What Makes Palm Springs One of Southern California’s Most Desirable Cities to Live

Southern California is a region filled with attractive options for real estate buyers. One famous city that buyers should not overlook is Palm Springs, the historic and beautiful place in the Sonoran Desert. 

Palm Springs is relatively small, but it packs an outsized punch as a destination for culture, entertainment, architecture, and natural beauty. It is a city inhabited by celebrities and business titans, and an affluent desert oasis known for its one-of-a-kind architecture and luxurious amenities. Let’s dive into the aspects of Palm Springs that make it an ideal option for Southern California buyers.

Escena Golf Club, Palm Springs | Image credit: Bob Osias

Architecture, History, and Gorgeous Homes

Palm Springs’s residential and commercial architecture, much of which embodies the mid-century modern style or a desert modernism style, gives the city a unique aesthetic. Many of these homes have a rich history, having housed luminaries such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Marilyn Monroe.

Palm Springs real estate is celebrated yearly at the famed Modernism Week, highlighting the city’s unique architecture and design history. This city’s real estate market is expensive, but buyers can own a slice of desert modernism paradise.

Palm Springs | Image credit: Bob Osias

Entertainment, Dining, and Shopping

Palm Springs has developed a reputation as a hub for entertainment, dining, and shopping. Palm Springs is near Coachella Valley, which houses the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, one of the world’s most famous musical events. The same site also hosts Stagecoach, a huge country music and pop festival attended by tens of thousands. 

The dining and shopping in Palm Springs are similarly world-class. Palm Canyon Drive is the city center, with high-end shops, restaurants, art galleries, and other attractions. Lined with palm trees, this main street houses vintage stores, upscale eateries, as well as many of the city’s major events. Palm Springs is also renowned for its luxurious spas and resorts, so residents can regularly get pampered at some of the state’s best places to unwind.

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival | Image credit: Eric Ward

Natural Beauty and Outdoor Recreation

Palm Springs’s desert location not only influences its architectural style but also provides residents access to abundant natural beauty right outside their door. Palm Springs is a desirable place for outdoor enthusiasts, with its year-round warm weather and expansive protected natural areas that make for some of the best places to explore in the state. The beautiful desert setting of Indian Canyons offers three different canyons with gorgeous scenery and a unique history, as they were the native homes of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Native Americans. Also, Joshua Tree National Park, one of the country’s most famous outdoor sites, is a 60-minute drive away. 

All these incredible areas make Palm Springs an excellent place for outdoor recreation. It has premier hiking, biking, and equestrian trails winding through the desert in the Coachella Valley. It also has immaculately manicured, world-class golf courses in resorts and country clubs with amazing desert and mountain backdrops. 

Joshua Tree National Park