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Palm Springs Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Palm Springs Travel & Tourism, Free Palm Springs Travel Guide Online

Palm Springs Travel Guide: Discount & Cheap Palm Springs Travel & Tourism, Free Palm Springs Travel Guide Online

Palm Springs is a resort city in the Santa Rosa Mountains, just south of Interstate 10 at the foot of 10,000-foot Mt. San Jacinto on the westernmost edge of the Sonoran Desert. The city is named for the palm trees that line its streets and for its natural hot springs. These features along with a warm climate, fashionable hotels and private homes, golf courses, parks, and swimming pools, make Palm Springs a major, upscale tourist attraction.

The entire Coachella Valley sits atop a large underground lake. Palm Springs is one of nine adjacent communities in the Valley, each offering a similar, yet unique, vacation experience. Most visitors stay in country-club-type resorts that have transformed the desert into a semitropical oasis. Recreational opportunities include golf courses and tennis courts, as well as lavish spas and horseback riding.

rt galleries, antique stores, and many specialty shops line Palm Canyon Drive. There is an abundant supply of gourmet restaurants. Many that are less imposing offer Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Italian, and other cuisine.

Among the most popular attractions are the Aerial Tramway, Oasis Water Resort, Moorten Botanical Gardens, and the spectacular Indian canyons. The Palm Springs Desert Museum presents desert dioramas and collections of art and Native American artifacts.

The Living Desert Museum is an outdoor facility that has a large variety of plants and animals native to the Palm Springs area as well as more exotic species. The Palm Springs Aerial Museum, located at the regional airport, houses fully restored World War II-vintage aircraft.

The southwestern-style Mercado Plaza in downtown Palm Springs features upscale galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Nightlife in the city includes fine dining and an assortment of bars and nightclubs, as well as gambling at nearby Native American-owned casinos.

Day trips from Palm Springs offer exciting possibilities. Close to Palm Springs is the community of Desert Hot Springs, famous for its hot-springs resorts: some the private domain of Hollywood celebrities; others open to all.

Highway I-10 leads to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway which climbs 2.5 miles up the San Jacinto Mountain Range, over Chino Canyon, providing breathtaking views from circular cars. Once at the top, enjoy a mule ride, a hike through the wilderness or a meal in the restaurant that overlooks the desert.

The scenic Palms to Pines Highway 74 south from Palm Desert leads to a pine-scented setting near Idyllwild, a popular mountain vacation area with a relaxed lifestyle. At the southeastern edge of the Coachella Valley are the communities of Indio, Coachella and Thermal, where the date palm gardens, tours, and samplings are the main attractions.

While in the Palm Springs area, consider a side trip to eastern California's Joshua Tree National Park where the Sonoran and Mojave deserts meet. In the higher, Mojave portion of the park, a forest of Joshua Trees and a number of unique granite rock formations called Inselbergs can be seen. In the lower, Colorado portion, the Pinto Basin exhibits the beautiful native plants of this hotter Sonoran Desert. This is an area gaining international recognition for its winter-season rock climbing. Hiking and mountain biking are other recreational possibilities, along with back road jeep trips.

The Nature Conservancy's Coachella Valley Preserve in Thousand Palms includes 13,000 acres of palm oases and high desert bisected by California's San Andreas Fault. Cecil B. DeMille filmed The King of Kings there, in and around the Thousand Palms Oasis. Area hiking is permitted, and visitors can also experience a covered wagon tour.

Despite the presence of celebrities in Palm Springs and the wealth that is in evidence, the area can also be affordable as a family destination. Many reasonably priced accommodations can be found year-round, and those willing to visit in the summer months can find unexpected bargains. Palm Springs is a vacation destination of rare beauty and tranquility in any season of the year.

