This Southern Californian desert oasis has undergone a major renaissance in recent years, with more exciting experiences for groups than ever before.
Day 1: Take to the Desert
10:00 a.m.
Begin your day with an easy two-mile hike around the Andreas Canyon Trail, which takes you through some of Palm Springs’ most scenic landscapes, many of which look more like the jungle than the desert. www.hiking-in-ps.com/andreas.php
4:30 p.m.
Take part in an unforgettable jeep tour around an 800-acre preserve on the San Andreas Fault, taking in a breathtaking des- ert sunset and then gazing at the stars once night falls. Desert Adventures Eco-Tours has groups covered with a variety of fun and engaging teambuilding programs that take advantage of Palm Springs’ natural land- scapes, from jeep tours and a GPS Geo-Trek to chili cook-offs and Desert Olympics at the Old Mining Camp. www.red-jeep.com
Day 2: Soar to New Heights
10:00 a.m.
See the city from a new perspective on the scenic Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which takes you some 8,516 feet up to the 14,000-acre Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness Area. At the top, you’ll also find a variety of meeting spaces and rooms, each with picturesque views of the surrounding forest. During warmer months, groups can arrange meeting breaks and activities that involve short hikes. In the winter, you can even spot snow.
www.pstramway.com6:00 p.m.
Host an evening reception at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The venue has 65,000 square feet of function space and is filled with one of the world’s largest collections of flyable aircraft from the WWII era. There’s also a vintage car collection on the property. www.palmspringsairmuseum.org
Day 3: Eat Up
11:00 a.m.
Have the group dine their way through Palm Springs with a three-hour Desert Tasty Tours culinary tour. The tours, which take you along Palm Desert’s El Paseo and Palm Springs’ Palm Canyon Drive, also feature historical and cultural insights in addition to delicious food tastings. www.deserttastytours.com
7:00 p.m.
Right at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, Spencer’s Restaurant specializes in new American cuisine with French and Pacific Rim influences. The restaurant is a popular location for weddings as well as private dinner parties, thanks to its variety of dining options, including a beautiful outdoor patio, complete with a firepit. End your meeting with an evening reception and dinner outside on the patio. www.spencersrestaurant.com