Palm Springs is like no other place we have visited. Nestled at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains with crystal-clear blue skies, year-round sunshine, stunning landscape, streets lined with palm trees and snow-capped mountains at every turn, Palm Springs is one of our favorite destinations. We cannot recommend it highly enough!
Approximately 110 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 140 miles northeast of San Diego, Palm Springs, California sits on the western edge of the Coachella Valley and offers art and cultural museums, shops, a zoo, theatre performances, tours of celebrity and mid-century modern homes, golf, tennis, and hiking trails of the ancient palm groves of the Indian Canyons.
Sheltered by the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains on the south, and the San Jacinto Mountains to the west, you can swim and sunbathe at your hotel pool and then sled ride, ski or snowboard at the top of the mountain on the same afternoon.
You can enjoy a leisurely drive just minutes from downtown and find picturesque and photographic views from mountain lookouts to mile after mile of gigantic, spinning windmills while the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes you to the top of always-visible San Jacinto Mountains where you can enjoy stunning views, hiking trails and snow sports.
Formerly the home to iconic stars Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Lucille Ball, the city is now home to the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
With more than 6500 rooms available, Palm Springs there is something for every taste and price range - boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, private villas, full-service hotels, vacation home rentals, condo rentals, and accommodations for gay and lesbian travelers and naturists.
The Living Desert is a must-see! This is both an excellent zoo and a preserved desert covering over 1,800 acres (1,000 acres in their natural state.) Hiking trails give you the chance to explore the natural desert. You can even stand on the San Andreas fault. Allow yourself at least a half day to stroll around the Living Desert and make sure you have your camera and water with you at all times.
We also hiked Tahquitz Canyon (home to a spectacular 60 foot waterfall), Murray Canyon (with foot and equestrian trails), and Andreas Canyon (and oasis of palms, unusual rock formations near the Andreas Creek). The Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center (500 W. Mesquite, just west of Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs) offers exhibits, an observation deck, and a theatre room for viewing a video that narrates the legend of Tahquitz Canyon. For more information or to reserve a ranger-led interpretive hike, call the Visitors' Center at: (760) 416-7044.
Palm Springs Visitors Center
2901 North Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 778-8418
(800) 347-7746
Watch our video of Palm Springs -
___________________________________________
We were the guests of Palm Springs, CA in 2009
Florida Cruise & Travelers Magazine
PO Box 560318
Rockledge, FL 32956 USA SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com
Staff Feature - copyright Sunny Harbor Publishing
Palm Springs, California
photographic views from mountain lookouts to mile after mile of gigantic, spinning windmills while the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes you to the top of always-visible San Jacinto Mountains where you can enjoy stunning views, hiking trails and snow sports.