Travelers who are looking to embrace the very best vacation experience possible complete with sun, endless options for in-town fun, and inspiring outdoor recreation as well will find it all and more waiting for them right in the Coachella Valley. This breathtaking and beautiful California getaway destination is home to a variety of great cities to discover and is absolutely brimming over with natural beauty. Whether you have a heart for arts and culture, can’t wait to savor your way through a delicious stay, or you plan on pairing time on desert trails with afternoons in luxury spas, it’s a place designed just for you.
At TRAVLR, we provide those looking to enjoy a journey in this direction with exquisite vacation rental options across the Coachella Valley. Our properties each host their unique charm and whether you stay in the heart of Palm Desert or choose a rental home in Rancho Mirage, you’ll find the experience to be unforgettable from start to finish. To help you customize your next trip, we’ve put together a list of our favorite SOCAL communities near Palm Springs well worth browsing before you book your next stay.
Palm Springs
Before we encourage our guests to look beyond its borders, it’s important to note that Palm Springs itself is an amazing place to stay when you’re looking to enjoy a one-of-a-kind vacation in the northern part of the Coachella Valley. Palm Springs is found around 111 miles East of Los Angeles at right at the scenic base of the San Jacinto Mountains. It’s a luxurious place to set your travel sights when you happen to enjoy admiring mid-century architecture, upscale shops, beautiful museums, and a rich Hollywood-inspired heritage too. Here, travelers can enjoy the Palm Springs VillageFest every Thursday evening downtown or make the most of a day at the inspiring Palm Springs Art Museum instead. There are world-renowned golf courses to book a tee time at across Palm Springs and the dining scene is truly tantalizing whether you’re looking for Southern fare, Mexican dishes, seafood, or plates inspired by far-flung destinations. A trip up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway comes with breathtaking views included but the many local spas at ground level make it just as easy to keep your feet on land and focus on some well-deserved self-care instead. Here, you’re never far from incredible hiking and biking trails, and if you’re interested in landscape photography, Palm Springs has a way of pairing cityscapes and outdoor beauty that’s definitely hard to top.
Those who head to Palm Springs to enjoy a getaway with a passion for history in place will love the many stories this area is built on. Before Palm Springs was a playground to celebrities, it was home to the Cahuilla people who inhabited the area beginning around 2,000 years ago. It’s believed they spoke a dialect of the Uto-Aztecan language and utilized the natural hot springs in the area. Today, visitors can still encounter pictographs and petroglyphs left by these tribes along trails that run through the Andreas Canyon.
Travelers who love hot weather fun will find Palm Springs to be an appealing place to stay year-round. High travel season here is typically considered the timeframe between October and April as summer sees the highest temperatures to contend with, often exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit by midday. While some travelers come to Palm Springs for just a short weekend away, others fall in love with the area and decide to stick around for an entire season with good reason! Palm Springs is easy to get to at just a 2-hour drive from San Diego, and if you have a rental car available for the duration of your stay, getting around at your own pace is simple too.
Many travelers who decide to make Palm Springs their home base end up infusing activities on their itinerary like historic home tours, hiking the trails that run through the San Jacinto Mountains, playing tennis on top-rated courts, and checking out places like the luxurious Spa at Séc-he in town. If arts and culture call you this way, you can spend quality time at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum or the Palm Springs Air Museum to name a few of many. Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District is always a fun place to explore, while Palm Canyon Drive provides a one-stop resource for incredible shopping and dining while you’re in town.
Indio
For those who are passionate about inspired musical performances, booking a stay in Indio during your next Coachella Valley visit is sure to be the right choice. Indio is often referred to as “The City of Festivals,” hosting some of the most inviting gatherings on the map like the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival as well as the Stagecoach Country Music Festival each year. In addition not being the largest city in the Coachella Valley, Indio is a terrific place to dive into history, embrace a rich arts and culture scene, or treat your taste buds to some truly spectacular moments while you’re in town.
What began as a railroad town back in 1876 quickly blossomed into a robust agricultural center in California before transitioning into the vibrant tourist destination it’s known as today. Those who come to Indio can enjoy taking time to admire colorful murals across the city’s walls, check out places like the Empire Polo Club, or make time for a round on championship golf courses too. Indio hosts the Kennel Club Dog Show each January and is home to the National Date Festival and Riverside County Fair each February. Those who are looking to dive into the city’s past further will enjoy every moment spent at places like the Coachella Valley History Museum during their stay while the Tamale Festival here each December puts a tangible and tasty twist on the local heritage and traditions.
If you’re heading to the Coachella Valley to enjoy time in the great outdoors, you’ll find Indio is a terrific home base for day trips to nearby Joshua Tree National Park. You’re never far from inspiring hiking and biking trails and wildlife watching is always something you can build into your Indio experience too. If you happen to be planning a trip this way with more of a focus on city-center fun, you’ll find downtown Indio is a terrific destination for flavorful food, sensational shopping, and top-rated entertainment alike. Places like Little Street Music Hall are wonderful for more intimate performances in the evening hours, while the city’s amphitheater hosts big-name artists throughout the year. If you’re feeling lucky, don’t miss out on time at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio where you can try out the tables and slots, or hang around for great performances as well.