Palm Springs Attractions: Palm Springs Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Palm Springs Travel & Tourism, Free Palm Springs Travel Guide Online

The Nine

Palm Springs Area Municipalities

(1) Palm Springs

is an upscale desert city, sitting at the foot of 10,000-foot Mt. San Jacinto, and is famous for its hot springs. It attracts many winter tourists, and is also known for its Hollywood productions and its golf tournaments.

(
2)
Desert Hot Springs, six miles north of Palm Springs, has many spas, several small hotels, and a number of fine restaurants. The Cabot Yerxa Museum gives tourists a glimpse of life in early America

(3) Cathedral City

, bordering Palm Springs to the east, is the home of some large resorts and golf courses, as well as several smaller hotels and restaurants.

(4) Rancho Mirage

, started with two golf courses: Thunderbird and Tamarisk, and now has 11 courses. Many fine restaurants are located in Rancho Mirage on "Restaurant Row" along Highway 111.

(5) Palm Desert

, to the east, is one of the valley's fastest-growing cities. Projects like College of the Desert, now offering four-year courses, were built in this location because the city is, geographically, in the center of the valley. The successful Town Center includes an ice skating rink and many fine shops. El Paseo is a fine street for shopping.

6) Indian Wells

started with Eldorado Country Club and Indian Wells Country Club. There are now six golf courses. Grand Champions Resort contains a 10,000-seat tennis stadium that is the site of the annual Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament. The Indian Wells Racquet Club is located on the site of the old Indian well that gave the town its name.

(7)

La Quinta lies in a beautiful cove next to Indian Wells. A charming Spanish hotel, built here in 1921, was a famous resort for many years. Today, the area is popular for its eight golf courses, four of which make up P.G.A. West, with a fifth under construction. From La Quinta, fine riding and hiking trails lead into the nearby hills and a palm-lined canyon.

(8)

Indio, the valley's oldest city, was incorporated in 1930, and became a site of farming and industry. Many date-picking sheds are found here as the area raises most of the valley's produce. The Coachella Valley's average yield of $5,000 per irrigated acre is the highest in the world.

(9)

Coachella is the ninth city, at the southern end of the valley, is. Like Indio it has been an industrial and agricultural center, but is now actively seeking a future as a resort.

Attractions

Coachella Valley Museum & Cultural Center

82-616 Miles Ave, Indio

Nominal admission fee, call for hours

760-342-6651

Open Wednesday - Sunday September - June

Permanent collection of historical artifacts in 1926 adobe home.

Desert Holocaust Memorial

73-510 Fred Waring Drive

Palm Desert, CA 92260

760-325-7281

Located within Civic Center Park in Palm Desert, The Desert Holocaust Memorial memorializes lost parents, children, loved ones, and millions of innocent people. It is surrounded by cobblestone and lighting influenced by that at the Auschwitz Extermination Camp.

El Paseo Drive

Palm Desert, CA 92260

Toll Free Info: 1.877.735.7273

The world famous El Paseo Shopping District features over 150 world-class shops, clothing boutiques, art galleries, jewelers, and restaurants, along a beautifully maintained mile long drive of trees and flowers.

Joshua Tree National Park

74485 National Monument Dr.

Twenty Nine Palms, CA 92277

760-367-5500

Open every day, year round. Visitor Centers are open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.

The nearly 800,000 acre park encompasses some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California's deserts. Arroyos, playas, alluvial fans, bajadas, pediments, desert varnish, granites, aplite, and gneiss interact to form a giant desert mosaic of immense beauty and complexity.

A variety of hikes, birding events, campfires, tours and other activities are conducted by park rangers regularly.

Jude E. Poynter Golf Museum

Fred Waring Drive & San Pablo Avenue

Palm Desert, CA

760-341-2491

Dedicated to the Coachella Valley's most popular sport.

Open daily 8am - 8pm or by request at driving range.

La Quinta Historical Society Museum

77-885 Montezuma

La Quinta

760-564-1283

September - June 15 open Wednesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Admission free

Housed in the city's oldest commercial building (1937) with Cahuilla Indian artifacts, famous visitor and movie memorabilia.

