Palm Springs Region

Things To Do

Shopping | Nearby Resources

Polo in the Desert

Watch a polo match – Empire Polo Club offers polo games that are open to the public, and admission is free. Preseason games begin in November, and the official season starts in January and runs through the end of March. Opening Day is usually held during the first or second week of January. Sunday Polo and other polo events are open to the public -- put this on your list of fun things to do in the desert! There is a $10 parking fee per car for general admission and tailgaters. Featured polo games are announced by a seasoned commentator, and food and beverage service are available on site. Empire Polo Club is located in Indio, CA at 51st street and Monroe St. For more details on where to watch polo games in the desert area contact the club by clicking here.

Watch a polo game from the player's point of view! We used a GoPro video camera and asked a player to fit it to his helmet. Ride onto the field and join the action via this video.

Golf

Play Golf - With seasonably warm temperatures during the winter months, the desert region is a popular golf destination October through May. The Palm Springs Region is home to over 100 golf courses. There are a variety of public and private golf courses to choose from. Click here to visit DesertUSA's Golf Guide for the Coachella Valley. DesertUSA's guide provides information about the local courses, how to book a tee time and where to view a map of public courses in the region.

The Parks

Explore Desert Parks – Local desert parks and mountain areas offer a range of activities from nature walks and hiking to jeep tours and wildlife viewing. It's a great way to spend a spring, fall or winter afternoon. Indian Canyons offer some great trails for hiking. The Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountain National Monument has a visitor's center on the lower end of the 74 and an easy-to-access nature trail that traverses the grounds around the center. They also have a more extensive trail system for longer walks and hikes. Visit the "nearby resources" page for a list of parks and nature preserves in the Coachella Valley area.

Desert Wildflower Viewing - During the spring months of February, March, April and May, the desert starts to transform into a colorful palette of wildflowers in bloom. It's a great time to explore the various desert parks and wildlife preserves. There are many areas where you can view the wildflowers including Indian Canyons, Coachella Valley Preserve, Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountain National Monument and other locations. You can also take a short drive to Joshua Tree National Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park for a day trip to view the wildflower displays there. To find the best dates and locations to view wildlfowers, visit DesertUSA's Desert Wildflower Reports. The report provides current details on what's in bloom, where you can view the best wildflower displays and what to expect.

Go to the Horse Show – There is an annual six-week hunter/jumper horse show circuit produced by HITS, Inc. which runs January through March. The Desert Circuit has been a mainstay of West Coast competition for the past 20 years and offers classes ranging from Grand Prix show jumping to a selection of divisions for both the novice and experienced rider. 85-555 Airport Boulevard, Thermal, California 92274 Phone: 760-399-9200 (during horse shows only). Visit their website for more information and to view their schedule of events. http://www.hitsshows.com.

Palm Desert Art Walk – Free guided tours on the second Saturday of each month.
http://www.palm-desert.org/arts-culture/public-art/free-guided-art-tours

More Things to Do

Go Shopping: The Coachella Valley has some excellent shopping destinations. From the outlet mall in Cabazon to haute couturiers, galleries and jewelry shops lining El Paseo, there's something for everyone. Farmer’s markets, street fairs and open-air markets add to the diversity of shopping experiences available. There are also a large number of resale and consignment shops in the valley. Click here for a list of shopping destinations in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Indio, CA.

Watch a show or play the slots at the local casinos:
Agua Caliente Casino Resort (Palm Springs, CA)
Augustine Casino (Indio, CA)
Fantasy Springs Casino (Indio, CA)
Spotlight 29 Casino (Indio, CA)
Spa Resort Casino (Indio, CA)
Morongo Casino Resort & Spa (Cabazon, CA)