By Roy Heale
Basking in the heat of the California desert lies one of America’s most alluring vacation playgrounds. Nestled in a vast fertile valley surrounded by lush and ancient palm groves, banked by steep ravines and mountain peaks, the village of Palm Springs is no mirage as it proves to be a real desert oasis.
Some of the original residents included Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, President Gerald Ford, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry just to name a few. This resident ancestry plus the subsequent Mayor and later Congressman Sonny Bono led to the development of a vibrant community which evolved to provide an escape from the frenetic pace of life in Hollywood.
Times have changed and today the community has become a year round destination for those seeking a vacation in the sun. With an average annual rainfall of only six inches you are almost guaranteed a hot and sunny holiday---a claim which very few places can promise. Whether you are a golfer, tennis player, enjoy horseback riding, can't wait to shop, take a hike in the wilderness,or just want to relax poolside with a cocktail soaking up the rays, this desert sanctuary proffers everything for a perfect escape.
Plam Springs is one of nine adjacent cities that comprise the Coachella Valley sheltered by the
Little San Bernadino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains to the south and The San Jacinto Mountains to the west. This affords spectacular mountain views in every direction creating amazing sunrises and sunsets that vary every day and never disappoint. When you leave Palm Springs to visit one of the other desert communities you are considered to be “going down Valley” and this journey provides plenty of new vistas to explore.
It's a true paradise valley boasting an average 354 days of sunshine each year with winter temperatures which average a daily high in the 70's Fahrenheit rising to over 100 degrees during the summer months. Patios are open year-round and outdoor activities never stop for the change in seasons. That's why it's a golfers dream destination.
In addition to all the daytime outdoor activities the vibrant nightlife and gourmet dining promises you will definitely feel as though you have discovered paradise.
Just ask any of the four hundred thousand plus valley residents why they never want to leave.
GETTING THERE:
Palm Springs airport is located in the center of the city and is served by ten major airlines with approximately 100 flights daily. This includes direct flights from Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton via Westjet plus connections to and from other major Canadian cities. Upon arrival at the airport it is easy to rent a car and drive to the other communities within the Coachella Valley or utilise public transportation to your final destination.
Driving times from nearby major cities are approximately three hours from San Diego,just under two hours from Los Angeles and slightly further with five hours from Las Vegas or Phoenix.
It's understandable why this desert oasis has become so popular given the close proximity to many other major tourism destinations plus convenient airline connections.
FAST FACTS ON The Coachella Valley and Palm Springs:
The Coachella Valley is in Riverside County, California and is comprised of nine cities with approximately four hundred thousand residents. The desert cities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indian Wells, Indio, Coachella, and Desert Hot Springs make up most of the resident population plus the native reserve lands.
The major San Andreas Fault runs down the Valley's east side. Because of this fault the Valley has many natural hot springs.
More than two hundred golf courses blanket the valley making it one of the world's premier golf destinations.
The most renowned mayor of Palm Springs was Sonny Bono and his statue can be found in the heart of Palm springs on Palm Canyon Drive.
The average annual temperature ranges from a high 108 F degrees in July to a low 70F degrees in January.
The average annual rainfall is less than 6 inches and overall there are 354 days of sunshine throughout the year. The perfect vacation climat
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