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We are using a week of timshare and are Palm Springs bound this Wednesday. I would like to know what my fellow cruisemates liked doing there the most pertaining to things worth seeing and doing and what restaurants should not be missed. Also, has anybody ever stayed at the Palm Springs Golf and Tennis Club?
We are using a week of timshare and are Palm Springs bound this Wednesday. I would like to know what my fellow cruisemates liked doing there the most pertaining to things worth seeing and doing and what restaurants should not be missed. Also, has anybody ever stayed at the Palm Springs Golf and Tennis Club?
You MUST take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up Mt San Jacinto. Aweseome views from the summit! Here's a link to their website:
I absolutely agree that the aerial tram is a must-do. You may also want to visit the Joshua Tree National Park, a short (according to us Californians) drive north of Palm Springs. See the park Web site for more information.
We enjoy the unique rock formations, Joshua Trees, and the view of the Palm Springs area (Coachella Valley). I understand that there may be some road construction on the road leading to the scenic view point overlooking the Valley, but even if that's closed, the rest of the park is a really wonderful drive.
Another unique experience could be a windmill farm tour. I've never taken one, but there are acres and acres of energy-generating windmills in the Palm Springs area. Even if you don't take a tour, it's worth driving through the area, just to snap a few photos.
For lunch or dinner, try Las Casuelas. Good Mexican food and an outdoor dining area that often features live music. Here's their Web site:
If you (or someone in your party) are interested in World War II aircraft, they have an excellent aviation museum on the Airport. One drawback though, we encountered one docent (a WW II vet) who couldn't stop talking.
Another had been a B-17 belly turret gunner. At 80 he could still get into the turret, I could barely squeeze past the bomb racks.
I learned things like how they picked up float planes from the sea while the ship was steaming full speed ahead, and saw examples of most of the Naval fightersl.
Thanks for the advice from my fellow cruisemates about Palm Springs; besides being dedicated "cruise" travelers, I knew I could count on them when it came to "land" trips!
All these are good recommendations. I wouldn't miss Joshua Tree; we go back year after year. Ask at the ranger station and take at least one of the short hikes (they have a couple loops of only about a mile or a little more--they're excellent). Also take the short detour to Keyes View if the weather is clear. You can see all the way to Mexico. Magnificent.
In downtown Palm Springs there's a street fair every Thursday night where they block off Palm Canyon Drive (the main drag) and make it a pedestrian mall. They set up all sorts of booths for artists, food, you name it. Lots of fun. I think they do it in the fall; I know they do it in season.
There's a Belgian restaurant (can't remember the name) right on Palm Canyon in the middle of downtown that is excellent--especially if you love mussels done the Belgian way (steamed in a pot). There are also two passably good delis--one is called Manhattan in the Desert, and the other one is downtown and I can't remember the name of that one either (but I can get you there).
Also right downtown is the perennial "Follies" show which is fun, if a little bonkers. It's a typical musical revue in the old Radio City style, except that everybody in it is a senior citizen. Depending on your point of view and your particular mood at the time, it can be wonderful, campy, hokey, depressing, amazing or all of the above.
If you don't mind mountain driving, a trip up to Idyllwild in the San Jacinto mountains makes for a wonderful day trip. A pretty little town that almost reminds you of Alaska, set among pine forests with nice little restaurants, a few very nice art and pottery galleries and some funky little shops. The drive itself is spectacular. Hint, go up via the western route and come down the eastern, the double back to Palm Springs on Palm Canyon. Stop at all the overlooks.
Oh, and if you go to Idyllwild (or even up on the tram that everybody has recommended), take a warm jacket and/or sweater. The temperature can be as much as 30 degrees cooler than Palm Springs proper. Trust me, the gift shop at the top of the tram does a landoffice business in sweatshirts.
Oh, yes, and the city museum endowed by Walter Annenberg is really quite a treasure. Definitely worth a trip, and it's free admission on Thursday evenings. A good plan is to visit about four or five o'clock on Thursday, then walk over the the street fair and dinner.
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