10 Activities To Do in Palm Springs During Your Corporate Retreat.
Written by Lindsey Chronert
Planning a remote corporate retreat can be a daunting task. Luckily for you, we are experts when it comes to organizing events in Palm Springs. We’ve come up with some fantastic team-building ideas for your next corporate retreat—allowing you to focus on programming, professional development and bonding with your colleagues.
Hike Skull Rock in Joshua Tree National Park.
Lace up those hiking boots and head into Joshua Tree National Park for a day of exploring. Along the trails, you’ll find beautiful rock formations, cholla cactus gardens and the iconic Joshua trees. It’s easy to spend time exploring the park’s vast wilderness, admiring trees that look like they belong in a Dr. Seuss book and trekking through the surreal geological landscape. The Skull Rock hike is an easy 1.7 mile trail that allows you to traverse boulder piles, cross desert washes, and snap a few pictures at the namesake Skull Rock. Be sure to grab a map and park newsletter on the way in for guidelines, trail information and facts about the park’s inhabitants. No matter the season, it’s always a good idea to bring snacks and water to hydrate. Admission to the park is $30 per car.
Pro-tip: Bring your lunch into the park! Place an order ahead of time and pick up sandwiches at The Natural Sisters Cafe on your way into the park.Choose your own adventure: golf, pickleball or a spa day!
Break up into groups and allow your guests to choose their own adventure: a day of golfing, a pickleball lesson or time spent relaxing at the spa. A few of our favorite hotels who share these activities and amenities are The JW Marriott, Omni Rancho las Palmas and La Quinta Resort & Club. There are three nines at Omni, making it versatile and approachable for all handicaps. It’s easy to pick up a game of pickleball and no experience is necessary. All three hotels offer pickleball lessons with round robin games, and they provide all the equipment! Choose to relax and unwind by the pool, enjoy a sauna or indulge in a massage. Utilize one the hotel’s meeting spaces for a short presentation, lecture or workshop.Take the Palm Springs Aerial Tram for sunset cocktails.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tram will take you high up into the San Jacinto Mountains to an elevation of 8,516 feet revealing spectacular views of the wilderness and valley below. They offer group bookings making it easy to plan a meal or enjoy a sunset cocktail at the restaurant. They have multiple observation decks for gorgeous views of the valley (and photo-op moments of your whole team!), a natural history museum, two documentary theaters, a gift shop and over 50 miles of hiking trails.Book an immersive sound bath.
The Integratron is a wooden dome built in 1954 by an aeronautical engineer and UFO advocate with the intended purpose of rejuvenation and time travel. According to the architect, it was inspired by extraterrestrial beings and built strategically over an intersection of geomagnetic fields. The dome shape makes the acoustics sound incredible! The Integratron hosts private sound bath sessions, which is said to have a healing power. For one hour, relax comfortably inside the dome and listen to a docent play twenty crystal bowls. The results are waves of peace, heightened awareness, and deep relaxation of the mind and body. If you value wellness in your company culture, you cannot miss this one of a kind experience!
Go on a guided architecture tour.
Post WWII, Hollywood movie stars frequented Palm Springs as a winter destination and commissioned architects to build innovative, artistic and interesting homes for both vacation and suburban living. Palm Springs became the mecca for mid-century modern style homes with open-design plans, air-conditioning, swimming pools, and very large windows. The world-famous architecture and design in Palm Springs has been preserved over the years and even celebrated during Modernism Week. An architecture tour is a great way to explore Palm Springs’ fascinating architecture and learn more about the iconic homes and buildings.
Get Your Tiki On!
When the Los Angeles-based restaurant and bar Don the Beachcomber opened a location in the downtown Palm Springs area, the tiki culture spread from Hollywood to the desert oasis. Although Don the Beachcomber is no longer in Palm Springs, you’ll find the tiki culture stuck around. Bootlegger Tiki is an iconic spot with a Polynesian theme with some of the best tiki cocktails in southern CA. The original Tonga Hut built in 1958 is a stylish tiki bar with themed decor and mid-century modern design. Toucan’s Tiki is one of Palm Springs’ gay bars where your group can enjoy cocktails and a drag show! And last but certainly not least, The Reef is a tropical paradise for fantastic cocktails and island-inspired food.
Attend a Sunday polo match or play golf cart polo!
Head east of Palm Springs to the neighboring town of Indio to witness the oldest sport known to man–polo! Whether it’s the thrill of watching the horses gallop by at 30 mph or stopping divots with a glass of champagne, a day in the sunshine is fun for everyone! Eldorado Polo Club hosts polo matches open to the public every Sunday from January to April. If you want to try the sport, Empire Polo Club (home to Coachella Music Festival) offers private matches and golf cart polo—a ton of fun! Guests are paired up with a professional player for a 3 on 3 version of the game. A polo player drives the cart while your guest hits the ball and focuses on scoring a goal. It’s thrilling and a good time for all. No experience necessary!See live music at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown.
Pappy & Harriet's was once an old Pioneertown movie set that turned into a desert roadhouse saloon. The restaurant and bar has evolved into an iconic music venue bringing in world-class acts. Known for their star-sightings, pop up shows and genius line up of musical acts, Pappy & Harriet’s is a place for music lovers and visitors alike. Enjoy a music show at one of the indoor or outdoor stages or some good old fashioned BBQ. The old Pioneertown movie set is just next door to the restaurant and an easy walk down Mane Street. The storefront facades are still intact and you may just witness a gunfight on the weekends.
Escape the City Lights and go Stargazing!
Get away from the city lights of Palm Springs and drive to Joshua Tree or TwentyNine Palms to do some star gazing. Sky’s the Limit Observatory & Nature Center has telescopes available for the public to use during park hours. Or, head into Joshua Tree National Park for a 2-hour private stargazing experience with guides from Sky Watch tours. The Sky Watch guide weaves together storytelling and astronomy in an engaging and interesting way. No matter the season, you can expect to see beautiful constellations, star clusters, and our nearest galaxies.
Taste the spirits of Joshua Tree Distillery.
Enjoy an afternoon learning how simple grains are fermented, distilled and turned into our favorite alcoholic spirits. Joshua Tree Distillery is fairly new to the alcohol industry, but you may recognize their whiskey from your local watering hole. Tours are about 30 minutes and can be accompanied by a spirit tasting or cocktails. A fun fact: the Lost Horse Whiskey is named after the famous gold mine in Joshua Tree National Park and a portion of the proceeds is donated to the National Park! Tours & tastings are $20 per person.
MIHO plans, designs and caters multi-day corporate events in Palm Springs, San Diego and beyond. From booking travel and accommodations to curating a five course dinner menu, our team has the knowledge, expertise and experience to make your next corporate retreat engaging and successful. Reach out to our Experience Creators to learn more: contact@amihoexperience.com
