Travel Blog

Palm Springs, California, is a fantastic destination for biking and hiking enthusiasts. With its beautiful desert landscapes, stunning mountain views, and a variety of trails, there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. Here are some suggestions for biking and hiking in Palm Springs:

Biking:

1. Palm Springs Bike Path: This 17-mile paved path runs along the scenic Tahquitz Creek and offers a smooth ride for cyclists of all levels. 
2. Indian Canyons: The Indian Canyons area, located just south of Palm Springs, offers several biking trails that range from easy to moderate difficulty. The Murray Canyon Trail and Andreas Canyon Trail are popular choices with beautiful landscapes and an abundance of native flora.
3. Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains: The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument offers challenging mountain biking trails for more advanced riders. The Cove to Lake Trail is a favorite, featuring a 20-mile loop with stunning views and diverse terrain.

Hiking:

1. Indian Canyons: In addition to biking, the Indian Canyons area offers excellent hiking opportunities. Explore the Andreas Canyon Trail, Murray Canyon Trail, or Palm Canyon Trail, each showcasing unique geological formations, lush oases, and breathtaking waterfalls.
2. Joshua Tree National Park: Just a short trip to Joshua Tree National Park, it is a haven for hikers. With its iconic Joshua trees, rugged rock formations, and numerous trails of varying difficulty, this park offers unforgettable hiking experiences. Popular trails include Hidden Valley, Ryan Mountain, and Barker Dam.
3. Tahquitz Canyon: Located near downtown Palm Springs, Tahquitz Canyon is a beautiful desert oasis with a 2-mile hiking trail. This trail leads to a stunning 60-foot waterfall and visit the Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center.

Remember to stay hydrated, wear appropriate gear, and check trail conditions before leaving. Additionally, be mindful of the desert environment and respect any rules or regulations in place to preserve the area’s natural beauty. Enjoy your biking and hiking adventures in Palm Springs!

For more posts about Palm Springs and things to do there, click here.

Late Night Restaurants in Palm Springs

Alicante 760-325-9464  Weekdays 11pm F&S 12am

Zin American Bistro 760-322-6300  Weekdays 10pm F&S 11pm

Plate/Glass 760-322-2322 11 pm (closed Mon Tues)

Trio 760-864-8746  Weekdays 10 pm F&S 11pm

Smokin’ Burgers 760-883-5999 12am

Matchbox 760-778-6000 10pm F&S 11pm

Santana’s Mexican Food 760-322-2504 24 hours, dine in, or just drive up.

Kings Highway at the Ace Hotel 760-325-9900 11 pm Late Night menu in bar 12 am

The Steakhouse at the Spa Casino 888-999-1995 until ten pm/F&S 11 pm

Noodles at the Spa Casino 888-999-1995 Open until 1:00 am

The Corner Deli at the Spa Casino 888-999-1995 24 hours

Village Pub  760-323-3265 late-night menu until the last call and closes at 2 am

Ruben & Ozzy’s Oyster Bar & Grill 760-325-8800 Weekdays 10pm F&S 11:30pm

NYPD Pizza 760-778-6973 2 am, including pizza by the slice.

BAR 760-537-7337 Open until 12 am (Yes, the business is called BAR)

‘dish’ Creative Cuisine 760-832-6526 10 pm

Bongo Johnny’s Patio Bar & Grille 760-866-1905  Weekdays are 10-ish F&S 3:00am

Other Late Night Restaurants in Palm Springs

Woody’s Burgers: (760) 230-0188 Hours: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

Denny’s 760-325-9519 24 hours

IHOP- aka International House of Pancakes 760-322-7177 24 hours

Café Palette (760) 322-9264 Weekdays 9:45 Weekends 10:45 and they deliver daily.

For a lot more information about Palm Springs, click here.

Biking in Palm Springs is one of the most enjoyable things to do. With blue skies, good roads and most drivers giving the right away to bicycles, it is a pretty safe place to ride. One of the most important things for people who are biking in the Palm Springs area is to make sure that they have lots of water with them when they head out. Especially if you’re planning to go biking out in the desert, you can become dehydrated very easily. There are not many places to stop at to get a drink of water and get out of the sun so always make sure you bring lots of water, apply lots of suntan lotion, and bring something to eat. You can have a very enjoyable day as long as you have those three things.

Biking in Palm Springs – Equipment

The other important things are the standard issues that most bikers who’ve done a lot of biking know that they should be prepared for. And that is flat tires. Always make sure that you have the repair equipment you feel that you need to repair a flat tire. For some this is probably just a patch and a pump to pump up your tire while others will bring extra tubes so they can replace the tube quickly and then apply a new patch to the old when they return from their day of biking.

The other piece of equipment that the writer likes to bring with him when he’s biking in Palm Springs is a camera. You never know when you’re going to see something interesting that you would like to remember or send to your friends. The camera is a useful device to have along with you whether it is your cell phone or a regular camera.

