The city of Palm Springs rests in the shadows of the San Jacinto Mountains. The towering, snow-topped peaks of Southern California's second-highest mountain range are beautiful to behold from the valley floor, but many visitors say that a mountaintop experience is incredible. To reach the summit, you'll take a 10-minute ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Once you rise 8,516 feet to the top, you can hike (there are more than 50 miles of trails, including to San Jacinto Peak), or snowshoe and cross-country ski during the winter, before heading back down the mountain via its rotating tram cars.

To avoid waiting in long ticket lines, several travelers recommend purchasing your tram passes in advance on the attraction's ticket page. If tickets are not available online for your arrival date, you will need to buy them on-site. Adults will be charged $28.95 for standard tram tickets; tickets for children ages 3 to 10 cost $16.95. Keep in mind: The weather at the top is typically 30 to 40 degrees cooler than the desert floor, so you'll want to wear layers to stay comfortable.

The Coachella Valley Preserve may seem like a barren desert, but keep your eyes peeled and you'll see that its 20,000-plus acres are more than just sand and brush. The preserve encompasses the smaller, 880-acre Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, which boasts more than 25 miles of hiking trails. Along the trails you'll spot rare wildlife, such as the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, lush palm woodland oases and desert wetlands, which at different times of the year blossom with wildflowers.

Previous visitors said a stop here is worth a few hours of your time to view the unique geography of the Thousand Palm Oasis and to hike the trails. Reviewers also appreciated the free admission. Additionally, some suggested arriving early before temperatures become unbearable and the small parking lot fills up.

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is part zoo and part botanical garden, all in the extraordinary setting of the desert. Along with animals like rhinos, bighorn sheep and meerkats, there are a handful of gardens that showcase more than 1,600 species of plants, including multiple varieties of cacti, prickly pear and agave. If you're visiting between October and May, you can also explore the attraction's three trail loops.

Past visitors enjoyed seeing The Living Desert's animals, but recommended arriving early, since the park offers little shade and temperatures often rise above 100 degrees in the summer. Many also suggested paying an extra $8 to feed the giraffes, and if you're traveling with little ones or don't want to walk between exhibits, consider purchasing a ticket for a two-hour private tour. Passes start at $79 for adults and $49 for children between 3 and 12 and include general admission, a guide and a shuttle.

Joshua Tree National Park is an oasis in the center of the desert. From Hidden Valley (which features a nice, easy hike) to the Cholla Cactus Garden (home to many a photo-op at sunset), Joshua Tree caters to a variety of active travelers. Meanwhile, with its perch in the Little San Bernardino Mountains, the Keys View lookout is another great place for a spectacular view of the Coachella Valley.

Whether you're planning on hiking or just driving through, the park rangers recommend bringing plenty of water – this is the desert, after all. What's more, recent travelers suggested bringing food to enjoy at one of Hidden Valley's picnic tables.

Located 6 miles south of central Palm Springs, these canyons, which consist of Palm Canyon, Murray Canyon and Andreas Canyon, sit on the reservation lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. All three canyons offer hiking trails with breathtaking desert scenery, but other activities are also available. At Palm Canyon, purchase authentic Native American artwork or pottery at the trading post. Andreas and Murray canyons, meanwhile, are best for wildlife-watching; if you're lucky, you may even spot endangered species like the Peninsular desert bighorn sheep and the Least Bell's Vireo bird while exploring Murray Canyon. The new Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, Tahquitz Canyon and three resorts – Indian Canyons Golf Resort, the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage and Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs – are also situated on or near the reservation.

According to recent travelers, the Indian Canyons are "peaceful" and "stunningly beautiful." Some, however, cautioned that temps often soar above 100 degrees in the summer, so bring lots of water and sunscreen. Many also recommend wearing comfortable closed-toe shoes and skipping the Murray Canyon Trail if you don't want to get your feet wet as it ends at the Seven Sisters Waterfall.

The Palm Springs Art Museum, which was founded in 1938, contains a stunning collection, like works from the landscape painter Thomas Moran and glass artist Dale Chihuly. You'll also find an ever-changing list of rotating exhibits, which have included studies of impressionism, contemporary sculpture, pop and graphic art, and architecture. The facility's permanent collection is not to be missed either as it contains more than 12,000 works across its 28 galleries. The museum also owns the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, which sits less than a mile south of the art museum, as well as Frey House II, the longtime residence of architect Albert Frey.

According to recent visitors, the Palm Springs Art Museum is a "cultural oasis" with "wonderful" exhibits. Many also appreciated its small size, adding that it's easy to see everything in an hour or two. Plus, the property offers free entry every Thursday evenings, no reservations required.

The Palm Springs Air Museum boasts an extensive collection of aircraft from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, including aircraft that range from the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress to the Grumman F7F Tigercat to the Douglas DC-3 Skytrain. The aircraft are positioned throughout the museum, not unlike the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Several previous visitors said this attraction was "one of the best museums in Palm Springs" and served as a "great place to beat the heat," adding that its kids area, where children can sit in airplane cockpits, is a must if you're visiting with little ones. What's more, many appreciated the property's informative and friendly volunteers.

For stunning scenery and a look at Native American history and culture, check out the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indian's Tahquitz Canyon. Situated less than 2 miles southwest of downtown Palm Springs, this area of the reservation boasts the 60-foot Tahquitz waterfall (accessible via the Tahquitz Canyon Trail), rock art and a variety of flora and fauna. You'll also find the Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center, where you can watch a movie about the canyon, peruse various artifacts, buy souvenirs and take a guided walk. Additional facilities, including three resorts, the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum (opening soon) and the Indian Canyons, can be found on or near the reservation as well.