La Quinta
If a lively arts scene and stunning natural beauty are your vacation style, booking your stay in La Quinta during your Coachella Valley getaway is a must. La Quinta is tucked between Indian Wells and Indio, yet offers its guests a completely unique vibe and experience to look forward to enjoying while they’re here. La Quinta was originally inhabited by the Desert Cahuilla tribe and began to make a name for itself among settlers in the late 1800s when trains began operating between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley. Indio’s terrain was fertile and enjoyed access to a robust water supply, giving area farmers opportunities to grow everything from citrus and dates to vegetables in abundance. In 1982, La Quinta was officially incorporated and named for the luxurious resort that was developed here in 1926.
When you visit La Quinta today, you’ll find just about everything you could need to customize your vacation is right at your fingertips. Over at the La Quinta Hotel and Spa Resort, guests and members of the public alike can enjoy time on gorgeous tennis and pickleball courts with a reservation in place. While there are gorgeous area golf courses to explore when a tee time is calling your name, a highlight of any trip to La Quinta is the opportunity to explore Old Town. This is La Quinta’s inviting Main Street which is packed with unique shops, charming cafes, and a variety of art galleries and studios too where you can spend time investing in your own creative inclinations while you’re here. Places like Old Town Artisan Studios are always a fan-favorite stop on the list, but you might have just as much fun renting a beach cruiser at Old Town Peddler and checking out the trails that run through La Quinta Cove too.
Palm Desert
When you’re looking for a place to settle in, relax, and enjoy time away in sunny style, Palm Desert is always a terrific choice in the greater Coachella Valley. Just 11 miles East of Palm Springs, Palm Desert is a community that was incorporated back in 1973 and continues to draw in visitors in droves each year with good reason! It’s place between Indian Wells and Cathedral City makes it a convenient stop for families who are looking to remain within easy reach of activities and events of all types during their Coachella Valley adventure.
Palm Desert is home to inspired golf courses, great local spas, and a culinary scene that’s vast and varied, making it easy to pair nights of elegant dining with family-friendly options too. Places like the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in town provide a one-stop resource for learning more about local wildlife and flora with interactive exhibits in place that make every visit memorable. Thrill seekers can book excursions by Jeep or ATV in Palm Desert and if it’s artistic inspiration you’re after, an evening out at the McCallum Theater is sure to please!
Those who find their vacation state of mind with ease when retail therapy is on the agenda will love every moment spent on El Paseo, which is considered the Rodeo Drive of Palm Desert. Here, there’s no shortage of art galleries to explore, and if you need a quick moment to refuel, the collection of charming coffee shops across Palm Desert are sure to impress. Some other must-visit destinations that travelers tend to love when they head this way include Civic Center Park, the Palm Desert Aquatic Center, the Desert Willow Golf Resort, and Cabot’s Pueblo Museum to name a few of many.
Rancho Mirage
In the very heart of the valley just 15 miles from Palm Springs, travelers looking for great views and a sunny vibe will find they go hand-in-hand in Rancho Mirage. This inviting city is just a 20-minute drive from the Palm Springs Airport, making it a convenient choice when you only have a few days to spare in the name of vacation fun. Rancho Mirage, much like Palm Desert, was incorporated in 1973 and has continued to grow in terms of both local population and visitor numbers since that time. It’s a fan-favorite among travelers who want to be close to the fun of Palm Springs but prefer a bit of a slower pace while on vacation. There are multiple golf courses to add to your must-visit list when you make Rancho Mirage your home-away-from-home, and outdoor shopping and dining malls like The River can take up an entire day of fun.
Rancho Mirage was purposefully planned in the 1930s as a recreation and community space in the Coachella Valley and it didn’t take long for developers to realize the full potential of this warm and welcoming destination. Places like the Agua Caliente Resort Casino and Spa offer those who stay here easy access to games and pampered luxuries while stops like the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert make Rancho Mirage equally appealing to families of travelers. Over at Rancho Mirage Community Park, visitors can explore sports courts, trails, green spaces, and an amphitheater where live performances are regularly hosted. A stay in Rancho Mirage also puts travelers within easy reach of the Sunnylands Center & Gardens where you can book a guided tour through this scenic and historic estate.
Book an Unforgettable Coachella Valley Getaway in Style Today Through TRAVLR
We hope you enjoyed our communities near Socal Palm Springs guide. The next time you travel to the Coachella Valley, make sure to book your luxurious accommodations through TRAVLR. Our properties will keep you close to the places you can’t wait to explore and infuse elevated standards of comfort and style into every day of your stay. Reach out today to learn more!