For more things to do in Palm Springs and the area, click here.

Just like every other city, Palm Springs is home to many weddings every year. There are many scenic locations for pictures that show the desert, the mountains, or fantastic hotel panoramic views. If you’re getting married in Palm Springs there’s so much to choose from. It can be sometimes difficult to decide where to get married and where to hold your wedding celebration.

One of the big advantages that Palm Springs has is that it has an average of 350 days every year of sunshine. They do have rain, they do have high winds, and sometimes the temperatures are cool but for the most part you have a higher probability of having a great day on your wedding than almost any other location in the country.

Palm Springs Weddings – Best Time of Year

February and March are almost perfect in terms of temperatures after that it gets pretty warm. Once you get into April and beyond, daytime temperatures can reach over 100°F. In the fall during October and November is a nice time where the temperatures are in the mid-80s. December January and even early February are also perfect temperatures for getting married However the evenings can be quite cool.

Plan your wedding in Palm Springs based on the temperatures as well as the availability of hotel rooms and venues to hold your wedding party. January through March is the season when the snowbirds come to town. Any other time of the year almost is a better time to hold your wedding. You do not have to worry about competing for hotel rooms and party venues.

Palm Springs organizes many party venues during the year. The motorcycle Harley-Davidson weekends to golf weekends and more Palm Springs is host to many activities during the year. If you’re planning your wedding around one of these events you may want to steer clear to avoid having to pay top dollar for hotel rooms and party vendors.

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What an interesting idea! Spending your honeymoon in palm springs! Many of the movie stars as well as the average Joe will plan a Palm Springs Honeymoon in the Palm Springs area. For example, Elvis and Priscilla even spent their honeymoon in Palm Springs enjoying the warm weather the beautiful sites and just hanging around a great place.

With most hotels and motels having pools to spend your day at, hundreds of restaurants to try out, tennis courts, golf courses, hiking, and bicycling there is many things to do in Palm Springs on your honeymoon.

Palm Springs Honeymoon – Weather

Palm Springs receives approximately 350 days of sunshine every year. This makes this location a great place to spend time by the pool. There are over 115 golf courses to try out. Some are private, while many are public. They’re all really great places to try your hand at golf. There are public tennis courts as well as private tennis courts.

There are all kinds of restaurants in Palm Springs as well as the other desert cities in the Coachella Valley. Everything from fast food all the way up to fine dining, you can have your choice of special places to spend an evening or dinner with your new bride.

For those of you who are more active and would like to go bicycling, hiking, or even horse riding along mountain trails there are over 200 miles of hiking trails as well as many bicycling trails along the valley.

This is a great place to spend your honeymoon as well as a vacation for you and the family.

For a lot more information about Palm Springs, click here.

Vacations Palm Springs.  In our last post we wrote about Palm Springs vacations. There are lots of things that you can do in Palm Springs. In this post about vacations Palm Springs we plan to talk about hiking in and around Palm Springs. This is a great vacation activity that everyone can enjoy. Consequently youngsters as well as seniors who love the outdoors can go hiking on short trips as well as long hikes.

One of the conditions of hiking in any location is always to be prepared. In the Palm Springs area the temperatures are usually very hot. The air is very dry which enables dehydration to set in very quickly. Consequently always make sure you take lots of water with you to prevent dehydration. Wear a hat at all times, take lots of sunscreen and even pack a small lunch or snack to take with you. In addition make sure that someone knows where you’re going and when you expect to return. But do not deviate from the planned trip in case something happens and people need to find you.

Vacations Palm Springs – Hiking

There is a book called Palm Springs hikers guide. Which is strongly recommended for anyone who wants to do serious hiking in Palm Springs. In addition it provides pictures, directions, and ratings for all of the hiking trails that are available in Palm Springs and the Valley.

One area to go hiking is at the Palm Springs Tram. You can go up the mountains on the tram for the day and there are over 54 miles of hiking available at the top. But hikers should always be prepared when you go hiking in this area. Always take a compass with you as well as a knapsack with lots of water.

There are trails in all of the surrounding mountains that are surrounding the Palm Springs Valley. These trails range from easy to medium too difficult and all are rated in the Palm Springs Hikers guide. One trail, called the museum trail, is located just behind the museum parking lot. It goes straight up the mountain. However this trail would be considered medium to difficult for many people. Consequently with all of the switchbacks and the aggressive elevation that is included on this trip, it can be challenging.

There are trails in the middle of the desert just at the end of Ramon Road. Which are easy trails on flat ground to take you to several oasis’ and out into the desert. These are just a sample of some of the many trails that people can hike in the Palm Springs area. We hope you enjoy hiking.

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Palm Springs is a great place to spend your vacation. If you are one of those people who love to golf, go biking, hiking, or just enjoy the hot weather and many great restaurants, Palm Springs can be the best place to spend your vacation. Every year thousands of people make the trek from the Northern US and Canada for their Palm Springs Vacations and keep warm in Palm Springs.