Living Desert

47-900 Portola Avenue

Palm Desert, CA 92260

760.346.5694 Breathtaking botanical gardens. Stroll, hike, dine and shop amid 1200 acres of scenic trails and exhibits. A fascinating journey into the deserts of the world.

Moorten Botanical Garden

1701 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs

327-6555

Open daily 9 a.m. - 4:40 p.m.

Internationally famous living museum with nature trails, 3000 varieties of cacti, succulents and flowers.

Palapas of Araby Cove

3255 E. Palm Canyon Dr.

Palm Springs 416-1818

14 acre "hands on" artists' village and garden center with demonstrations, workshops and tours.

Palm Canyon Drive

Palm Springs, CA 92262

Beautifully lined with majestic palm trees continuously lit in a wrapping of sparkling lights, Palm Canyon Drive contains art galleries, restaurants, pubs and every kind of shop. Thursday nights the street is closed to all but pedestrian traffic. Home of the
Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Tramway Road, Palm Springs

325-1449. Recorded information: 760-325-1391

Open year-round 10 a.m weekdays, 8 a.m weekends and holidays.

Cars depart at least every half hour. Last car down 9:45 p.m.

Aboard the world's largest rotating tramcar, riders experience a journey up the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon. In winter, the tram becomes a ski lift, taking passengers to the site of cross-country skiing, snowshoe or snowtube trails. In summer, camping and guided tours are available. Enjoy spectacular views of the desert below from the restaurant. Open year-round.

Palm Springs Air Museum

745 North Gene Autry Trail

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760-778-6262

The Palm Springs Air Museum is dedicated to the restoration, preservation and operation of America's legendary fighters, bombers and trainers. It contains one of the world's largest collections of flying WWII airplanes, including the Robert J. Pond Collection.

Palm Springs Desert Museum

101 Museum Drive

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760-325-0189

Open year-round. Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday Noon - 5 , closed Monday and major holidays.

Admission: Free to members and children under 6 when accompanied by an adult. Fee charged for others.

The largest and most popular museum in Palm Springs features art, natural science and the performing arts. Set at the base of Mt. San Jacinto in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, the Museum's outstanding architecture is in harmony with its desert surroundings.

Palm Springs VillageFest

Featuring a variety of vendors displaying quality arts & crafts, food, live entertainment and a Certified Farmers Market

Every Thursday evening except holidays 6 - 10 p.m. October through May, 7-10 p.m. June-September.

Tahquitz Canyon

500 W. Mesquite, Palm Springs

760-416-7044

Now open for two-hour guided tours, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., first tour at 8 a.m. last at 2 p.m. Admission charged

Village Green Heritage Center

221 S. Palm Canyon Dr.

Palm Springs, CA. 92262

In the heart of the city of Palm Springs, the Center is dedicated to the pioneers who first settled the area.

The museums in the center are:

(1) McCallum Adobe

760-323-8297

Open Wednesday; Sunday noon - 3, Thursday - Saturday 10 - 4. Closed end of May to mid-October

Nominal entrance fee

Built in 1885, the home of the Palm Springs Historical Society is also the first pioneer home built in Palm Springs. Containing the personal memorabilia of Pearl McCallum McManus, the McCallum Adobe provides a glimpse into the frontier days of Palm Springs.

(2) Miss Cornelia White's House

760-323-8297

Open Wed; Sun. Noon - 3, Thurs � Sat. 10 - 4. Closed end of May to mid-October

Nominal entrance fee

Alongside Palm Springs first telephone, Miss White's Bibles are displayed in this home built in 1894, from railroad ties.

(3) Ruddy's General Store Museum

760-327-2156

October - June Thursday - Sunday 10 � 4; July - September Saturday & Sunday 10 � 4.

Nominal entrance fee

Featuring 6,000 unused items, Ruddy's General Store is an exact replica of a

circa 1939 dry goods shop.

