When a Coachella Valley getaway sounds inviting and exciting, you’ll want to make your way to southeastern Riverside County and enjoy a trip to Palm Desert the next time you have a moment to spare in the name of vacation fun. This beautiful and sunny California vacation destination is one that has something to offer travelers in every single season. However, if you’re lucky enough to head this way in the fall, you’ll truly be in for a treat. Palm Desert was officially incorporated on November 26, 1973, and since that time, has continued to be a fan favorite stop on the map for travelers from near and far with good reason. When you book your stay here in the fall, you’ll find you’re situated only 122 miles east of Los Angeles, and just 15 miles east of Palm Springs. With a population of just over 52,000 year-round residents, a Palm Desert stay in the fall is a chance to enjoy a friendly vibe, with easy access to fun of all kinds whenever you’re in the mood to explore.
Getting Here and Getting Around This Fall
Fall is a fantastic time of year to explore Palm Desert, and visitors are often thrilled to find that getting here is a breeze. If you choose to fly into the city, the nearest airport to select is the Indio/Palm Springs Airport. This destination is located just over 10 miles from city center and provides convenient car rental options on-site making it simple to reach your final destination after landing. If you don’t mind including a bit more of a road trip into your fall getaway, the San Bernardino Airport is another great option just 75 miles away from Palm Desert. Many visitors also opt to fly into the San Diego airport which is 84 miles from Palm Desert, and a scenic drive in any time of year. Yet another convenient option to choose is the Santa Ana Airport which is 86 miles from Palm Desert and comes with car rental options as well.
Making sure you have a car rental in place is always a good idea as Palm Desert is a destination that’s typically best enjoyed on wheels. There’s a lot to see here, and customizing your fall getaway according to your own timeline is easier to do when you have a rental car to call your own. Of course, if your fall trip focuses more on time spent downtown exclusively, you can always leave the car behind for a few days and swap it out for strolling your way through a stay or biking instead. Palm Desert has many bike rental options available to travelers who are looking to explore on two wheels. If you prefer to leave the driving up to someone else, Palm Desert is also a great fall getaway destination for those who enjoy the convenience of rideshare. Here, you can count on easy access to Uber, or Lyft services that make calling a car as simple as the touch of a button on your app.
Fall Weather Expectations
Because Palm Desert enjoys a place in the Sonoran Desert within the Coachella Valley, warm and sunny weather year-round is a standard. Those who love a desert climate will find reasons to return here time and again, and if you head this way in the fall, you’re in for a comfortable experience. While summertime in Palm Desert is typically very hot, fall is an inviting transition season where temperatures start to cool down slightly. While daily average highs would still be considered warm compared to other places on the map, you can expect to enjoy anywhere from the mid-80s to the low 90s with nighttime temperatures dropping into the 60s. Another advantage of heading this way in the fall is that it’s a season with very little rainfall in the area, so you won’t have to worry about weather interrupting your plans.
What to Pack for Your Journey
If your travel plans this fall have you spending ample time in the great outdoors, it’s important to have some essentials in place to make your stay comfortable and successful. You’ll want to be sure that you have plenty of sunscreen packed for your fall getaway because even those comfortable temperatures come with a lot of sunshine included. A sun hat and sunglasses are ideal whether you’re spending time downtown or heading to the hiking trails. You’ll want to make sure to have comfortable walking shoes for those moments when you head off the beaten track, and apparel options that can transition into stylish nightwear, because Palm Desert is certainly a place with a variety of luxurious restaurants and shops to add to your list. Don’t forget your swimwear as well for afternoons enjoyed in the pool cooling off in good company!
Day 1:
After a delicious breakfast enjoyed in the luxury of your vacation rental booked through TRAVLR, you’ll start the first day of your fall stay in Palm Desert with some well-deserved shopping fun. The retail therapy begins with quality time at the Palm Desert shops. The shops on El Paseo are just as inviting when you’re in the mood to fill your bags with luxury apparel, jewelry, handcrafted goods, items for your home, and more.
Afterward, treat yourself to some time at the Palm Desert Civic Center park. Located on San Pablo Avenue, this is one of the city’s largest parks and it’s the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon picnic with family and friends, check out impressive public artwork displays, or spend some time on the tennis courts.
Tonight, you’ll dine in style at Mastro’s steakhouse. This luxurious eatery is located right on the Gardens on El paseo, and when you drop by for dinner, you can make the most of indoor or outdoor seating options. Some of the menu favorites to enjoy here include Chilean sea bass, Norwegian cold water salmon, and New York strip or filet. Sushi is also on the menu, as well as lump crab cakes and oysters on the half shell. A highlight of dinner here is that there’s often live music to enjoy on the weekends between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm.
Day 2:
The second day of your fall getaway to Palm Desert has you heading to the great outdoors and enjoying time at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in town. This dual nonprofit zoo and desert botanical garden is located on Portola Avenue and is a family-friendly destination to enjoy when you’re in the area. When you drop by, you’ll be treated to exhibits and displays showcasing over 150 species and 500 animals in total. It’s a great place to get up close with wildlife, learn more about conservation, and enjoy floral exhibits that are truly impressive.
Afterward, you and your traveling crew can cool off from a day of fun at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center. This inviting destination is found on Magnesia Falls Drive and is open Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm with adjusted hours on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 am until 4:45 pm. The Palm Desert Aquatic Center hosts three on-site pools to enjoy, as well as spray areas for cooling off, fun slides to explore, and a fitness center for those who enjoy keeping up with health routines while traveling.
