Beyond The Pool—Greater Palm Springs As A Sports Haven

Golf, tennis, basketball and hockey offerings just two hours from the traffic-choked freeways of Los Angeles.

Long celebrated for its iconic mid-century modern design, luxurious spa resorts and sun-soaked poolside lounging, Greater Palm Springs is rapidly redefining its identity. While pristine desert landscapes and endless blue skies remain staple attractions, a dynamic wave of elite sports offerings is turning this Southern California oasis into a high-octane destination for sports enthusiasts and active travelers alike.

From world-class tennis tournaments and professional hockey to collegiate basketball showdowns and revolutionary inland wave basins, the valley offers an action-packed getaway for every season. Whether you prefer to participate or spectate is up to you, or fashion a half-and-half itinerary with a little of both. Pack plenty of golf and tennis balls and make your way to the desert.

World class sports action at Acrisure Arena

At the center of the region’s athletic surge is Acrisure Arena, the state-of-the-art venue nestled in Greater Palm Springs. Since opening its doors, the arena has established itself as a vibrant hub for ice hockey, minor league basketball, and top-tier collegiate competitions. Confession: I had no idea this place even existed until a recent tour and was gobsmacked by its size and scope. They even have two ice rinks in the building, one hosting the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL and the other designated for public skating, youth hockey leagues, and figure skating lessons without disrupting team practices.

10,000 screaming fans can let out their passions for the home team, whether on the year-round ice or on the basketball court – Acrisure is the new home to the Los Angeles Lakers’ G League franchise, where they will play 24 games in the 2026-27 season. The arena also plays host to concerts (Jonas Brothers, the B-52s & Devo are coming up) as well as marquee college basketball games – Gonzaga and Michigan State will face off there on December 19, a truly great match-up for a comparatively smallish market. Very cool if you ask me.

World-class tennis at Indian Wells

Few venues match the international prestige of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Flanked by palm trees and dramatic mountain peaks, this world-renowned complex hosts two of the biggest tennis spectacles on the global calendar. The WTA Finals are upcoming on November 8-15, as the tournament arrives for the first time since the championship’s inception in 1973. The world’s top eight female singles players and doubles teams will square off, with two trophies and over $1 million in prize money at stake.

Come late February of 2027, the BNP Paribas Open takes center court – known affectionately as the “Fifth Grand Slam,” this two-week event attracts over 500,000 tennis lovers annually. Fans flock to one of the largest tennis stadiums in the world to watch top ATP and WTA pros compete for more than $17 million in prize money. I watched Serena Williams’ emotional return to Indian Wells in 2015, an indelible memory at a truly stunning facility.

Surfing in the middle of the desert? Will miracles never cease?

You read that right. Located smack dab in the middle of Palm Desert, better known for lounge lizards and other actual amphibians, DSRT Surf centers on a 5.5-acre Wavegarden Cove surf pool that generates up to 1,000 waves per hour across more than 60 distinct wave settings. The property features a beach club with a three-pool viewing deck, private cabanas, a restaurant, a bar, a skate park, yoga, pickleball courts, a 139-room hotel, and 57 private luxury villas.

P.S., DSRT Surf is built on a site integrated with the Desert Willow Golf Resort. The project replaced 71 acres of golf turf with native, low-water landscaping to offset water use. I had the privilege to play 18 holes on the Firecliff eighteen there, a stunning and immaculately conditioned layout designed by golf course architects Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, with consulting and input from PGA Tour professional and former local resident John Cook. The Coachella Valley is home to over 115 courses, and Desert Willow is one of my favorites.

Sleep it off at Hotel Paseo in Palm Desert

Nestled just steps from the luxury boutiques and world-class dining of El Paseo – often called the “Rodeo Drive of the Desert” – Hotel Paseo offers an unbeatable location in the heart of Palm Desert. As the area’s first new-build boutique hotel in decades, it stands out with a sleek, minimalist aesthetic that effortlessly updates classic mid-century desert modernism. Crisp white architecture, clean architectural lines and expansive glass frame stunning views of the surrounding San Jacinto Mountains, while light-filled interiors are accented with subtle pastels and refined contemporary finishes. And I love the 1955 Cadillac convertible in the lobby – a powerful reminder of the area’s mid-century roots.

Whether you are catching a high-stakes tiebreak at Indian Wells, cheering on G-League basketball or riding perfect ocean-style waves miles inland, Greater Palm Springs seamlessly blends luxury leisure with high-level competition. Pairing year-round sunshine, scenic mountain hiking trails, championship golf courses and an expanding roster of pro events, the desert oasis is officially Southern California’s premier playground for active travelers.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com