Travel Guide to California

2015 Travel Guide to California

Issue link: http://globelitetravelmarketing.uberflip.com/i/444404

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 180 of 195

2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A 179 MUST DO SEE, » » Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Revolving through 360 degrees as it climbs more than two miles to the mountain station at 8,516 feet elevation, this tram whisks you to another world. It's a sensational ride, perfect for escaping the heat of summer to hike amid pine forest where the temperatures are pleasantly cool. Or head up to the snows in winter to explore by snowshoe or on cross- country skis. The mountain station has a gourmet restaurant—great for a candlelit dinner with the lights of the valley sparkling far below. › pstramway.com » Palm Springs Museums To satisfy cultural yearnings, start at the Palm Springs Arts Museum. Considered one of California's finest regional museums, this world-class venue is notable for its contemporary art and astounding glass art in the Denney Western American Art Wing. Its Mesoamerican collection includes basketry, pottery and other artifacts by local Amerindian tribes. The Palm Springs Air Museum is one of the world's foremost museums dedicated to WWII aircraft, displayed in two hangars replicating the European and Pacific theaters. › palmspringsairmuseum.org › psmuseum.org » Animals Galore Wildlife abounds in the desert, but for the most part you'd never know it—critters hide by day, especially in summer. It's easy, however, to get close to desert flora and fauna at Living Desert Zoo & Park, which displays animals from arid environments around the world. Local denizens include bighorn sheep, rattlesnakes and coyotes. Africa is well represented with giraffes, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards and zebras, among others. Next, hike the Indian Canyons to spot mule deer and other creatures. › livingdesert.org » Sample Local Food Palm Springs is hardly a desert for dining. In fact, you'd expect a place that draws the Hollywood set to boast fantastic restaurants. Chic Citron, at the Viceroy Palm Springs hotel, is a great place to dine alongside the stars. Start your day at Rick's, a classic American diner that's the most popular lunch spot in town. Fresh seafood is flown in daily to Fisherman's Market, which has its own fishing fleet and a menu that includes fish 'n' chips. And the city's Thursday night Villagefest is a trove for locally grown dates, nuts and fruit plus food stall treats. › palmspringsvillagefest.com » Valley Vistas To truly appreciate the desert's beauty and scale, get up high. Look to the horizon from the Coachella Valley Vista Point, on Highway 74, five miles uphill from Palm Desert. The Bump and Grind trail rewards hikers with sensational views over Palm Springs, as does the Peaks Restaurant at the Palm Springs Aerial Tram's Mountain Station. And hauling yourself out of bed early for the pre-dawn drive to Dante's View is well worth it to watch Death Valley, far below, unveiled at sunrise. › nps.gov/deva/index.htm SPECIAL EVENTS 2015 » PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Jan. 2-12, Palm Springs psfilmfest.org RIVERSIDE COUNTY FAIR AND NATIONAL DATE FESTIVAL Feb. 13-22, Indio datefest.org BNP PARIBAS OPEN March 9-22, Indian Wells bnpparibasopen.com FASHION WEEK March 21-28, Palm Desert fashionweekelpaseo.com COACHELLA MUSIC FESTIVAL April 10-12, 17-19 Indio coachella.com STAGECOACH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL April 24-26, Indio stagecoachfestival.com JOSHUA TREE MUSIC FESTIVAL May 14-17, Oct. 8-11, Joshua Tree joshuatreemusicfestival.com 50TH ANNUAL BORREGO DAYS DESERT FESTIVAL Oct. 23-25, Borrego Springs borregospringschamber.com DEATH VALLEY 49ERS ENCAMPMENT Nov. 11-15, Death Valley deathvalley49ers.org FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS PARADE Dec. 6, Palm Springs psfestivaloflights.com PALM TREES ALLEY, Palm Springs, opposite; artist Ricardo A. Breceda has added a 350-foot long serpent sculpture to the collection of prehistoric animals on display at GaleXa Meadows, Borrego Springs, below. An easy 90-minute drive from Los Angeles, "Palm Springs" is under- stood 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 physical setting is out of this world. Majestic mountains soar on three sides, glistening with snow in the winter sunshine.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Travel Guide to California - 2015 Travel Guide to California