Tonight, you’ll make your way to 42305 Washington Street to savor a meal at the 19th Hole Sports Bar and Restaurant. This laid-back eatery gives off strong pub vibes and is a fun place to pair delicious flavors with opportunities to catch the big game. The interior of this restaurant hosts pool tables for enjoying when your meal has come to an end, and there are plenty of flat-screen televisions overhead as well. Appetizers like pretzel bites, tots, and chicken wings are sure to delight while main menu options like burgers and patty melts as well as tacos and burritos are just as inspiring. You won’t want to end your meal here without at least trying a slice of the chocolate cake!
Day 3:
The third day of your fall getaway will have you finding artistic inspiration after a hearty breakfast in your vacation rental. Make time to head out and enjoy exhibits at local galleries like the Melissa Morgan Fine Art Gallery on El Paseo or the Imago Galleries off CA-74. Both destinations provide a beautifully curated space to browse incredible artistic creations and perhaps find yourself lingering longer than you originally planned.
Once you’ve had your fill of photographs, paintings, and sculptures, it’s time to explore the great outdoors. Use your time this afternoon to book a place on a Jeep tour through the nearby Palm Springs Indian Canyon. If you prefer to make your way on foot, there are options to book a guided hiking experience in this region instead and learn a lot about the rich history of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians along the way.
Tonight, you’ll want to head over to Armando’s Dakota Bar & Grill for a night filled with fantastic Mexican fare and flavor. This eatery is located at 73260 El Paseo and offers indoor and outdoor dining options to enjoy menu selections like custom tacos and tamales paired with mouthwatering house margaritas.
Day 4:
The fourth day of your fall getaway to Palm Desert is a chance to enjoy sightseeing in nearby Palm Springs. This area is known and loved by architecture enthusiasts for its mix of mid-century modern architecture and modern marvels. The best way to compare and contrast the stylistic approaches is on a Palm Springs private walking tour that takes you through the Twin Palms neighborhood.
After lunch, make time to get out and enjoy the natural surroundings too by setting your sights on a Palm Desert hike. The Hopalong Cassidy Trail is a great choice for an easy ride or mountain bike climb while the Randall Henderson Trail is equally inviting when you’re looking for a moderately difficult hiking challenge with mountain views and wildlife watching built into the experience.
This evening, reward your hard work with a slice or two savored at Bill’s Pizza. This family-friendly stop in town is found at 73196 Highway 111 and offers 22 on-menu options as well as a chance to customize your pizza at just about every turn. The gas-fired brick oven is what sets this pizza joint apart from a crowd no matter what day of the week you happen to drop by.
Day 5:
The fifth day of your fall journey to Palm Desert is a chance to hone your long and short game alike because you’ll be kicking things off with a tee time at Desert Willow Golf Resort. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to master the greens in style, taking time to enjoy one or both of the beautiful championship courses on-site.
When your golf game comes to an end, you can follow it up with time at the Farmers Market and Art Fair hosted at the College of the Desert. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm in the fall, this farmers market and art fair is a great place to browse locally grown vegetables and fruits as well as handcrafted goods, delicious treats, and one-of-a-kind art as well.
This evening, make time to enjoy a show at the iconic McCallum Theater in town and follow it up with some authentic California fare enjoyed at Cork Tree California Cuisine at 74950 Country Club Drive. This is the perfect post-performance eatery to enjoy when you find yourself craving everything from Bristol scallops and short ribs to Peking duck breast or pasta primavera.
Day 6:
The sixth day of your fall getaway to Palm Desert is an opportunity to dig into the area’s past with a trip to the Coachella Valley History Museum. Make your way to 82616 Mills Avenue between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm to browse a variety of exhibits and displays that bring Palm Desert’s past back to life. Here, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore an impressive rose garden and Japanese Memorial Garden as well as a two-room schoolhouse from 1909 and a 1930s home.
Follow up your history lesson today with a scenic drive to Smiler’s Point. This is a highway curve that’s become somewhat of a comedic pilgrimage site in the area that’s to fans of the 1960s comedy It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
Once you’ve set your sights on the area showcased on the big screen, you can treat yourself to European cuisine for dinner at Alps Village. Head over to 77734 Country Club Drive F to settle into a warm and welcoming space where you can order up Hungarian and German specialties in abundance. Whether you go for the goulash or the Wienerschnitzel, your tastebuds will thank you for the experience.
Day 7:
The last day of your fall getaway to Palm Desert begins at the Coda Gallery after breakfast. This El Paseo destination is a wonderful place to find yourself if you have a passion for contemporary art. Making your visit even more meaningful is knowing that this gallery has been working hard to be a place where local and international contemporary artists are well-represented since 1987.
After you’ve taken time to browse the many exhibits and displays on-site, make your way to nearby Indo and spend the late afternoon and evening at the always vibrant Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. This stop is open 24 hours a day and is located on Indio Springs Parkway. When you’re feeling lucky, you’ll find this is a one-stop resource for great game tables, slot machines, and live musical entertainment to top it all off. While there’s on-site dining here to enjoy, you can also choose to end your day at Jillian’s Fine Dining for some savory European fare. This romantic and elegant eatery is located on El Paseo and is a great destination for enjoying a robust wine selection under patio twinkle lights as well as entrée options ranging from fresh crab and glazed shrimp to spicy corn chowder and soup of the day.
Book Your Palm Desert Adventure Today
When you’re ready to turn your fall travel plans into a reality, the team at TRAVLR is here to make sure you have luxurious accommodations in place to top off your journey in style. Reach out to our team today to learn more about our amazing options and to start planning your next getaway!
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