Driving down Palm Canyon Drive, the setting sun painting the sky above the San Jacinto mountains brilliant shades of purple and pink, with Taylor Swift blasting out of the speakers, I realized my trip would’ve been way more fun if my besties were with me. We would be singing along to “Blank Space” on our girls weekend getaway, sharing amazing adventures, and sipping colorful drinks by the pool under the California sun. Sure, a blissful solo weekend spent soaking in the mineral waters of Spa at Séc-he, hiking Indian Canyons, and gazing up at the Milky Way in Joshua Tree National Park, was what my soul needed – but next time, I am returning with my girlfriends.
Greater Palm Springs, bordered by four mountain ranges in Southern California, sits in the Coachella Valley region. It comprises nine cities, including Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella, all within a short driving distance from each other.
Whether you are planning a memorable, wellness-focused bachelorette getaway or an outdoorsy weekend hiking or stargazing, Greater Palm Springs has it all. Keep reading for a guide to a girls’ trip to Greater Palm Springs.
What to Do in Palm Springs and Beyond
Have a Spa Day at Spa at Séc-he
Get a day pass to enjoy treatments and the mineral water pools at Spa at Séc-he, owned and operated by the Agua Caliente Band of the Cahuilla Indians. The 73,000 square-foot luxury day spa is part of the community’s new Cultural Plaza, which also features an Indigenous cultural museum, which opened its doors in Fall 2023. The main attraction is the Hot Mineral Spring, called Séc-he, that feeds healing waters at 105 degrees temperature to the 22 private (clothing-optional) hot mineral bath tubs.
The spa features 15 treatment rooms offering Indigenous-inspired treatments, such as a quartz and poultice massage and a blue sage botanical mud wrap. The expansive, calming facility also boasts a cryotherapy chamber, two float pod suites (each with 1,500 pounds of salt to create buoyancy), two halotherapy salt caves, a eucalyptus steam room, an acoustic wellness area with vibrational loungers, and a full-service salon, all to help you and your gal pals relieve stress, connect, and make memories.
The outdoor pool with luxury cabanas and daybeds are ideal for lounging after or before a treatment.
Photo credit Spa at Séc-he
The indoor tranquility garden, complete with desert plants, a soothing waterfall, and palm trees, is the perfect place to continue the serenity journey. Feeling hungry? Head to the Málmal Café inside or the outdoor Pál Bar offering delicious dishes made from locally-sourced ingredients.
Photo credit Lavanya Sunkara
Visit the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza and Museum
The Greater Palm Springs area has been inhabited by Native people for more than 8,000 years. It is home to five tribes within two major cultural groups, including the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, which comprises 500 tribal members. This mighty group recently had a decades-long dream come true with the opening of the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza and Museum, right in the heart of downtown Palm Springs.
Photo credit Lavanya Sunkara
Add a cultural and historical component to your girls weekend getaway with a visit to one of the largest Indigenous-owned museums in the country. The 5.8-acre building features five exhibition areas and state-of-the-art technology to showcase the history and culture of the group, including an impressive 360-degree digital animation and projection in the Creation and Migration Theater.
Photo credit Lavanya Sunkara
The rounded building design elements pay homage to the beautiful basket weaving, and the 48,000-square-foot museum is accompanied by a spacious Gathering Plaza that connects to an Oasis Trail, inspired by the desert landscapes of the Tahquitz Canyon and Indian Canyons.
Hike Indian Canyons
The stunning Indian Canyons, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located within the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation, and features 60 miles of walking and hiking trails. This lush oasis, easily accessible from Downtown Palm Springs, is known for its expansive Washingtonia filifera (California fan palm) groves, several waterfalls, notable rock formations, and hundreds of species of plants.
Photo credit Lavanya Sunkara
Hikers can choose between the Andreas trail, an easy one-mile loop through the stately skirted palms and Andreas Creek, or Murray Canyons, is a four-mile long out and back trail, both affording stunning views of the oasis and gently rolling hills.
Photo credit Lavanya Sunkara
Despite being so close to development, these sacred lands feel a world away; transporting travelers back in time and providing an inside look at the lives of the early inhabitants. The remnants of bedrock mortars and metates used for food preparation can still be seen.
Paint with Girlfriends at Superbloom
Between shopping at vintage stores and designer shops in Palm Springs, make the time for a painting session at Superbloom, an interactive experience on Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.
Photo credit Lavanya Sunkara
Sign up for their 90-minute Full Bloom Paint Splatter program to renew your old pieces of clothing or shoes, or new items like a tote bag, luggage tag, vase, or passport holder with the use of vibrant paints. Participants are encouraged to express themselves creatively using color, so you can bring home a memorable souvenir from your girls weekend getaway. The location also sells fashionable unisex apparel, accessories, artwork, home decor, and gifts.
Go Stargazing in Joshua Tree National Park
Make unforgettable memories on a road trip to Joshua Tree National Park for the ultimate in stargazing. Just within an hour-long drive, you will reach Joshua Tree National Park, a designated International Dark Sky Park, for some of the darkest skies in Southern California and a unique chance to see the Milky Way.
Photo credit Mark Nemenzo
Book with Sky Watcher Star Tours for a two-hour guided opportunity to witness the wonders of the inky blue desert sky through state-of-the-art telescopes. Hear millennia-old tales behind constellations, along with awe-inspiring stories about astronomy figures from around the world.
Come prepared with cozy layers to endure the cold desert nights as you marvel at star clusters, Saturn’s rings, and even the Milky Way (with best sightings in the summer months).
Where to Stay in Palm Springs
Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage
Located in Rancho Mirage, the 16-story Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage stands out as a shining beacon. This AAA Four Diamond resort offers everything you need for a relaxing getaway in Palm Springs -- from a smoke-free casino to the award-winning Sunstone Spa and its Native inspired treatments to help you unwind.
Photo Credit Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage
The resort has three restaurants, a small food court, coffee shop, shopping, a fitness center, and outdoor pools with cabanas. The large hotel features 340 rooms and suites with modern amenities and luxurious bathrooms.
Photo Credit Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage
The Good House
Seeking a secluded hideaway for your group? Look no further than The Good House & Spa, located on Miracle Hill in Desert Hot Springs, a short distance from Palm Springs. This Black-owned and operated boutique hotel is literally hidden beyond lush trees and shrubbery (you have to try a bit harder to find it, as it doesn’t have a sign), which adds to its mystique and exclusivity.
Photo Credit Lavanya Sunkara
This new property was listed among Travel + Leisure’s Most Beautiful Places to Visit in California in 2023, and it’s easy to see why. Upon entering, a picture-perfect scene of a brilliant blue pool surrounded and shaded by native Southern California trees greets visitors. The property sits on a hot water aquifer, which feeds the pool and hot tubs, offering therapeutic properties. The experience is further enhanced by the delicious gourmet meals prepared by Chef Van Stevens.
This is the ideal spot to enjoy delectable food, sunbathe by the pool, soak in the mineral waters, and repeat it all the next day!
