Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley

Palm Springs, a desert city within the Coachella Valley, is a great destination for golfers with its 125 golf courses. But there is more to this lovely area than just golfing. For those who like the desert air there are many other attractions as well.

I have visited the area five times, and no one would ever call me a golfer even though I do own golf clubs. I have arrived by plane and by car and either way, my first impression of Palm Springs is always welcoming. Each time we've gone, we have rented a home in a quiet residential area with a pool and hot tub. We have visted in the summer where the temperature is approximately 104 degrees although one time it reached as high as 115 degrees. During our fall visits, the temperatures are a little more moderate and very enjoyable.

One of the particularly interesting places to visit is Joshua Tree National Park with its abundance of birds and animals such as bobcats, cougars, coyotes, quails, jackrabbits, big horn sheep and desert toroises. Flowering cacti especially are the jewels of the park as well as the many other wild flowers that flourish in this desert area. There are many various rock formations that are unique for visitors to see also. Of interest, the park is crisscrossed with hundreds of fault lines. The famous San Andreas Fault can be observed on the south side of the park as well as other fault lines throughout the area.

Joshua Tree National Park has 501 archeological sites and 88 historic structures as well as a large museum collection. Included is the Pinto culture colection dated at 4,000 to 8,000 years ago. An estimated three hundred mines were developed in the area after the California gold rush of 1849 ended.

Soak City is another attraction with many different kinds of water slides available for children or the young at heart. While we were in Palm Springs recently, we took advantage of the opportunity to go. I decided the water slides weren't for me but I particularly enjoyed the wave pool and the large lazy river where you don't have to do anything but relax and float along on a big tube. Tubes were available for use while we were in the wave pool too, at no charge.

There is also the Palm Springs Aerial Tram that will take you up Chino Canyon where it is about thirty degrees cooler with an elevation of 8,516 feet and into Mt. San Jacinto State Park. It is a popular hiking area with sub-alpine forests, ferny mountain meadows and granite peaks. The Mt. San Jacinto State Park has been likened to hiking in Switzerland. It overlooks the Coachella Valley.

Shopping is easy in Palm Springs with many stores and everything is handy and clean. It's a good place to go to relax even if you don't wish to do any sightseeing, hiking, waterslides or golfing.