As the weather soars into its summer highs, things in Palm Springs slow down a little bit. It’s a great time to explore some of the top indoor attractions in the area. Whether you’re into art, architecture, history, culture, or gardening, there are plenty of museums for you to explore in the greater Palm Springs area. There’s even a Museum of Golf Cars to visit, for you true golf enthusiasts. To enjoy the best of Palm Springs this fall, you’ll need to plan ahead. The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn opens again in September. Book a room at this luxurious Inn today.
The Best Museums in Palm Springs
Palm Springs is famous the world over for its art museums, galleries, architecture, and cultural influence. Art lovers will delight around every bend, with a variety of things to enjoy, from contemporary exhibits and fine art to local art galleries, murals, and outdoor sculptures. This fall, in particular, there will be a heavy emphasis on midcentury modern design, as Modernism Week gets underway in October. The legacy of modernism in Palm Springs continues to draw in fans of architecture and design in droves. Whenever it is you make time to visit Palm Springs, these are the five museums you should have on your list to visit:
- Palm Springs Art Museum has 3 locations in the Greater Palm Desert and has long been considered a leader in the area’s artistic and cultural development. The main museum in downtown Palm Springs is 3 floors of artistic beauty and houses artwork in a variety of mediums. They have several wonderful exhibits open now through early fall.
- Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, part of the Palm Springs Art Museum, is located in a separate building and is dedicated entirely to exploring the disciplines of architecture and design. The Museum Design Store is a wonderful place to stop in when you’re done, as it offers a variety of unique items that showcase the best in contemporary design. Their upcoming exhibit, opening in October, will feature Barbara Stauffacher Solomon.
Coachella Valley History Museum is a wonderful place to go when you want to learn more about the area, and its rich fabric of histories and cultures. The beautiful campus is home to many unique exhibits, including a fully refurbished 1909 two-room schoolhouse, the California Date History Museum, and a variety of gardens. Other highlights of this museum include a Desert Submarine, a Blacksmith’s shop, pioneer farming implements, and more.- The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to one of the World’s largest collections of flyable WWII aircraft, in addition to some Korea and Vietnam era planes. It’s an interactive museum, and even offers the option to fly in one of four warbird aircraft, the C-47 Skytrain, P-51D Mustang, T-28B Trojan, T-33 Shooting Star Jet
- Sunnylands Center & Garden is a beautiful, historic estate surrounded by incredible gardens. The 9-acre garden features more than 53,000 individual arid-landscape plants and 1.25 miles of walking paths. Inside, there are interesting art and architectural exhibits to explore.
Though these museums are truly delightful, the highlight of your trip to Palm Springs will be the chance to stay in the Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn. Our boutique hotel has long served as a private, secluded paradise for the world’s most famous figures. From its lush, terraced gardens and pool to its breathtaking panoramas of the desert beyond, there is little reason to leave these tranquil walls. We reopen in September, so make those fall plans today. Book a room at this luxurious Inn today.
