Palm Springs Offers a Famous and Historic Getaway

Perhaps it is because so many associate the place with old Hollywood of the 1930s, a period when Palm Springs became a popular getaway for celebrities seeking privacy. Or is it the connection with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and the rest of the hard-partying “Rat Pack” of the early 1960s, and that group’s now-quaint-and-cringy exploits?

Either way, those who consider it simply an archaeological site for mid-century modern aficionados are missing out.

The city has in fact moved with the times and is full of unique, engaging activities and attractions, from the visual and performing arts to biking, hiking, house tours and more. Having traveled there alone on business and with my family of four, I am confident most would find it a rewarding destination.

The experience can be especially rewarding if you are a pilot arriving in your own aircraft.

There is a lot to see as you near Palm Springs. Coming from any direction, you will notice the changing terrain and start picking up landmarks. This phase of the flight is thrilling, and pilots have to remain vigilant and avoid distraction.

As you fly from the east, the vast, desolate high desert gives way to more varied landscapes that might look vaguely familiar. Soon you realize you are over Joshua Tree National Park, whose area is roughly split between the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.

The park’s elevation ranges from a few hundred feet to about 5,800 at the peak of Quail Mountain, but much of it is above 4,000 feet, so most pilots will start heading downhill toward the airport as soon as they clear the park. At this point you are likely to spot the white spinning turbine blades of the area’s many wind farms and notice the increasing number of large green patches in the desert denoting golf courses.

For those who enjoy working traditional pilotage into their navigation plans, the flight into Palm Springs has an abundance of recognizable natural and human-made markers.

While passing Joshua Tree, pilots will see the Salton Sea to the south. Ahead looms San Jacinto Peak at about 10,500 feet and Mount San Gorgonio (11,800). Aiming between them will take you toward Palm Springs International Airport (KPSP), which you will reach long before you get to the mountains. The ground turns increasingly green as you fly over the resorts of Palm Springs, though you are probably receiving guidance from ATC and have the field in sight by now.

While the approach from the east is scenic, flying in from the west is more exciting. Small aircraft typically fly through the Banning Pass, which runs between the San Jacinto and San Gorgonio mountains. Pilots have described the pass as a turbulent funnel that often deals extreme discomfort before releasing aircraft a few miles from the runway.

Discomfort aside, the mountains are stunning from the air, and while flying between two such high peaks can feel like more of a squeeze than it actually is, the pass is a welcome lower-altitude route for naturally aspirated piston airplanes. And there is plenty of space to get through.

KPSP is a Class D field on the northern end of the city. Traffic is diverse, including airliners, general aviation flights, military operations, and vintage aircraft from the Palm Springs Air Museum, which is located on the airport and sells rides in certain airplanes from its collection.

While high terrain near the airport makes Palm Springs a challenging destination, especially for pilots arriving for the first time, some might argue that the degree of difficulty increases more once you are on the ground. That is because the airport’s parallel runways, 13R/31L and 13L/31R, are numbered in a way that can be confusing.

In addition, the Charlie taxiway that runs between the two runways often tricks pilots into thinking it is another runway. They try to land on it, take off on it, and get lost while taxiing because they mistake it for a runway. The problem, which also stems from smaller details such as the proximity of certain ramps to the runway, is significant enough that the FAA made a familiarization video to help pilots avoid snags.

While KPSP has a lot of features that make it attractive, GA pilots visiting Palm Springs have other options, including Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (KTRM) about 20 nm southeast.

Built in 1942 as a training base for Navy and Army Air Corps pilots, it was called Thermal Army Air Field. After the war it changed to Thermal Airport, later to Desert Resorts Regional and then to its current name, honoring the famous aviator, in 2004.

In addition to a catchy name, Bermuda Dunes Airport (KUDD), opened in 1962, has the look and feel of the Rat Pack era we mentioned earlier. The airport was built in part to serve the Bermuda Dunes Country Club, which opened in 1958 and counted numerous celebrities among its members. The club, which has hosted major golf tournaments over the decades, remains a hot spot for the game.

KUDD lies about halfway between KPSP and KTRM. All three fields are close to points of interest, so you can take your pick without worrying about being too far from the things you and your family want to do.

There is so much going on in and around Palm Springs that finding interesting activities and entertainment can feel easy.

Great options often present themselves to you. You will find yourself surrounded by great food choices and a range of natural wonders such as Joshua Tree and mountain towns like Idlewild that are worth a day trip.

You can take in the area’s wonderful mid-century modern architecture by simply walking through local neighborhoods or renting bicycles to cover more ground quickly. If you want the full experience, though, you will have to plan. The following are a few Palm Springs signature attractions that you should try to see:

Buy tickets in advance for the tram, which carries visitors along Chino Canyon in a tram car that rotates slowly to give passengers a panoramic view. The destination, the wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park, sits at 8,516 feet and provides stunning views of the valley. The 2.5-mile trip up the mountain takes about 10 minutes. When you reach the Mountain Station, you can enjoy more than 50 miles of hiking trails, two restaurants, observation decks, a natural history museum, theaters, two theaters, and a gift shop.

The 11-day celebration of mid-century modern design, including art, architecture, fashion, and culture in February is over. But there’s still time to catch the similar, smaller four-day fall event in October that features some of the popular tours from the February event in addition to talks, parties, and other activities.

 Any excuse to fly is a good one. A flight that includes visiting an aviation museum is better yet. The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to a number of airworthy warbirds, static displays, and artifacts from WWII through the war on terror. Booking a flight in one of its warbirds, such as the P-51 Mustang or PT-17 Stearman, might be a good way to check off a bucket-list item while visiting.

A visit to the Palm Springs Air Museum is always worthwhile, but the opportunity to combine its collection of vintage aircraft with craft beer is a truly rare occasion that comes just once a year. The Props and Hops Craft Beer Festival features craft beers from across the region, local bands, food vendors and, of course, flight exhibitions. The event’s popularity has grown over the years and is among the top craft beer events in the Coachella Valley.

 This event gives attendees the chance to interact with filmmakers and actors who share their experiences and insights. Films in this “Talking Pictures” program in 2024 included American Fiction, Barbie, The Color Purple, and Killers of the Flower Moon. The event also includes dinners matched to films appearing at the festival. Menus are designed to blend “the magic of cinema with the artistry of gastronomy.”

Remember that if there is something of particular interest to you in and around Palm Springs, there probably is a tour that covers it. 

There are self-guided tours for walkers, bicyclists, and drivers. Guides will also drive you or ride with you on celebrity tours, wind farm tours, and architecture tours. If you do not wish to hike through Joshua Tree, you can book a guide-driven, air-conditioned SUV tour.

Perhaps the best tours available are those taken in vintage warbirds, which you can schedule at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Among the aircraft you can choose are a C-47 Skytrain, T-28 Trojan, P-51 Mustang, or even T-33 Shooting Star.

This feature first appeared in the September Issue 950 of the FLYING print edition.