Outdoor Fun in the Palm Springs Heat

Palm Springs Art Museum: On a rare rainy day in Palm Springs, I visited the Palm Springs Art Museum. The museum is open every day, except for Wednesdays. The cost of an adult ticket is $16 and can be bought online. Paintings and sculptures made of different mediums can be found indoors. The current exhibition will run through mid-April and includes Picasso prints and ceramics. My favorite part was the outdoor sculpture garden. The glass artist Dale Chihuly has an incredible glass installation featured. A free tip: admission to the museum is free on Thursday nights from 5-8 pm!

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: The Palm Springs Aerial Tram is fun for visitors and locals! Tickets to ride the roundtrip tram cost $30.95 for adults and $18.95 for children. There is also a $15 parking fee. Tickets can be bought online, but also on a first-come basis. The 10-minute tram ride climbs 8,500 feet and arrives at the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. There are hiking trails, camping, guided nature walks and, depending on the season, skiing. There are observation decks, a restaurant and a gift shop at the top. I have ridden the tram twice in the winter. The tram is popular with locals and kids in the winter. During my last visit, there were many kids wanting to see snow and go sledding!

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens: The zoo and gardens are fun for kids and adults! The adult ticket costs $39.95 and the child ticket costs $29.95. The zoo has many fun and educational choices. Booking a private two-hour safari tour of the zoo is a great experience. A guide will whisk you around in a shuttle and will stop at the major animal habitats. Sign up for the rhino encounter! You will meet and learn about the Living Desert's black rhinos! Take time to feed the giraffes, too. Some of these special choices cost an additional fee and require booking ahead. There is also a nature preserve with three hiking trails. The trails are open seasonally and it is recommended to bring water.

Art Stroll & Shopping in Downtown Palm Springs: Leave your car at the hotel and take a walk! The downtown area of Palm Springs is easy to get around by foot or bike. Follow the Walk of Stars on Tahquitz Canyon Way. There are stars honoring various people who have lived in the greater Palm Springs area. In addition to movie actors, there are past presidents, authors and civic leaders. I enjoyed seeing Marilyn Monroe and Ronald Reagan's stars. There are cute shops and restaurants to browse. I bought a book to read at the hotel pool at The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs. Whenever I visit, there is always a line at the Starbucks Reserve downtown!

Joshua Tree National Park: Joshua Tree National Park, north of Palm Springs, is located in southeastern California. It costs about $30 per private vehicle. We use our National Parks pass to enter. There are visitor centers at the different entrances to the park. Maps, desert books and supplies can be found at the visitor center. Popular activities in the park include hiking, rock climbing and stargazing at night. I love seeing the Joshua trees as we drive through the park. Another part of the park that I like is the Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail. The half-mile flat trail is covered in teddy bear cholla. It is a great IG spot!

FARM: We go to FARM for breakfast almost every morning. I order the sugar and lemon crepe every time!

Bar Cecil: Bar Cecil is open for dinner Tuesday-Sunday. It can be difficult to get into Bar Cecil without a reservation, but we did get lucky when there was a cancellation. Bar Cecil is a Michelin-rated restaurant and is a great choice for food and drinks. I recommend the caramelized onion tart as an appetizer!

Sherman's Deli & Bakery: This deli has been featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The entrance to the deli has a big glass case full of cakes and baked treats. The bagel and lox is a great choice. My husband and I enjoy a slice of the Boston cream cake for dessert!

Tac/Quila: This Mexican place is cozy with patio seating, and it's also Michelin-rated and takes reservations. The beer tempura avocado bites are a tasty start!

Crudo: The staff at Crudo are super nice and the food is even better! Crudo is mainly seafood with different choices of ceviche. I recommend the salmon ceviche and ahi nachos.