The there are over 115 golf courses to take advantage of, many are private clubs but at the same time there are many public clubs that are looked after and In great condition.

Palm Springs Vacations – Hiking

If you’re a hiking enthusiast, there are hundreds of trails in the desert as well as up in the mountains. The area can be looked at as a hikers paradise. Consider the tram and go up to the mountains at 8000 feet elevation. There are over 54 miles of hiking trails to try out.

Also in the desert, near mountains, in fact within walking distance of many homes in Palm Springs there are great trails. Regardless of which areas you go hiking, always tell someone where you’re going. Tell them when you will be back, and take lots of water with you. Many people need to be rescued every year because of dehydration in the hot sun.

There are more and more biking trails also in the Palm Springs area in the Coachella Valley. One always needs to be careful about drivers on the road and minding traffic regulations. But you can find many biking trails along golf courses and along the washers. Even just exploring some of the many beautiful living areas in the Palm Springs Valley is great.

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

If you are looking for a pool Palm Springs, there are many private pools in Palm Springs. In fact almost every home in the Palm Springs area will have its own pool in the backyard. There are also a number of public pools that people who live in apartments and townhouses can go to. There are also a lot of townhouse complexes that also have common pools for the complex.

Almost every hotel and motel will have a pool for their guests to swim in while they are staying at their premises. Some of the larger hotels will have large pool areas. With pool decks and bars located either in the pool for quite close to the pool. There will be cabanas that people can sit under to get out of the sun or lots of palm trees to provide shade. These resorts are truly one of the best places to spend your time at one of the pools in Palm Springs.

Pool Palm Springs – Public Pools

There are also several public pool areas that people can go swimming at, with water slides and areas to spend the time sunbathing and just have a great time. Most of these can be found around town in Cathedral city or Rancho Mirage. They’re not far from Palm Springs since all the cities and run together and are close to each other.

The public pools are not open in the winter time. Although many people vacationing in Palm Springs would probably use them. The weather is extremely nice and warm most of the time. The water needs to be heated since it can become quite cool during the evenings.

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Palm Springs is one of the few places where you will get the use of your Palm Springs pool almost 365 days a year. In the winter time you will have to heat your pool since the evenings can be very cold down around 50°F. In the summertime the temperature will go up to sometimes as much as 120°, only cooling off to about 90° at night. that’s pretty warm and your pool temperature will be very pleasant.

Of course the best pools in Palm Springs are those that are heated in the wintertime. Most people will get their pool and keep it at 83°F all Winter long. Homeowners will have to heat their pool from about October until the end of March if they want to use it during those time frames. After that the sun and the air temperature are hot enough to keep your pool warm during the day without it cooling off too much at night. You can swim from the end of March until late September without having to heat your pool. Most people use heaters of some type and do not bother with solar blankets.

Palm Springs Pool – Temperatures

In the summertime when the air temperature is 120°F, many pools are up around 90 to 95°F. It is almost too hot to actually go swimming since you never get that refreshing feeling from being in the water. It is just too warm and many people will just stay inside in the air conditioning during the day. At night when it cools off of it is very comfortable to go swimming in the pool in Palm Springs.

Tourists and permenant dwellers will be out during the evenings to enjoy the warm summer nights. Swimming is fun without the hot sun beating down on you all of the time. Remember to always keep your body well hydrated.Save

Almost every hotel and motel in the Palm Springs area has a pool. It is part of there entertainment package for guests that are staying there. But the very best pool in Palm Springs has to be at the Deauville. The Deauville is a condominium project located within two or three blocks from downtown Palm Springs. It is across from the Spa Casino.

The pool that is shown in this picture is actually at water park and is a lot of fun for many kids. For this reason many adults would prefer not to go to this particular pool. That’s why we think that the pool at the Deauville condominium project two blocks from downtown Palm Springs is actually the best pool in Palm Springs. It is a private pool. It is only used by people who are staying in the condominiums or who are owners of condominiums at the Deauville.

Best Pool in Palm Springs – Water Park

The pool at the water park is pretty good too and appeals to kids and teens who are looking for fun and excitement. Unfortunately it only opens in mid April. It stays open until late in the fall. But it is  one of the best water parks in the city.

At the Deauville you can choose from one of three pools. The largest pool is surrounded by palm trees and is kept at a standard 85° all year round. It comes with a hot tub and lounge chairs that you can relax on. There are two more pools on the property. They are smaller and they are heated as well beginning in March of each year. There’s also a hot tub. These pools are very quiet and an area where lots of people like to go to relax. At the larger pool there are obviously more people. It is  an opportunity to meet fellow snowbirds that are vacationing in the area.