(4) Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Information Center

760-323-0151

Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm, Sunday noon - 3pm. Free.

Features artifacts, jewelry, music and photographs of the indigenous Cahuilla Indians.

Whitewater Trout Farm

Picnic area and grills available or you can have your fish cooked for you.

Open Wednesday - Sunday, April - September, schedule change in winter.

Cafe and gift shop.

North on Indian Canyon Drive to I-10 west to Whitewater exit.

Whitewater Canyon Road, five mile to hatchery.

Tours by appointment 760-325-5570

Palm Springs Events: Palm Springs Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Palm Springs Travel & Tourism, Free Palm Springs Travel Guide Online

Casinos

Spa Resort Casino

140 N. Indian Canyon Drive

Palm Springs

760-323-5865 800-258-2WIN

Operated by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Features poker, blackjack, slots and video gaming machines in a full-service resort setting.

Open 24 hours. Restaurants.

Free shuttle service to various Palm Springs hotels. Must be 21 to enter casino.

Agua Caliente Casino

32-250 Bob Hope Drive at Ramon Road

Rancho Mirage

760-674-0000

Operated by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The newest valley casino is a Las Vegas-style casino with coin-operated slots, video poker, gaming tables and a high-limit area, live entertainment, six restaurants and lounge. Must be 21 to enter casino.

Casino Morongo

I-10 west bound exit at Cabazon; eastbound exit Apache Trail, 17 minutes west of Palm Springs

800-252-4499 or 909-849-3080

Operated by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. Open 24 hours seven days a week offering Morongo Million, slot, progressive jackpots, blackjack, poker, Texas Hold'em, Morongo stud poker, Omaha poker games, Pai-Gow poker, mini baccarat, All Bets Ride and bingo. Cafe open 24 hours, bar service, entertainment. Must be 18 to enter casino.

Fantasy Springs Casino

84-245 Indian Springs Parkway

just north of I-10 at Golf Center Parkway exit

Indio

760-342-5000 or 800-827-2946

Operated by the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians. Open 24 hours, featuring 1,200 video and slot machines, blackjack, poker bingo, off-track satellite horse racing. Dining. Live entertainment. Must be 21 to enter casino.

Trump 29 Casino

46-200 Harrison St.

Coachella

760-775-5566

Must be 21 to enter casino.

Operated by the Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians. Open 24 hours, featuring Las Vegas-style slot machines and progressive jackpots. Cardroom offers poker, blackjack, pai-gow, mini baccarat, Caribbean poker, Texas Hold'em and Hi/Lo game. Dining. Live entertainment in Casablanca

Golf

Canyon South Golf Course

1097 Murray Canyon Drive

760-327-2019

18 holes

Tahquitz Creek Palm Springs Golf Resort

1885 Golf Club Drive

760-328-1005

36 holes

Tommy Jacobs' Bel Air Greens

Driving range

1001 S. El Cielo Road

760-322-6062

9 holes

Tennis

eMuth Park

4375 Mesquite Ave.

760-323-8272

4 courts

The Tennis Center

1300 Baristo Road

760-323-8272

9 courts

Arts and Entertainment

Annenberg Theater

101 Museum Drive

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760-325-4490

Located inside the Palm Springs Desert Museum,

the Annenberg Theater boasts state-of-the-art lighting and sound.

Here you will find the finest in ballet, opera and classical music.

McCallum Theater For The Performing Arts

73-000 Fred Warring Drive

Palm Desert, CA 92260

760-340-2787

Located inside the Bob Hope Cultural Theater, the McCallum Theater

for the Performing Arts is rivaled only by the Annenberg Theater as the

Coachella Valley's premier concert hall for everything from symphonies

to musicals.

