62 2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
B Y C H R I S T O P H E R P . B A K E R
T
here aren't many places where you can golf while wearing shorts in
the morning, snowshoe in the afternoon, and laze by the pool with a
cocktail in the evening. Which explains why more than six million
visitors a year descend on Palm Springs and the surrounding desert region.
Begin with lush palm oases, hot mineral springs and awesome land-
scapes. Add sublime winter weather plus a to-see-and-do wish list from
biking and ballooning to casinos and spas. And top it off with an eternally
cool desert lifestyle that recalls the 1940-60s, when Hollywood stars turned
the area into a world-famous winter retreat. Welcome to a region where
the summer never dies, the Modernist architecture is retro-chic, and the
reinvigorated youthful spirit feels as refreshing as a chilled martini.
An easy 90-minute drive from Los Angeles, "Palm Springs" is understood
as the entire Coachella Valley, comprising eight "desert resort communities"
clustered at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains. They merge into one
another along Highway 111—one of California's great urban drives. The phys-
ical setting is out of this world. Majestic mountains soar on three sides,
glistening with snow in the winter sunshine. There's no shortage of activ-
ities and attractions. The dining is fabulous. The spas are among California's
best. And the region boasts several ritzy casinos. Museums cater to WWII
aviation buffs, art fans and nature lovers keen to experience desert ecology.
El Paseo gives Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive a run for its money in its quality
and range of boutiques. Palm Springs' music, film and arts festivals are
world-renowned, as is the city's hip trademark mid-century architecture.
VIRRAGE
IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK
DESERTS
TOP CITIES
Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage,
Barstow, Indian Wells, Needles, Salton Sea, Mojave, Indio
INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), 10 minutes
from downtown Palm Springs, 44 miles (71 km) from
Anza-Borrego State Park
TOURISM WEBSITES
visitpalmsprings.com
visitgreaterpalmsprings.com
discoverpalmdesert.com
playinlaquinta.com
whereisranchomirage.com
route66ca.org/barstow
discoverindio.com
Anza-Borrego Desert SP: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638
Death Valley NP: nps.gov/deva
Joshua Tree NP: nps.gov/jotr
POPULATION
750,000
DESERTS
A
year-round
recreational
playground
