Palm Springs for People Who Don't Think They Like 'Nature'
We're not hardcore hikers, and we don't plan vacations around trail mileage — yet a few desert spots surprised us anyway.
Our experience
The Aerial Tramway is our once-a-year 'escape the heat' reset: a few hours of cold air, pine trees, and high-up views, then back down before we get tired of it. Joshua Tree feels less like staring at plants and more like wandering a sculpture garden of rock formations — even the non-outdoorsy half of our duo found it genuinely fascinating. And the Salton Sea is the opposite of polished: decaying signs, quiet shoreline, the eerie feeling of a resort that time abandoned. If you're into history and weird beauty, it's compelling.
Book a tram ride at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, then explore Joshua Tree National Park on a guided day tour.