Based on the properties that we’ve seen in the Palm Springs area and from comments in various people have made to us, this pool at the Deauville is one of the best if not the best pool in the entire city of Palm Springs. It is the largest pool, and it is also kept at it for a comfortable temperature all year round. The surroundings are tropical with palm trees. You can find shade as well as lots of sun. This is the best cool in Palm Springs.

There are lots of hiking trails in the Palm Springs area and the Coachella Valley. There are over 100 different trails that hikers can go on from very easy to some that are very difficult. In fact if you go up the Palm Springs Tram to the top of the mountains at 8500 feet elevation, and there are another 55 miles of hiking trails in that area as well.

Anyone hiking in the deserts of California and specifically in the Palm Springs area should always remember to take lots of water with them, and tell people where you’re going. It is very easy to suffer from heat stroke, and become dehydrated very quickly which can lead to further difficulties.

Palm Springs Hiking

On a regular basis we see helicopters flying into the mountains to rescue people who cannot take enough water with them and become dehydrated. It is very important that you follow these two guidelines for people to survive properly when hiking in the desert. In addition you should not hike by yourself, you should always take a friend, and some food and again lots and lots of water, at least a liter of water for every hour of hiking that you plan to do.

In addition to taking water with you, and food, and telling people where you plan to be hiking, you should also carry a walking stick to provide balance as well as to scare off any potential snakes that might be on the trail. If you plan to stop always look closely at the rocks in the location around where you plan to sit to make sure that there is no snakes in that particular area.

We have found that the best formula is to start early in the morning before the sun gets too hot and return by 10 or 11 o’clock. This is the best time of day to go hiking because you will see many more animals, and the temperature is very pleasant and comfortable.

If you’re hiking in the summertime with temperatures approaching 120° it is extremely important that you hike early in the morning. In the wintertime January, February and March, you may want to wait until about nine or 9:30 to begin hiking to allow the sun to warm the air up and make it more comfortable.

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Take the Tram to San Jacinto Palm Springs. Palm Springs is in a valley surrounded by mountains over 10,000 feet high.  The views from the valley are spectacular. There is something really great about walking in your shorts in 85 degree weather while looking at the snow on the mountains.  The view from the top of one of these mountains is equally spectacular. Although the pictures are really great , they just do not capture the grandeur of the mountains and the valley below. If your planning to head up the tram for some hiking or just to see the views, take a lunch with you, lots of water and hiking clothes.

Tram to San Jacinto Palm Springs

Visitors can take the tram into the San Jacinto mountains up to 8500 feet and hike on any of the 54 miles of hiking trails. While going up the tram, the views of the valley, the side of the mountain and even the construction of the towers supporting the tram are amazing. This tour up the mountains is one of the must see things to do while in Palm Springs.

If you are a hiker, there are over 54 miles of trails to hike on in the mountains. We suggest that you always tell someone where you plan to go. Take a lunch and always take lots of water as well with you just in case you get delayed or lost on the trail. Taking extra clothes with you as well is also a good idea. It is usually about 20 degrees cooler on the mountain and can go down to freezing temperatures at night.

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The tram in Palm Springs takes you up to 8500 feet elevation into the San Jacinto mountains. This is rugged mountainous territory. Palm Springs is at an elevation of 485 feet. While the Salton Sea to the south about 30 miles is actually at sea level. Driving from Palm Springs to the Tram Station at the bottom of the mountain takes you up to 2000 feet above sea level. Then the tram itself takes you up another 6500 feet. It is apparently the 2nd steepest tram in the world.

Tram Palm Springs

There are five towers like the one shown in the picture and each one has a helicopter landing pad at the top of it. This pad was used during construction and is now used when they need to get someone up to the tower to complete maintenance activities on the towers. I think it would be pretty scary having to land on that tower and then disembark to get off the helicopter and climb down onto the tower to do whatever maintenance is required. Quite and exciting job I would say.

There is often high winds which interfere with the operation of the tram. There are a few days every year where they must stop operations because the wind is just too strong.

The scenery is absolutely beautiful as you head up the mountain and are quite close to the rock faces. There are landing pads at various points on the mountain as well. We are not sure what they are for. The tram operates year round except in windy conditions. It is not safe to be on the tram due to the high winds.

There are several restaurants to enjoy at the top and the scenery is truly fantastic. There are actually over 85 miles of hiking trails. Also people enjoy the high elevation and the crystal clear skies on most days.

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The Palm Springs Tram takes you from 2100 feet in elevation to 8500 feet in elevation and the temperature drops 20 degrees in temperature. This is really a fantastic excursion that can be taken in a day. It is within 20 minutes of downtown Palm Springs, California. The trip up is spectacular as is the area at the top of the mountain itself. There are over 85miles of hiking trails for people to enjoy. Many people living in the desert will purchase season tickets. They go up the Palm Springs Trams several times a week. It is a great way to escape the heat. Also experience nature in a totally different environment and eco system.