The Palm Canyon Theatre

538 North Palm Canyon Drive

Palm Springs, CA 92262

Reservations: 760-323-5123 (9am - 5pm)

The Only Professional Theatre in the Coachella Valley

The Plaza Theater

128 South Palm Canyon Drive

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760-327-0225

The Plaza Theater is the home to the critically

acclaimed Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Aerie Art Garden

71-255 Aerie Dr.

Palm Desert, CA

760-568-6366

Showcasing the beauty of the desert in a garden setting,

the Aerie Art Garden is toured by appointment only from

September to May.

Palm Springs Convention Center/Springs Theatre

277 Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs

760-325-6611. Box Office 760-778-4100

Horseback Riding

Ivey Ranch Equestrian Center

73-605 30th Ave.

Thousand Palms

760-343-4251.

Trail rides, hay rides, overnight rides, cookouts, arenas, team penning, gymkhanas

Los Compadres Stable

1849 S. El Cielo Road

Palm Springs

760-327-5411.

Guided trail rides and personalized tours,

Smoke Tree Stables

, Riding in the Desert, Mountains and Indian Reservation Canyons. Hay wagon rides, Western cookouts and horseback luncheon rides. 2500 Toledo Ave., Palm Springs, 760 327-1372

Events

Palm Springs VillageFest

Presented by the City of Palm Springs every Thursday evening (except holidays) on North Palm Canyon Drive, from Baristo Road to Alejo Road featuring a variety of vendors displaying quality arts and crafts, great food, live entertainment and a Certified Farmers Market.

Held from 6 - 10 p.m. October - May and from 7 - 10 June - September 760-320-3781

January

The
NORTEL Palm Springs International Film Festival annual event at downtown Palm Springs theaters, presented by the City of Palm Springs with other sponsors, featuring the best of Europa Cinema with more than 100 international film screenings from many countries, including premieres, seminars, workshops, national galas saluting various countries. 760-778-8979

Annual Bob Hope Chrysler Classic

760-346-8184

The Indio Desert Circuit Horse Show

is held January through March. The Desert Circuit is largest hunter/jumper event West of the Mississippi.

February

Annual Southwest Arts Festival

Indio, 760-347-0676

Annual Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational

760-202-4422

The Palm Springs International Jewish Film Festival

Presented by Festival of Arts Theatres Palm Springs & The Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival Together with Temple Isaiah

For Festival information please call Festival of Arts Theatres box-office located at 2300 Baristo Road at Farrell in Palm Springs at: (760) 325-6565

Temple Isaiah: (760) 325-6565.

Annual National Date Festival

Indio, 760-863-8247, 800-811-3247

Riverside Date Festival

Held annually around St. Valentine's Day, the festival began as a celebration of the date harvest. 800-863-8247

March

Annual La Quinta Arts Festival

La Quinta, 760-564-1244

Cabazon Band of Mission Indians Powwow

Indio, 760-342-5000, 800-827-2946 ext.3017

Annual Crossroads Palm Springs Renaissance Festival

Palm Springs, 909-943-5949 or 800-320-4REN

Desert Swing' n' Dixie Jazz Festival March

Palm Springs, 760-322-2121

Annual Nabisco Championship March

760-324-4546

April

9thAnnual Palm Springs Car Classic

presented by Spectrum Auction Company.

Three days Classic Car weekend. Downtown Palm Springs will be filled with hundreds of great looking cars, vendors, exhibits and entertainment.

818-999-0832 or 818-681-1939

Exotic Car Auction

Semi-annual event presented by Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions, featuring rare and vintage American and foreign automobiles.

Palm Springs Convention Center

277 N. Avenida Caballeros

Palm Springs CA 92262

760-320-3290

May

Greater Palm Springs Celebrity Golf Classic

August

Eighth Annual Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films Palm Springs

September

Rocktoberfest

Free 50's Rock 'n Roll Music Festival

On Palm Canyon Drive in beautiful downtown Palm Springs. 760-778-8415

November

Cabazon Band of Mission Indians Indio Powwow

, Indio, 760-342-5000

November & December

Living Desert Wildlights,

Palm Desert, 760-346-5694

December

Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade

Downtown Palm Springs

Indio International Tamale Festival

City of Indio, 760-342-6000

December

Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade

Downtown Palm Springs.