Outdoor enthusiasts will love hiking the nearly 2-mile-long Tahquitz Canyon Trail, which past visitors said was relatively easy to traverse, despite its lack of shade and occasional changes in elevation (as much as 350 feet). What's more, temps can climb into the 100s at times, so pack plenty of water. Several previous travelers recommended carrying at least one liter of water per person.

With 300 days of sunshine and more than 100 courses – many designed by celebrity architects like Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus – Palm Springs is a golfer's paradise. No matter where you decide to play, you'll be surrounded by stunning mountain and desert vistas and towering palm trees.

Some of the top-rated courses include Indian Wells Golf Resort, which offers 36 holes and sits next to the Indian Wells Resort Hotel, originally founded in 1957 by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Players say Indian Wells is in excellent condition and enhanced by the incredible views. For golfers staying in downtown Palm Springs, the Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort offers two 18-hole golf courses that recent visitors called challenging.

For a curated desert landscape that hosted royalty, world leaders and old Hollywood stars, explore Sunnylands Center and Gardens, the 15-acre parcel that's part of the 200-acre Rancho Mirage estate of former ambassador Walter Annenberg and his wife, Leonore. The Sunnylands Center and Gardens features a 9-acre garden with reflecting pools and more than 50,000 arid-adapted plants, some from North and South America, Africa and the Mediterranean. Along a 1.25-mile walking trail, visitors can enjoy views of the nearby mountains and several free audio tours are available for download on smartphones. The Sunnylands Center and Gardens features free activities throughout the year, such as a guided 60-minute birding walk on Friday mornings from November to May. The main house, a midcentury modern classic, is located within the 200-acre estate that also includes 11 human-made lakes and a nine-hole golf course. The home is open by tour only (reservations are required several months in advance) and other guided tours are also available.

Recent visitors marvel at the precision of the gardens, where "no flower or bush or cactus is out of place." Other visitors added that the Sunnylands Center and Gardens offered lots of bird-watching opportunities, in addition to plenty of benches for resting. Reviewers also encouraged visitors to plan ahead and book tickets to the home tour well in advance, as tickets are often sold out.

With shoulder-to-shoulder restaurants (many with outdoor dining), designer boutiques, locally owned shops and galleries, Palm Canyon Drive is a pedestrian-friendly destination in downtown Palm Springs. Anchoring downtown, Palm Canyon Drive is also the home to the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, a collection of more than 400 granite squares embedded in the sidewalk bearing the names of celebrities and well-known locals. Sprinkled along the Palm Canyon Drive sidewalk, artists have painted more than 50 concrete benches for a splash of color and a place to sit. Palm Canyon Drive also hosts the weekly street fair known as VillageFest, where vendors take over the street and the thoroughfare is closed to cars every Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m.

Nearly every visitor enjoyed walking up and down Palm Canyon Drive seeing the sights and window-shopping. However, reviewers warn that drivers need to take care when parking in the area as parking limitations are strictly enforced.

Drawing inspiration from the Hopi Native American tribe, Cabot Yerxa, a homesteader in the area that became known as Desert Hot Springs, spent decades creating a four-story, 35-room pueblo. Using reclaimed and found materials from the surrounding Coachella Valley, Yerxa did everything from dismantle abandoned cabins to craft adobe-style sun-dried bricks. Visitors are drawn to the home not only because of the meticulous craftsmanship, but also because of the artifacts on display. The home is filled with Native American art and artifacts, souvenirs of Cabot's travels and Cabot's own works of art. Another highlight of Cabot's Pueblo Museum is Waokiye. Lakota for "traditional helper," Waokiye is a 22-foot-tall sculpture made from donated Sequoia redwood.

A self-guided, 45-minute audio tour is accessible on mobile devices. The tour guides visitors through the building while explaining how it was constructed, as well as Yerxa's role in developing Desert Hot Springs.

Established in 1938 by former actor Chester "Cactus Slim" Moorten and his wife, Patricia, Moorten Botanical Garden is a 1-acre privately owned botanical garden and plant nursery. When not tending to their botanical garden, the couple designed gardens for a who’s who of Palm Springs, including Walt Disney. Meander the garden's nature trail to marvel at more than a dozen biodomes and more than 3,000 desert plants. For gardeners, the plant nursery is located on the property and offers a knowledgeable staff.

Recent visitors enjoyed the setting of Moorten Botanical Garden and felt it offered an escape from the surrounding development. Others described the attraction as small and not worth more than an hour of your time.

As the backdrop to the Coachella Valley, San Jacinto Peak is part of the San Jacinto Mountains and the second-tallest peak in Southern California. Unique to this summit – and a benefit to mountaineers – is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway that carries hikers up nearly 6,000 feet on the way to the 10,834-foot summit. When climbers exit the tram at the mountain station at 8,516 feet, the elevation gain is just over 2,300 feet to the summit.

After exiting the tramway's mountain station, hikers start their 5.5-mile one-way hike to the San Jacinto Peak as they enter Long Valley. After hiking along Long Valley, hikers enter Round Valley, a more open section of the trail. Wellman's Divide is home to the steepest section of the trail, with a 600-foot elevation gain over one mile. According to past visitors, the San Jacinto Peak Trail is well marked to the summit.