During the summer time, the temperatures in Palm Springs can be as hot as 120 F degrees during the day. It will barely cool down into the low 90’s at night. Many people will escape into the mountains to cool off. The Palm Springs Tram up the mountain is a perfect way to get away from the heat of the summer time. We have included a few pictures of this tram that takes you from the desert floor into the mountains. There are five towers that support the cables that carry the tram up and down the mountain. There are actually two cars that act as counterweights to each other.

Palm Springs Tram – Maintenance

Helicopters would land on top of the towers to take maintenance people to the towers. These are small platforms that sit on top of the towers surrounded by mountains that would be very difficult to traverse on foot. The tram rotates as it climbs the mountain so that every person gets a 360 degree view of the mountains and the valley below. This picture shows part of this view and although they say a picture is worth a thousand words, they really do not do justice to the beautiful scenery that is seen on the way up the mountain.

If you have an opportunity to visit Palm Springs, take a day and spend it up the mountain hiking among the tall fir trees. It is a day well spent. Check the weather before you go and dress appropriately to avoid any discomfort and also wear lots of sun screen.

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There are lots of really good areas to go biking in Palm Springs. There are well marked lanes on many streets as well as bike paths that go along neighborhoods, golf courses and parks. Every year cycling in Palm Springs improves as well. The city and other cities in the valley are adding more and more designated cycling lanes for riders.

Even with these lanes, riders must be careful. Not all car drivers respect these lanes and some are upset at these additional restrictions. Be careful when biking around Palm Springs and any other city in the valley. The law recently passed, requires drivers to give you at least 3 feet of clearance, but many do not.

White Water Wash

These pictures were taken from the Levy along the whitewater wash with the golf course in the wash. This particular course gets flooded every couple of years and needs repairs from time to time. Never the less what a great place to bike and enjoy the scenery. The mountains in the background provide a great backdrop to the golf course and of course cycling. Be careful passing under overpasses.

There is often lots of debris and sometimes vagrants are living under these overpasses. They seem harmless but then you never know when one of them might challenge you or ask for money.

Make sure you have heavy duty tubes and tires, because there are lots of thorns on the roads and sidewalks to stick into your tires and flatten your tires. One year I had over 10 flats due to the thorns.  Heavy duty tubes as well as using green slime in your tubes will help to prevent a flat tire. The green slime will plug a hole and at least get you home.

Biking around Palm Springs is best done early in the morning to avoid the heat. It can get pretty warm at times during the day. Take lots of water with you as well to ensure that you do not be dehydrated. Many people will also bike for some distance and then take the bus home. Load the bike on the bike rack on the front of the bus and ride the bus for $1.00 or $0.50 if you are a senior.

For a lot more information about things to do in Palm Springs, click here.

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Visit the Living Desert in Palm Desert and feed the giraffes at the living desert at feeding time.

Feed the giraffes at the living Desert at 10 o’clock every morning. Game wardens will open the gate to visitors to come through and feed the giraffes. Each visitor is given a twig for the giraffes which is one of their favorite foods and all you have to do is hold it up in the air and the giraffe will reach down with his long tongue and grab the twig from your hand. It can be pretty exciting for the kids.

Feed the Giraffes at the Living Desert

Sometimes  the giraffe will slobber all over you but that’s just part of feeding the giraffes. Everyone will get a chance to feed the giraffes so don’t worry you don’t have to rush or crowd around.

The kids especially enjoy this part of the visit to the Living Desert.  If it is not too busy, you can also go back to the end of the line and go through a second time. When the food runs out, that is the end of the feeding the Giraffes activity. They all seem to know when it is time to be fed and when time is up. They just wander off in search of more sustaining food for them to eat.

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

Borrego Springs state park is a wonderful place to visit if you love the desert. There is camping available for those hardy enough to brave the dry desert and the hot sun. Anyone planning on camping in this area must make sure they have lots of water with them to avoid dehydration.

Dehydration can really sneak up on you and we cannot urge people enough to  make sure that they have water with you.  The picture below really gives you an idea of just how arid the area is and why you really need to take the proper precautions when camping or even driving in the areas.

Borrego Springs State Park

The town of Borrego itself is a nice little quiet village with a couple of small restaurants, a golf course and a community of homes around the golf course. They have a school and the other usual small town support, however do not expect too much excitement in this small town at night.

People come here for the quiet and solitude, the clear air and the environment. It is also a long way to any major stores such as Walmart or a supermarket. Gas can also be more expensive, but then you will not be driving too much in the area either.

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

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A magnificent view of the Coachella valley with a picture of a road runner in Palm Springs in the foreground. It does not get better than that! This was taken in march 2013, on the hiking trail that starts at the west end of Ramon road. You do not get chances like this very often and this guy was very nervous of us. It seemed as if he was protecting his nest, although we could not see a nest, but then it would have been very protected and difficult to see.

This particular trail is just one of many that can be found in the area. Some can be accessed easily within the city of Palm Springs and others are further a field and must be driven to by car. There are hiking books covering all of the hiking trails in Palm Springs available.