Palm Springs Facts: Palm Springs Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Palm Springs Travel & Tourism, Free Palm Springs Travel Guide Online

Facts

Population

: 40,200. The total permanent population of the nine cities in the Coachella Valley is 180,000, with a seasonal rise to approximately 240,000.

Location:

Palm Springs is located at the western end of the Coachella Valley, which is composed of nine cities: Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho, Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella.

Elevation

: 487 feet

Time Zone:

Palm Springs is in the Pacific time zone. When it is noon in New York City; it is 9:00AM in Palm Springs.

Weather

The weather is consistently pleasant in Palm Springs because of the San Jacinto Mountains. Rising nearly vertically 9,000 feet beside Palm Springs, it is one of the steepest climbs in North America and the reason why the rain (and air pollution) in Los Angeles can't reach Palm Springs.

Average Temperatures

Month

High

Low

January

69F

41F

February

74F

45F

March

79F

48F

April

87F

54F

May

94F

60F

June

102F

66F

July

108F

74F

August

106F

74F

September

102F

67F

October

91F

59F

November

78F

48F

December

70F

41F

When to Go

Palm Springs is sheltered by the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains on the south, and the San Jacinto Mountains to the west. This geography gives Palm Springs its renowned warm, dry climate. Known for 354 days of sunshine and less than 6 inches of rain annually, winter temperatures average in the 70s with nights in the mid-high 40s. The dry desert heat of summer pushes daytime temperatures to the 100's.

Business Hours

Banks are usually open weekdays 9 to 3 and some Saturday mornings; the post office from 8 to 5 weekdays and often on Saturday mornings. Shops in urban and suburban areas, particularly in indoor and smaller malls, typically open at 9 or 10 daily and stay open until anywhere from 6 to 10 on weekdays and Saturdays, and until 5 or 6 on Sundays.

Holidays

New Year's Day Jan. 1

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 3rd Mon. in Jan.

President's Day 3rd Mon. in Feb.

Memorial Day last Mon. in May;

Independence Day July 4

Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept.

Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25

New Year's Eve Dec. 31.

In An Emergency

From any telephone dial 911

Fire & Medical 323-8181

Palm Springs Police 323-8116

AAA-Automobile Club of So. California 1-800-400-4222

Hospitals

: Palm Springs Desert Regional Medical Center

1150 N. Indian Canyon Drive

323-6511

Medical Directory 323-6100

Trauma Center 323-6313

Eisenhower Medical Center

340-3911

39-000 Bob Hope Drive

General Information: Road Conditions 1-800-427-7623

Time of Day 853-1212

Weather Conditions 345-3711

Safety Tips

The Sun

: No matter how cool the air, the sun may burn you because of the clear, dry air. Use sun screen daily, and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Tipping

It is customary to tip your restaurant server 15% of the total bill. It is not included in the bill itself. If you receive outstanding service, a 20% tip would be appropriate.

Getting There

Palm Springs International Airport

3400 East Tahquitz Canyon Way

Palm Springs CA 92262

760-318-3800

There are excellent direct and non-stop flights and convenient connections from the major airlines serving the Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)

Airport Customs Service

Palm Springs International Airport has a Customs Officer available 24 hours a day (with just four hours prior notice) to clear international general aviation flights. This service is available on a user-fee-based system and is very popular with chartered corporate and privately owned aircraft.

