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Palm Springs Travel Guide
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| Palm
Springs |
Sitting
in lush farming land, replete with manicured golf courses,
condominiums and millionaires, PALM SPRINGS does not conform
to any typical image of the desert, embodying a strange
mix of Spanish Colonial and mid-century modern styling.
The massive bulk of Mount San Jacinto looms over its low-slung
buildings, casting a welcome shadow over the town in the
late afternoon. Ever since Hollywood stars first came here
in the 1930s, laying claim to ranch-style estates and holing
up in elite hotels, the clean dry air and sunshine, just
120 miles east of LA, have made Palm Springs irresistible.
For years, high-school kids arrived in their thousands for
the drunken revelry of Spring Break, until civic zeal ran
them out of town, while others come specifically to sober
up: the Betty Ford Center in nearby Rancho Mirage draws
a star-studded patient list to its booze- and drug-free
environment, attempting to undo a lifetime's worth of behavioral
disorders in an $11,000 28-day stay. The town is also regarded
as the country's largest gay resort.
Palm
Springs wasn't always like this. Once it was the domain
of the Cahuillan Indians; they were allocated this land
in the 1890s, but exact zoning wasn't settled until the
1940s, by which time the development of hotels and leisure
complexes was well under way. Under an odd checkerboard
system, every other square mile of Palm Springs forms part
of the Agua Caliente (Spanish for "hot water")
Indian Reservation, and high rents have made this the second
richest tribe in America, worth more than $2 billion –
wealth that's been increasing with the new Casino Morongo,
right in the heart of town. |
| Palm
Springs Travels & Tours |
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
A thrilling cable car ride shuttles visitors from the desert
floor to the heights of Mt. San Jacinto, sometimes providing
a 40-degree temperature drop in just a few minutes. Once
at the top, there are hiking trails, mule rides, a cocktail
bar and a restaurant. While many visitors just hop up for
the view, it can be a starting point for many outdoor activities.
Moorten Botanical Garden
This landmark botanical garden has been delighting Palm
Springs visitors for more than 60 years. Proudly proclaiming
itself the "World's First Cactarium," the garden
includes 3,000 fine examples of desert cacti and other desert
plants, in a quirky Wild West setting sometimes used as
a film backdrop. Turtledoves, hummingbirds, lizards and
other small wild creatures also make impromptu appearances
among the rocks and plants. Many unusual botanical specimens
are for sale, along with other souvenirs.
Palm Springs Air Museum
Deserts provide great conditions for preserving planes,
and this huge collection of historic planes is a Palm Springs
landmark. Enjoy getting an up-close view of aerial history
in huge, air-conditioned hangers, then watch a movie in
the Buddy Rogers Theater. There is a gift shop filled with
airplane-themed souvenirs. Special events include air shows
featuring the largely WWII-era aircraft, children's activities
and lectures, often presented by the men and women who flew
the planes originally.
San Andreas Fault Tours
Balancing California's great weather is its propensity for
earthquakes. Visitors curious to see where most of the shaking
and shifting comes from will enjoy a three-hour, air-conditioned
coach tour to where the infamous San Andreas Fault is visible
in the desert floor. This dramatic natural phenomenon can
be explored while guide "Dr." Doug explains earthquakes
and what happens when the earth begins to move. There is
an optional lunch stop and the company offers flexible pick-up
and drop-off points throughout Palm Springs and adjacent
areas. |
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Palm Springs Hotels Discounts Search
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