indian Canyons are comprised of four distinct canyons. While they are a culturally sensitive environment, the canyons are open to the public for wonderful outdoor recreation. Indian Canyons includes Murray Canyon, Andreas Canyon, and Palm Canyon

Palm Canyon

Fifteen miles long, Palm Canyon is one of the areas of great beauty in Western North America. Its indigenous flora and fauna, which the Cahuilla people so expertly used, and its abundant Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm) are breathtaking contrasts to the stark rocky gorges and barren desert lands beyond. A moderately graded foot path winds down into the canyon for picnicking near the stream, meditation, exploring, hiking or horseback riding. While in Palm Canyon visit the Trading Post for hiking maps, refreshments, Indian art and artifacts, books, jewelry, pottery, baskets, weaving, and conversational cultural lore.

Andreas Canyon

The contrasting greens of the magnificent fan palms and more than 150 species of plants within a half-mile radius beckon the desert-weary traveler to this lush oasis. A scenic foot trail leads through the canyon passing groves of stately skirted palms, unusual rock formations and the perennial Andreas Creek. One can still see bedrock mortars and metates used centuries ago for preparing food. This tranquil setting is excellent for photography, bird-watching, or a picnic at one of the tables along the trail.

Murray Canyon

Murray Canyon is an easy to moderate hike south from Andreas Canyon. Foot and equestrian trails take visitors to beautiful recreation areas featuring many palm trees.  Fortunate visitors may catch a glimpse of a Peninsular Big Horn Sheep (an endangered species), mule deer or other wild animals still roaming the high ground above the canyon. Less visited, Murray Canyon has its own secluded beauty. The endangered Least Bells Vireo bird is also known to nest here.

Tahquitz Canyon

Tahquitz Canyon is one of the most beautiful and culturally sensitive areas of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation. Tahquitz Canyon is home to a spectacular seasonal 60-foot waterfall, rock art, ancient irrigation systems, native wildlife, and plants. Located at the entrance to the canyon, the Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center offers educational and cultural exhibits. The Center offers a display of artifacts, an observation deck, and a theater room for viewing The Legend of Tahquitz video.

Palm Springs Cultural Oasis Arts

Palm Springs’ multi-dimensional cultural offerings extend to the arts and live performances.

Palm Springs Art Museum

The Palm Springs Art Museum may be another surprise. Visitors are often astonished to discover our small town has a world-class museum!

Founded in 1938, the same year that the City of Palm Springs was incorporated, the Palm Springs Art Museum has 150,000 square-feet of exhibition space, two outdoor sculpture gardens, and a café.

The Museum features a sophisticated collection of art that rivals many urban metropolitan museums, and includes works from Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Donald Judd, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Robert Rauschenberg, Antony Gormley and Ansel Adams. Spread over the 150,000 square feet, the museum boasts major collections of modern and contemporary art, glass, photography, architecture and design and Native American and Western art.

Palm Springs Architecture and Design Center

The Palm Springs Architecture Design Center is an educational, cultural, and social center of modern midcentury architecture and design located in downtown Palm Springs, California. Through the preservation of important historical buildings, the museum hosts exhibitions, lectures, and special events that bring attention to the region’s unique mid-century architectural heritage. The museum also serves as an educational resource, offering classes and workshops on topics related to modern architecture and design. In addition, the museum features a range of permanent and rotating exhibits exploring the history and impact of modern architecture and design in the desert, as well as its place in the contemporary art world.

Palm Springs also offers a bounty of other live theater productions by several local theater groups who produce stellar theater productions throughout the season.

Palm Springs Cultural Center

The Palm Springs Cultural Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the culture, heritage, and traditions of the Coachella Valley. Located at the former Camelot Theater, if offers a range of programing including art exhibits, live music, films and film festivals, plays, and many other cultural events. The Center also hosts educational talks by local experts, theatrical performances, outdoor movies, and an outdoor farmers market and vintage market.

Palm Springs Art Scene

The art scene in Palm Springs is vibrant and growing. With numerous art galleries, museums, street art, festivals, and events, Palm Springs is an ideal destination for those looking to explore the creative side of the city. From traditional paintings and sculptures to contemporary experimental art and digital installations, the diverse array of art forms on display in Palm Springs can inspire and delight all types of visitors. Every year, the city’s Arts Commission brings together local and international artists to create a unique and inspiring experience.

List of Art Galleries & Supplies

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