Palm Springs is a resort city in the desert region of Southern California. It was originally inhabited by Native Americans up until the 1800s, when it was discovered by those seeking 350 days of sunshine per year! It became a popular daytripping destination for Hollywood celebrities in the 1950s and ‘60s, and has since grown into a metropolitan area with activities for all ages. The area has a high percentage of gay residents and is also very popular with naturists. The climate in Palm Springs is ideal for those seeking to escape the chill of winter...temperatures in Winter and Spring are in the 70s to 80s ° F. Summer is less pleasant, with temperatures of up to 115° F being recorded. However even in summer, there are plenty of air-conditioned activities such as museums and the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films held in August.
Fun Facts
- Greater Palm Springs has more than 115 golf courses, which earns it the name “Golf Capital of the World”.
- The native Cahuilla Indians own over 40% of Palm Springs, making the Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians the wealthiest tribe in North America.
- The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is the second biggest tennis stadium worldwide.
- There is a piano-shaped swimming pool in Frank Sinatra´s former Twin Palm Estate in Palm Springs.
- The largest concentration worldwide of mid century modern residential architecture is found in Palm Springs.
- The Desert Hot Springs have some of the greatest mineral water aquifers worldwide, with water temperatures up to 180° F.
Things to Do
There are plenty of outdoor and indoor activities to keep you busy in Palm Springs. Why not spend the day checking out the great collection of WWII fighter planes at the Palm Springs Air Museum? Take a trip on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for a great scenic trip up the mountain. The cabs are air-conditioned and rotate, giving you a full view of the surrounding landscape that noticeably changes the higher up you get. The Fabulous Palm Spring Follies is a highly entertaining show of retired singers and dancers performing numbers from the 40s through to the 70s. This is their final season so the last chance to see this great show before it closes in May 2014! The Indian Canyons were Native American sacred sites that is now open to the public for hiking. Go early to avoid the heat, and enjoy a stroll through this beautiful landscape. After all your sightseeing, grab a bite to eat in one of the many restaurants, for example great burgers at Tylers Burgers, good American food in Kaiser Grille, and the best Mexican food at El Mirasol. For some post-dinner entertainment, Blue Guitar is a downtown blues and jazz club that has great live music at the weekends.Getting To and Around Palm Springs
Palm Springs International Airport is located very conveniently in the middle of town, however if you are coming from further abroad you will probably be arriving at LA/Ontario International Airport, which has many more flight connections. Otherwise arrive in Palm Springs by train at the Amtrak Station or by car on the Interstate 10 East towards Phoenix.The downtown area of Palm Springs is easy to navigate on foot, and as most of the area is flat, it´s also good for cycling, with many bike rentals to be found around town. Sun Bus is a local bus company that has routes around town and some neighboring resort cities.
