15 Things To Do In Cathedral City, California

1. Go back in time at the Museum of Ancient Wonders

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Prepare to go back in time to Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Africa at the Museum of Ancient Wonders. One exhibit this museum showcases is a recreation of Tutankhamun’s treasures and personal possessions. Another one is a series of authentic ancient African masks, murals, and sculptures that span 3,500 years.

There are also vases that showcase ancient Aegean culture during the Minoan, Mycenaean, Corinthian, and Attic periods. There is also a dinosaur exhibit that showcases the fossils of these ancient animals ranging from the Triassic to the Cretaceous period.

Museum of Ancient Wonders

Address: 69028-B E Palm Canyon Dr, Cathedral City, CA 92234, United States

Website: Museum of Ancient Wonders

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm

2. Grab a bite at Oceans Restaurant

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Since 1995, Oceans Restaurant has been delivering the “ocean to the desert” by serving its menu composed of Mediterranean- and California-style seafood. These dishes include bouillabaisse, paella, abalone sea bass, salmon, scallops, and tuna. Meat lovers aren’t left behind as the restaurant also serves veal chop, rack of lamb, and steak. The food is complemented by the restaurant’s beautiful, cozy ambiance. The restaurant’s line of premium spirits and extensive wine list help contribute to a great dining experience as well.

Oceans Restaurant

Address: 67555 E Palm Canyon Dr c101, Cathedral City, CA 92234, United States

Website: Oceans Restaurant

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11:30am - 2pm, 5:30pm - 9:30pm (closed on Sun)

3. Visit Albert Frey's Cree House

Albert Frey was a Swiss-born architect who developed a style of modernist architecture and designed many significant buildings across America. One of these buildings is the Cree House which was built on the border between Palm Springs and Cathedral City in 1955.

This attraction also offers a tour of this hillside home where it showcases Albert Frey’s known architectural designs like thin roof overhangs and a jutting balcony with fiberglass railings. These tours are open to the public during Modernism Week.

Albert Frey's Cree House

Address: 67389 E Palm Canyon Dr, Cathedral City, CA 92234, United States

Website: Albert Frey’s Cree House

Opening hours: Fri: 9am - 5pm (closed from Sat - Thu)

4. Rest at Town Square Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Town Square Park offers a great place for you to sit down and rest while you think about what to do in Cathedral City next. The park’s large water fountain showcases different colors and the soothing waters are a great sight to behold while resting. If you can afford to get wet, you can also play among the shooting waters! This park is also home to many of the city’s main events including the Cathedral City Hot Air Balloons Festival.

Town Square Park

Address: 68700 Ave Lalo Guerrero, Cathedral City, CA 92234, United States

Website: Town Square Park

Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)

5. Watch a movie at Mary Pickford is D'Place

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Mary Pickford is D'Place is a state-of-the-art, luxury movie theater that showcases the latest movies released not only by Hollywood but also by non-Hollywood directors. The theater boasts reclining seats which guarantee comfort and encourages you to simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the movie.

There is also a cinema cafe where you can have a nice cup of coffee after catching a movie. If you’re in the mood to watch some newly released movies, you can never go wrong with Mary Pickford is D'Place.

Mary Pickford is D'Place

Address: 36850 Pickfair St, Cathedral City, CA 92234, United States

Website: Mary Pickford is D'Place

6. The final resting place of Frank Sinatra

Depending on how much you like Frank Sinatra having this first on our list might be a bit morbid, or totally awesome. Either way here it is, Frank Sinatra’s gravesite. Ole Blues Eyes died in 1998 and is buried in Desert Memorial Park alongside his mother. There is also an onsite map of other famous deceased people in the site so you can pay your respects. A simple gravesite with the markings “the best is yet to come” and (quite frequently) a bottle of Jack Daniels marks Frank’s final resting place.

The final resting place of Frank Sinatra

Address: Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, California

Grave Site: Google Map

7. Make a wish at the Fountain of Life

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Located in front of City Hall this waterfall and interactive water sculpture is bound to grant your wishes, if your desire is strong enough. Designed by artist Jennifer Johnson she focuses on mixing the concept of growth whilst paying homage to the history of this area. The fountain has three stone columns surrounded by sculptures of various local animals from the present and past: big horn sheep, lizards, tortoises, fishes, and birds to name a few. It is certainly a unique structure!

Fountain of Life

Address: 68700 Ave Lalo Guerrero, Cathedral City, CA 92234

Website: Fountain of Life

8. Ice Skating at Desert Ice Castle

Editor’s note: Establishment is permanently closed

One of the many fun things to do in Cathedral City is ice skating. Whether you’re like Bambi or a natural skater on the ice we’re sure that you’ll have fun ice skating in the Desert Ice Castle. They host public sessions every afternoon and most evenings. Be sure to ring ahead if you have children because a few times over the year they offer free skating lessons for children aged 3 upwards. They also turn it into a ice-skating-disco on Friday and Saturday nights.