General Inquiries: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 760-778-8455

City of Palm Springs

3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way

Palm Springs CA 92262

760-323-8299

Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce

190 West Amado Road

Palm Springs CA 92262

760-325-1577

Palm Springs Post Office

1-800-275-8777

Main Branch, 333 East Amado Road

By Rail

Amtrak

Palm Springs platform is located at N. Indian Canyon Drive just south of 1-10. There is a telephone for passengers' convenience. Call for schedule and reservations 1-800-USA-RAIL (872-7245)

Amtrak's

Bakersfield to Indio (Jackson St. and Southern Pacific tracks) daily service with stops in Palm Springs, N. Indian Canyon and Amado and Palm Desert Town Center, Monterey and San Gorgonio.

Metrolink/Riverside

Sunline Transit has a connection from Palm Springs 760-343-3451.

By Car

If you're driving from Los Angeles, take I-10 east to the Calif. 111 turnoff to Palm Springs. Drive into town on North Palm Canyon Drive, the main thoroughfare. The trip from downtown Los Angeles takes about 2 hours. From San Diego, take I-15 north to I-10 east; it's a little more than 2 hours.

By Bus

Greyhound

Palm Springs Bus Depot, 311 N. Indian Canyon Drive, 760-325-9557, Indio: 45-524 Oasis St. 760-347-5888

SunLine Transit Agency

The desert's only public transit bus system is a good way to see the Coachella Valley on regularly scheduled, clean natural gas fueled buses. Wheelchair lifts and bike racks: Information 760-343-3456 ext. 170, 1-800-347-8628

Motorcoaches, Taxis, Shuttles & Limousines

AAA Limousine Service, Inc. 760-322-4454

Ace Taxi - 760-321-6008 (SRA #97-500)

Airport Taxi - 760-321-4470

Bus

Greyhound ................................................. (760) 325-2053

Laidlaw Transit (school & charter).................. (760) 320-8822

SunBus (Coachella Valley only)..................... (760) 343-3451

SunDial Curb to Curb

(For seniors & disabled only.......................... (760) 341-6999

Highways

Interstate 10

connects the City of Palm Springs with Los Angeles to the west and Phoenix to the east.
State Highway 111 connects the communities within the Coachella Valley and Imperial County.
State Highway 86 connects the City of Palm Springs with Imperial County, San Diego County and Mexico to the south.
State Highway 62 connects the City of Palm Springs to Morongo Valley and Twenty-nine Palms to the northeast.
State Highway 74 connects Palm Springs via Palm Desert to the Mountain resort of Idyllwild.

Palm Springs Kids Activities: Palm Springs Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Palm Springs Travel & Tourism, Free Palm Springs Travel Guide Online

Attractions of Interest to Children

Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert

71-701 Gerald Ford Drive

Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

760-321-0602

Tues-Sat. 10 - 5 , Sunday Noon-5 , and Mon. (January-April) from 10 - 5

A Hand-On Museum with over 50 exhibits for children to manipulate, explore, and discover such as "Dig It", an archaeological dig where children can dig for actual Cahuilla Indian artifact replicas. The campus boasts an Outdoor Amphitheater, the Dinah Shore Center for Performing Arts, a Covered Picnic Area, Community Gardens, and a beautifully landscaped campus.

Palm Springs Swim Center

Open April - Sept. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct.-Mar. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Night swimming in summer.

760-323-8278.

Located in Sunrise Park on Sunrise Way and Ramon Rd., the Palm Springs Swim Center features a 50-meter Olympic-size public pool, two 1-meter diving boards, one 3-meter board, spacious lawns, sun deck and a separate section for children. The temperature is maintained at 80-84 degrees. Instruction for all ages.

Palm Springs Oasis Waterpark

Off I-10 south on Gene Autry Trail between Ramon Rd. and E. Palm Canyon Dr.

760-325-7873.

Open daily 11 - 5:30 , March-Labor Day, plus weekends Sept. 9-Oct. 29.

Discounts after 3:30 p.m. June 10-Labor Day.

This 21-acre water park features over a dozen water slides, free-fall slides, body-and board-surfing in a 2/3-acre wave pool, an inner tube ride, beach volleyball and even a Squirt City for small children. Beach food, rental cabanas, lockers and dressing rooms.