Road Runner in Palm Springs – Trails

In the same general area as this trail that begins on Ramon Road, there is another trail. It starts in the parking lot of the Museum in Downtown Palm Springs. This particular trail ends up at the same place at the top of one of the ridges where there are picnic tables to sit on and relax, have your lunch or a snack and enjoy the view.

This hiking trail that begins at the museum, is a more difficult trail to go up and down. it would be considered difficult for most people unless you are an experienced hiker. This trail is well traveled with lots of people going up and down it every day.

Always take  water with you regardless of how long you plan to be hiking. You never know when a bottle of water will come in handy especially if it takes longer than you planned.

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

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This is Goldie Hawn’s Palm Springs home. We walked past this home one spring morning. You cannot help but admire the nice clean lines of this property and the surrounding landscaping. There was no sign of Goldie Hawn on this day. You would have to be really lucky to actually see her out around her home. If she was in Palm Springs, chances are she would show up in a black windowed car were you could not see anything. They would drive straight through the gate. You would not know if it was Goldie in the car or just the body guards on a run to the grocery store. Sometimes the stars will go out to an event or to a restaurant in the area. Many have been seen about the city from time to time, however you really need to be there at the right time.

Goldie Hawn’s Palm Springs Home

Still it is neat to have walked past her house and admired her home in Palm Springs California.  The majority of these homes are walled and gated to prevent passers by from looking in or even entering the property. With the paparazzo and the general public who can sometimes be quite bold, we cannot really blame them for wanting their privacy. Although it would be nice to see her or see her home, it is really nonce of our business.

Palm Springs is a perfect location for Goldie Hawn’s Palm Springs Home, with great weather, more than 330 days a year of sun and heat as well as a location that really caters to the movie set. Many of the newer stars are taking up residence in some of the other desert communities, but Palm Springs is still the main location for many stars.

We have a number of other stars homes listed on this web site with more coming. Hope you enjoy.

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Hiking the Shannon Trail in Palm Springs is a fun thing to do when you are staying in the city. The views from the top of the Shannon trail are truly fantastic whether you are looking at the snow covered mountains or the desert around Palm Springs. The first picture is looking west towards the mountains surrounding Palm Springs. On this particular day it was a bit cloudy, however you can still see the snow covered mountains quite easily. On sunny days the views are spectacular and well worth the time and the exercise. In addition hiking is one of the best exercise things to do and you are rewarded with scenery like this in the picture.

Hiking the Shannon Trail in Palm Springs

The second picture is looking towards the valley of Coachella where the cities of Palm Springs, Cathedral city, Rancho Mirage, Indio etc are located. This is a great view of the valley and the mountains on the other side of the valley. The Shannon trail is a popular trail for many hikers in the Palm Springs area. This trail is approximately four miles in length and has an elevation increase of 800 feet. It is an easy to moderate trail and is named after an equestrian rider, Shannon Corliss, daughter of a past president of Desert Equestrian Riders named Ray Corliss.

On a clear day you can literally see for almost 100 miles. On the day this picture was taken visibility was down to around 50 miles. It is still a spectacular view from on top of this trail. Next time we head up to this area, we will make sure that it is a clear sunny day. It will be hot, so we will take lots of water with us, hats and sun screen lotion.

For more hiking and things to do information in the Palm Springs area, click here.

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McCormick’s Classic Car Auctions takes place every February.  They set up the auction just west of the casino in the casino parking lot. There was a a tent to hold the auction and stage the cars during the auction.  Inside the tent there are tables and chairs. As well as food stands where you can grab something to eat while you are waiting for your car to come up to be auctioned off.

With over 600 cars were to be auctioned over a three day period in Palm Springs, this is a really busy time for the auctioneer’s and also for the various car dealers and individuals who are selling or buying cars.

Auction Well Attended

Thousands of people attend every year to buy cars and dream about cars they would like to buy. Admission is free during the first day and you can browse the cars and talk to some of the owners of the cars that are for sale. there is always a story behind these cars. Most are in mint condition and people are parting with the lover of their lives when they sell their cars.
Once couple we spoke with had a beautiful jaguar for sale. He loved his car and really did not want to sell it, however he had an accident with another car and now had a lot of medical bills to pay for. He was selling his car to help pay for the medical bills which were piling up. There are probably a thousand stories about the cars, who they belonged to and why they were selling their car.

We felt sorry for this couple, but since we were not buying, there was nothing we could do to help them. I would have really liked to buy his car. It was immaculate as most of the cars are and it would have been a good buy.

Johnny Carson’s corvette was also for sale with his name emblazoned across the windshield. This would have also been a great collector car to have as well. We are looking forward to going to next years auction as well.