Desert Ice Castle

Address: 68-600 Perez Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234

Website: Desert Ice Castle

9. Go hiking on Araby Trail

For those of you like to have more control over their own feet (let’s just say i definitely fall into the Bambi on ice category) then perhaps hiking would be something that you’d enjoy and you’re in luck because the Araby Trail in Cathedral City is fantastic. It takes in gorgeous views over the Coachella Valley and also passes right by Bob Hope’s house (Comedian who sadly passed away in 2003).

Araby Trail

Address: Araby, Palm Springs, CA 92264

Website: Araby Trail

10. Re-sale Shopping along East Palm Canyon Drive

Get your things ready and head to East Palm Canyon Drive that passes straight through Cathedral City for some bargain re-sale outfits and furniture. Otherwise known as the “Cent$ational Mile” there are 8 resale shops along the route, that should keep you busy for a few hours!

Cent$ational Mile

Address: East Palm Canyon Dr, California

Website: Cent$ational Mile

11. Take the Kids for a fun day at Boomers

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Simply summed up as “fun happens here” how can you go wrong with this all encompassing family entertainment centre with miniature golf, epic go-karts, bumper boats, climbing wall, batting cages and a video-game arcade! With all of those activities you can let your kids run wild whilst you enjoy a relaxing sit-down! Note that opening times and prices at Boomers vary depending on activities.

Boomers

Address: 67-700 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Cathedral City, California 92234

Website: Boomers

12. Drop by Bart Lounge for some chill DJ vibes

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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Its name comes from the culmination from ‘Bar’ and 'Art’, in this cool hangout zone in Cathedral City. Open everyday from 7pm until 2am there is always something worth seeing at the Bart Lounge. With regular weekly features and specials on weekends be sure to check online to see what is happening at Bart Lounge before you turn up. Expect cheap drinks, chill vibes and good music sets. Obviously it’s an over 21 only venue only. Sorry kids.

Bart Lounge

Address: 67555 E. PALM CANYON DRIVE, F-124

Website: Bart Lounge

13. Bowling at Palm Spring Lanes

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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With open bowling, lazer lights, family sessions and cheap nights this is a fantastic few hours spent in the daytime or evening. Head on down with your friends and family, or team-up with people already there and set your sights on the winning prize! Just as a heads up, on many of the cheap deal nights there are also bar deals to, you know, help improve your accuracy. Prices vary depending on night.

Bowling at Palm Spring Lanes

Address: 68051 Ramon Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234

Website: Bowling at Palm Spring Lanes

14. Take part in one of the annual festivals

Alongside the weekly activities going on in Cathedral City there are also a plethora of annual events so just for this section we’ve decide to list our top three festivals for you to check out. First up is the Hot Air Balloon Festival which takes place over a 3 day period which includes a gala, jazz music and a parade. The Interfusion Music Summit is also a three dayer with many radio stars and Djs tearing up the stage. The final of our top three for this list has to be the AMFM Festival which features a whole-host of goodies from arts, film, music, events and much more.

Festivals

Address: Across Town

Website: Hot Air Balloon Festival

Website: The Interfusion Music Summit

Website: AMFM Festival

15. Can you escape from Palm Springs, just a short drive away?

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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A post shared by Escape Room Palm Springs (@escaperoompalmsprings)

With a number of rooms to choose from this is perfect way to spend an afternoon, that is of course, unless you get locked in for all eternity (insert evil laugh here). Pit yourself against the Vampire Room where a witch has evicted her vampire lover from his coffin, the Locker Room, where your only hope is to survive the last prisoner who didn’t make it out, Titanic Room, we’re pretty sure you can figure out what you have to do in this room and the Mystery Room, where colours, numbers and lights suddenly become your worst enemy as you try to solve the puzzles. Merlin’s Magic School Room, Jack The Ripper Room and Bank Heist are three new rooms that will be open in 2017. In fact, with that many rooms you could probably spend all day trying to escape!

Escape Rooms

Address: 560 S. Williams Rd., Palm Springs, CA 92264

Price: 30 USD

Website: Escape Rooms

Where to start...

Well after a (probably) hectic time in Palm Springs we’re delighted to show these slightly more relaxing activities that you can do in Cathedral City, just a short distance from Palm Springs. Not sure what to do first? Well, don’t worry about it, remember this is meant to be a relaxing list so grab a cup of tea, or a coffee and get ready in your own time!