Sunday, January 2, 2011

Palm Springs on New Years Day

Yesterday, after a wonderful lunch with a dear old friend and his family, we drove to Palm Springs. It is only about a 45 minute drive from Yucca Valley, south on Route 62, then Interstate 10. This was my first time seeing Palm Springs. It was later in the afternoon and chilly, and we were tired, so we decided to just drive through.

First impressions? Cute place. Small. Touristy. Fun looking main strip with lots of little shops and restaurants. Love the old school motels. Love the architecture. Love the palm trees.

I am looking forward to returning and spending some getaway time there. Spend the night in one of Palm Springs' many cool, old motels - updated and remodeled, but still maintaining their vintage architecture - like the Del Marcos Hotel, or The Parker or The Viceroy or The Chase Hotel or The Desert Hills Resort or A Place in the Sun...the list goes on and on. I love all of these vintage looking places - a lot of cool architectural history in Palm Springs - cool hotels, cool homes.

There are some fun things to do in Palm Springs (besides eat, drink, spa and lay by the pool). I want to see the Fabulous Palm Spring Follies. This is a broadway-type show with music, dance, and comedy from the 1940s-1970s, but the kicker is that all of the performers range in age from 56 to 81. Definitely unique! I want to ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.  It is the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world (the tram rotates as it climbs) and it takes you from the Coachella Valley outside of downtown Palm Springs up near the top of the San Jacinto Peak. San Jacinto Peak is 10,800+ feet or 3,300+ meters, and the tram takes you up to around 8000+ feet. The only other Rotair aerial trams in the world are located in Capetown, South Africa and Titlis, Switzerland (in case you were wondering). The tram passes up the sheerest mountain face in North America and that sounds cool. The mountain looks very impressive from the valley floor so I am sure it is a breathtaking ride up to the top.

Can't wait to return to this spot on the byway...

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