Located about 110 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 140 miles northeast of San Diego this famous city sits within the Colorado Desert on the edge of the Coachella Valley. There are so many interesting things to do here. Explore the Indian Canyons by jeep, take a hummer adventure through Joshua Tree National Monument, enjoy a tour of “Hollywood’s Playground” and learn about all the famous people who have lived here such as Marilyn Monroe, Nat King Cole and Elvis Presley.
Sonny Bono
Visit museums such as the Palm Springs Air Museum, the Palm Springs Art Museum and the many art galleries around the city.
Lucy Ricardo from “I Love Lucy” 1995 bronze by Emmanuil and Janet Snitkovsky
Starbucks Reserve
Blaze Pizza
Enjoy outdoor activities such as biking, horseback riding, tennis and hiking. Take a drive and admire the city’s collection of pre-World War II resorts and hotels still in operation.
And be sure to take a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. See our story about this fantastic adventure:
Ride the World’s Largest Rotating Tramcar at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Today visitors to Palm Springs number almost 2 million thanks to many events such as the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and Modernism Week.
See all there is to do in Palm Springs at
http://palmsprings.com/
Joshua Tree National Park
A short drive from Palm Springs brings you to the Joshua Tree National Park. The Joshua tree is a member of the Agave family and grows mostly in the Mohave Desert. The name may have come from Mormon immigrants crossing the Colorado River who named the trees “Joshua, seeing the limbs of the tree as outstretched in supplication, guiding the travelers westward.”
Fender guitar commemorating the 75th anniversary of the park and it's connection with the music industry.
Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center
The trees were used by American Indians for basket weaving, and the seeds were eaten roasted. Ranchers and miners used the limbs of the tree for fencing and fuel for steam engines.
The age of the tree is estimated by it height - growth is ½-3 inches per year. There is one tree in the park that is 40 feet high.
When the rains come there are clusters of white green flowers on long stalks at the tips of the branches.
Perfect growing conditions include rains and winter freeze which damages the end of the branch and stimulates flowering. The Yucca moth is responsible for pollination.