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This was Marilyn Monroe’s Palm Springs Home when she lived there and it was just down the road from Elvis Presley’s honeymoon house as well. She grew up or lived in Palm Desert area. At the present time there is a thirty foot statue of her in down town Palm Springs. It is at the corner of Indian Canyon and Tacquitz road. We have included this picture of Marilyn on another post that is on this site. Just look in recent posts or in categories under Palm Springs. This particular statue is on Palm Springs until sometime in 2014, at which time it is supposed to go back to Chicago.

Marilyn Monroe’s Palm Springs Home

The city  is trying to purchase the statue for several million dollars, however the current owners do not seem to be ready to sell at this time. I guess further negotiations will be needed before a final decision is made.

The city is also trying to obtain her statue at a significant cost to be placed in the downtown area. It was here for roughly a year and it turned out to be very popular with tourists. Many people would have their picture taken with Marilyn in the background. She stood over 30 feet tall and dominated the Palm Springs downtown area in a very positive way.

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This was George Burns home when he lived in Palm Springs. His home was just below that of Barbara Streisand . It is a very elegant looking place with lots of desert plants around the property. Of course palm trees as well. One of the unique things about this home is that it has quite a few pieces of art around it. They are strategically placed were you can see them from the street. This really adds to the beauty of the place and contributes to the value of the property.

You can find this home in the Las Palmas area of Palm Springs and if you live in the down town area of the city, it is within easy walking distance of down town. There are also walking tours that you can sign up for that take you past this home as well as many others were famous stars stayed when they came to Palm Springs.

George Burns home – Security

This home is also protected by gates. There is an armed response sign on the fence. This is to ward off anyone who might be thinking of jumping the fence. For instance it is surprising how many tourists if given a chance will try to walk on the grounds or peer inside a window to look around.

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This was where Johnny Carson’s home was when he was in Palm Springs. Cannot see much , he was a very private man even though he was the king of late night TV! His home reflected this privacy. Even if your on a bike or in a bus you can still not see over those hedges.

The entrance door was also opaque to avoid anyone looking through and catching a glimpse of the famous late night show host. I used to think that these shows were taped late at night as well. We went to a Jay Leno show which was taped at 5pm Pacific coast time.  I realized that by the time we saw it on the east coast it was already 11 pm.

Johnny Carson’s home

The neighborhood is very private with quiet streets. Almost all of the homes have private walls with lots of shrubs to provide everyone living there with privacy. There is not much traffic in this area other than local traffic and people like ourselves wandering around looking at the movie star homes.

These homes are all over the million dollar range, so if you want one of these homes, be prepared to spend lots of money. For more information about other Palm Springs homes and Palm Springs in general, click here.

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Elvis Presley spent a lot of time in Palm Springs. This was Elvis Presleys honeymoon House where he spent his honeymoon with Priscilla. He intended to be married at this home, however, there were just too many reporters camped outside his home. Instead, he borrowed Frank Sinatra’s plane and flew to Las Vegas and was married there. He spent some time in this house with his bride Priscilla in Palm Springs. The house itself is located at 1350 Ladera Circle in Palm Springs. this home is a two-bedroom home with 4,695 square feet and was built in 1960 and is a good representation of the 1960’s modernism design that is so popular in Palm Springs.

Elvis Presley’s Honeymoon House

This home in Palm Springs is close to downtown and within easy walking distance of the downtown area. Of course, it can also be driven to as well and can be seen easily from the car. It is on a public street and very accessible.  This is one of many homes that many of the stars have either visited, rented, or owned in the Palm Springs area.

Elvis Presleys honeymoon House is on a little cul-de-sac with lots of privacy while at the same time with a few of the streets. It is now privately owned. Tourists can approach the home in this quiet Palm Springs suburb with little problem. However, everyone should realize that this is a private home and respect the owners privacy.  For more articles about the Palm Springs area and things to do, click here.

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There are lots of road runners in Palm Springs but it is not often you get this close to one. This guy likes sweet potato fries and is not afraid of guests sitting on the patio having lunch. We are pretty sure that the waiters keeps him well fed.

This picture was taken at the Agua Caliente Casino on Ramon road in the Palm Springs area. We were sitting out on a patio enjoying our lunch and the scenery when this road runner came along. He was looking for food and his favorite seemed to be sweet potato fries which he would grab and then take off to eat somewhere in the foliage. He was quite entertaining.

Road Runners in Palm Springs

If you have never had your lunch at the casino, this spot is one of the best. You can eat indoors or outdoors. It is shaded from the sun which is nice when it is really hot and you overlook the pool area. This is quite a nice spot to spend an hour or two having lunch or dinner.

It is also a good place to take a break from the casino. If you are looking for some peace and quiet, this restaurant is a great place to take some time out and enjoy the outdoors. For more information and things to do in Palm Springs, click here.

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We visited the Spa Casino several times while staying in Palm Springs. This is a great casino, located in down town Palm Springs. It is close to all of the stores as well as many motels and condo’s that are filled to capacity during the winter months by all of the snow birds.

