Sunnylands Center & Gardens in Rancho Mirage.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY SUNNYLANDS CENTER & GARDENS
Palm Springs
Modernism Week
Architecture buffs descend on the desert every February and October for this celebrated festival that includes home tours, lectures on design, and unrivaled shopping experiences. modernismweek.com
Desert Hot Springs
Cabot’s Pueblo Museum
This maze-like museum was built by hand by one of the area’s earliest settlers. Its 35 rooms now display Native American art and artifacts, as well as a collection of Yerxa’s own art, handiwork, and souvenirs from his faraway travels. cabotsmuseum.org
Rancho Mirage
Sunnylands Center & Gardens
The historic 200-acre winter retreat of late ambassadors and philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg has hosted U.S. presidents, British royalty, and Hollywood stars. Today, guests can visit the 9-acre garden for free or purchase a ticket to tour the estate. sunnylands.org
Palm Desert
Red Jeep Tours by Desert Adventures
Get up close and personal with some of the most breathtaking natural wonders of the desert in the back of an open-air Jeep or climate-controlled vehicle with Desert Adventures, headquartered in Palm Desert. red-jeep.com
Indian Wells
Modernism Week
The beloved architecture event has expanded in recent years from its home base in Palm Springs to include property tours and events in Indian Wells that are not to be missed. modernismweek.com
Indio
Red Jeep Tours by Desert Adventures
In addition to tours of nearby locations like Joshua Tree, Desert Adventures also provides tours at its private ranch in Indio. More than 800 acres feature pristine nature and installations including a re-creation of a Cahuilla village. red-jeep.com
Coachella
Temalpakh Farm
The Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians operates this produce farm, with an on-site market and smoothie bar. Stop by for a tasty beverage and explore the property. temalpakhfarm.com
Read next: What to see at Modernism Week 2023.