Palm Springs, California has long
|
Looking toward downtown Palm Springs from Palm Canyon Drive.
Water spills into a small pool at a downtown city park.
Looking down at the desert floor from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway as it makes it's way up Chino Canyon on Mount San Jacinto. This photo was taken back in 1992.
The city of Palm Springs, California has a population of only 44,552 (according to the 2010 census). However, that number is just for the city proper. The surrounding metropolitan area has a total population of more than 320,000 people. This surrounding area is made up of several desert cities (such as the city of Palm Desert and the city of Rancho Mirage). The largest city in the region is Indio with a population of 76,036.
This is a unique fountain near downtown Palm Springs. The arms of this sculpture alternately raise and lower as they pour water into a pool at the base. It is located in a small city park and is entitled "Rainmaker".
Palm trees, green grass and lush tropical foliage grow in the
small city park near the Rainmaker fountain.
There are many things to do in Palm Springs, California (and the surrounding area). Besides the Palm Springs Tram, there is also the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens to visit. You can capture some great pictures of desert animals at this zoo. Knott's Soak City is a very popular water park during the long hot summer months. It is just one more of many California amusement parks. There are three excellent museums here as well - the Palm Springs Desert Museum, the Palm Springs Art Museum, and the Palm Springs Air Museum. The air museum houses one of the largest collections of World War 2 aircraft in the world. The River (located in Rancho Mirage) is a beautiful outdoor shopping mall and movie theater complex. And The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert offers upscale shopping. In fact, El Paseo Drive has been called the "Rodeo Drive" of the desert.
View of El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert - known as the "Rodeo Drive of the Desert". The foothills of Mount San Jacinto are seen in the distance.
Saks Fifth Avenue is one of the stores located on El Paseo Drive
in Palm Desert in an area known as The Gardens.
The River is an outdoor shopping mall in Rancho Mirage. During the summer, it can be tempting to jump into the water (the temperature was
a toasty 107 degrees when I took this photo on an August afternoon). You can see water misters attached to the roof trellis rafters at the
upper left. These are a common sight around the Palm Springs area.
There are many hotels in Palm Springs, California. The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa (which is actually located in Palm Desert) is easily the best of them all. It features a very extravagant 8-story hotel atrium lobby and also has two excellent 18 hole golf courses. There are more than 120 golf courses in the Palm Springs area. It takes a lot of water to keep all of those courses green. As you might know, Palm Springs weather basically has just two seasons. Mild temperatures in the winter and hot the rest of the year. The mercury has occasionally risen above 120 degrees during the summer months. Less than five inches of rain falls here in an average year.
View of the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in
the city of Palm Desert. Extensive use of water around
the property creates a tropical desert feel.
This is the main atrium lobby of the Palm Desert Marriott Resort. The tropical landscape theme is carried inside the hotel which creates an inviting atmosphere.
This neon business sign sits along Highway 111 in Cathedral City
(right next door to Palm Springs).
Many celebrities have called Palm Springs, California home over the years including Bob Hope and former President Gerald Ford. Many of the street sign names reflect this fact. There is Bob Hope Drive, Gene Autry Trail, and Frank Sinatra Drive. The city of Palm Springs also has another interesting fact about it. It is located right next to the famous (infamous?) San Andreas fault line. So if the predicted "big one" ever hits southern California, Palm Springs should receive quite a jolt indeed. My wife and I live just 30 minutes from this unique city and enjoy visiting it whenever possible. I think you will enjoy it too.
View of a ride at the Riverside County Fair and Date Festival. The fairgrounds are located in the city of Indio. Due to the summer heat, the fair is held each year during the month of February (unlike most counties which hold their fairs during the summer months).
Side Note:
Would you be interested in building your own website? A site that you alone create (out of your own imagination) and which also earns an income for you? Click here for my review of just such an opportunity.
One more look at downtown Palm Springs, California.
A street fair is held here every Thursday evening.
Click here to return to top of Palm Springs, California page.
To return to the home page, click here.