Joshua Tree National Park

Take route 62 through Morongo and Yucca Valley to Park Blvd. in Joshua Tree.

760-367-5500

Mojave and Lower Colorado desert join to form the park. Varied flora and wildlife, campgrounds, horse and hiking trails.

Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Admission $10 per car.

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

47-900 Portola Ave.

Palm Desert/Indian Wells

760-346-5694

Open daily year round, except December 25. Hours 9 - 5, last admission 4 p.m., guided tours, Summer hours; June 16 - August 31, 8 -1:30. Admission charged.

1,200 acre wildlife and botanical park, featuring rare and endangered desert animals and African wildlife, hiking trails, picnic areas, caf� and gift shop. Shaded and misted areas throughout the park

Knotts Soak City

1500 S. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs

(760) 327-0499

Open daily at 11 a.m mid-March thru Labor Day, weekends through October 28.

Deluxe, family-oriented water playground with 13 water slides, wave pool, Lazy River ride, Monte Carlo Beach with mist-cooled private cabanas, gift shop, food and beverages.

Uprising Outdoor Adventure Center

1500 S. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, Next to Knott's Oasis Waterpark,

760-320-6630

Open year round. 10.- 8 weekdays, 10- 6 weekends. Summer hours Tues. � Fri. 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Call for admission fee.

Try rock-climbing: . Beginner lessons for ages 6 and older. Shaded, micro cooled. Center also provides climbing adventures to Joshua Tree National Park and Idyllwild.

Parks and Wildlife Preserves

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

Morongo Valley, CA 92256

760-363-7190

Located directly off State Highway 62, the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

is over six miles long featuring 3,900 acres of virgin territory dating back two billion years.

Moorten Botanical Gardens

1701 South Palm Canyon Drive

Palm Springs, CA 92264

760-327-6555

Fifty years in the making, Morton's Botanical Gardens luxuriant labyrinths

feature over 3,000 varieties of desert plants including prickly pears, agaves and

cacti .

Open daily.

Seaview Ranch Date Gardens

84-510 Johnson Street

Thermal, CA 92274

760-397-2200

Seaview Ranch proudly features both the Deglet Noor and the Medjool varieties.

The Coachella Valley literally saved the Medjool date from extinction.

Seaview Ranch Date Gardens offers samples.

Shields Date Gardens

80-225 Highway 111

Indio, CA 92201

760-347-0996

Shield's features everything from dates to dried fruits with a cornucopia

of nuts and fruit flavored wines in between. Make sure you sample one of

their delicious date shakes.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

(760) 767-5311

With over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest desert state park in the contiguous United States. 500 miles of dirt roads, two huge wilderness areas and 110 miles of riding and hiking trails.

Joshua Tree National Monument

Twentynine Palms

760-367-7511

The Joshua Tree National Monument is the unique result of two great deserts, the

low Colorado and the high Mojave, coming together to create a geological and

floral fantasy land that is unsurpassed.

The Living Desert

47-900 Portola Avenue

Palm Desert, CA

760-346-5694

Open daily 9am - 5pm, last admission 4:30pm. Admission charged. Free parking.

Mountain lions, wolves, javelina, bobcats, golden eagles in a natural setting nestled at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

Coachella Valley Preserve

343-1234

Gates open dawn to dusk. Visitor's Center opens 8 a.m. - noon daily except August

Take Ramon Rd. over I-10 left 2 miles on Thousand Palms Canyon Rd.

13,000 acre preserve containing the spectacular Thousand Palm Oasis and rare wildlife.

Hiking and riding trails

Lake Cahuilla

Fishing, boating , swimming pool, lifeguard April - October

Picknicking, camping, hiking. Lake stocked (license required)

Open daily 6 a.m. - until dark year round.

Night fishing Friday & Saturday in summer

Take Hwy 111 east from Palm Springs to Jefferson St., Indio, turn right about 6 miles

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