There is always something going on in or around the Spa Casino in addition to the obvious gambling in the casino. But first a couple of points of information about the casino itself.

Spa Casino, Palm Springs

Owned and operated by the Agua Caliente band, this casino has a large number of up to date slot machines. All the way from penny machines up to the high denomination machines. They also have a dozen or so tables were you can play blackjack and numerous other games. One of the attributes that we really liked is that there is a bar in the center of the casino where you can relax with a drink or play poker on a slot machine while observing the action around you. There is another bar in a quieter area were you can also watch sports as well as play keno and poker on machines located in the bar.

The Spa Casino routinely has various events in their show room. One such event was a tail gate party for the super bowl. Filled to capacity we watch the game, participated in free prize draws and enjoyed pictures of beer for $6.00 and an all you eat buffet for $10.00 Not a bad deal!

Car Auction

Recently there was also a car auction held in one of the adjacent large parking lots were over 700 cars were put up for sale over the weekend. We were amazed at the cars and the prices. There were some pretty nice cars from jags up to Bentley’s up for auction.

For more information about what to do in Palm Springs, click here.

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There are many places to go hiking in and around Palm springs. We will list them as we go hiking on  some of them and add pictures as well

• The Palm Springs Museum Trail
• Ramon
• The Clara Burgess – This trail takes you to the top of Murray Hill.
• Whitewater Canyon Nature Preserve
• Tram
• Borrego Springs
• Pushwala
• Murray Peak

These pictures were taken at a trail near the end of the Ramon trail on the north side of the city. Access is a bit difficult. You have to park on the street and walk to the end of the street. Then along a wire fence until you come to an opening which you can crawl through.

This particular area is actually a large wash that has a dike or dam across it to protect the city from flooding. Water comes down off the mountains over the cliff you see in the distance and then down into this wash. It is huge and can control / contain a great deal of water. It is also very nice to hike in. You can go all the way up to the cliff in the far distance. There is a lone palm tree sitting at the very top of the white cliff you see in the distance.

Views are Fantastic

This is an example of the views you see when you are standing with the cliff immediately behind you. The rocks are pretty rough and tumbled and hiking is something you must take carefully to avoid breaking a leg or scaring up a snake or two.

this hike took us about 3 hours although it really does not look as if it should take as long as it did. The distances are disbelieving in the desert and you usually end up walking much further than what was originally planned.

If you are interested in seeing where the earthquake zone is and the San Andreas fault line, head out to the end of the Ramon Road into Pushwalla. there is a cabin staffed by volunteers who can fill you in on the fault line, why there are palm trees in this area and sulphate hot springs as well.

The entire area is really one big fault line which is where the pacific plate meets the North American plate. I forget which one is going under the other, but apparently that is what is happening in this area.

Murray Peak is one of the fun hikes, although it has just about everything from flat sections to steep switch backs. It takes about two and a half hours to go up and around two hours to come down. There are picnic tables at the top and you need to take lots of water and something to eat when you go.

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This picture was taken in early February 2013 after a snow fall in the mountains around Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage. These are two of the desert cities in the Coachella valley, east of Los Angeles. We were actually on El Paseo street in Rancho Mirage. This street is an upscale street of shops. There are a variety of stores that offer very expensive clothing and a variety of accessories that many stars will shop for. if you want to see  fancy cars, this is the place to go.

Rancho Mirage – El Paseo

The scenery is fantastic, with the palm trees in the foreground and the mountains covered in snow in the background.  The highest ones are over 12,000 feet in elevation. Palm Springs has an elevation of 485 feet. Less than 40 miles away there is the Salton sea which is below seal level.

This area is a great area for snow birds and weekend vacationers from LA to spend their time. There are warm temperatures, golf, hiking, biking and swimming activities for all.

One of the big attractions for the writer in Rancho Mirage – El Paseo is the Apple store. This is a great place to spend some time while your spouse shops. Down the street and across the street are several coffee shops as well to relax at.

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Held every Thursday night in Palm Springs, the Palm Springs Street Fair runs from 5 pm to 10 pm and extends for at least 5 or 6 city blocks. Hundreds of vendors and thousands of people descend on Palm Springs every week to take in the fair! We always enjoy buying fresh-picked strawberries and trying out some of the various barbecued meals. If you are in Palm Springs this is one event that should not be missed regardless of what time of the year, including the summertime as well as the winter.

Palm Springs Street Fair

There are lots of snowbirds in Palm Springs during the Jan to March period and this is when the street fair is the most crowded. During the rest of the year, there are still lots of people and vendors, however, it is not as crowded. During the busy months, it is so crowded that you have to line up at food stalls to eat and you have to be careful walking down the street as well. There are just so many people!

Many people will leave on March 31st. Crowds are less, traffic is better and it is a much more relaxed atmosphere. Even the restaurants are not as busy. Some will even offer better happy hour prices on food and drinks. April is a great time to be in the Palm Springs area.

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

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