Guidebook for Desert Hot Springs
Sightseeing
Palm Springs isn’t a solitary oasis. Nine cities make up the Greater Palm Springs area: Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells (famed for its tennis tournament), La Quinta, Indio and Coachella, with around 30 (easy-driving) miles separating the first from the last. Gaze at them all in the dramatic desert setting of the Coachella valley from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The tramcars rotate as they ascend 1½ miles through the Chino Canyon, arriving at the mountain station and cafes that are the starting point for exploring the Mount San Jacinto state park and its 50 miles of hiking trails.
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Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
1 Tram Way Palm Springs isn’t a solitary oasis. Nine cities make up the Greater Palm Springs area: Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells (famed for its tennis tournament), La Quinta, Indio and Coachella, with around 30 (easy-driving) miles separating the first from the last. Gaze at them all in the dramatic desert setting of the Coachella valley from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The tramcars rotate as they ascend 1½ miles through the Chino Canyon, arriving at the mountain station and cafes that are the starting point for exploring the Mount San Jacinto state park and its 50 miles of hiking trails.
BIKE Palm Springs Rentals
194 S Indian Canyon DrArts & Culture
Cabot's Pueblo Museum
67616 Desert View AvePalm Springs Mod Squad (Architecture Tours)
1800 E Palm Canyon DrMidMod Design Tour
687 N Palm Canyon DrTo escape the heat, head for the art, photography and glasswork at this downtown museum. As its website says: “It is always 75 degrees (23C), providing a welcome respite from the Palm Springs summer triple-digit temperatures.” It’s been in this building since 1974 but the museum was founded in 1938 as the Palm Springs Desert Museum (and focused on Native American artefacts). The airy building, with 28 galleries, has work by Chagall, Picasso, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Antony Gormley and Ansel Adams – and two sculpture gardens – for sunseekers.
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Palm Springs Museum Trail
101 N Museum DrTo escape the heat, head for the art, photography and glasswork at this downtown museum. As its website says: “It is always 75 degrees (23C), providing a welcome respite from the Palm Springs summer triple-digit temperatures.” It’s been in this building since 1974 but the museum was founded in 1938 as the Palm Springs Desert Museum (and focused on Native American artefacts). The airy building, with 28 galleries, has work by Chagall, Picasso, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Antony Gormley and Ansel Adams – and two sculpture gardens – for sunseekers.
The Sunnylands estate of Walter and Leonore Annenberg – developed in the early 1960s – not only has mid-century modernist credentials but serious political connections, too. Walter was US ambassador to the UK, Leonore served as chief of protocol under President Reagan, and so many diplomatic meetings have taken place here it’s referred to as the Camp David of the West. In the charming, calming gardens of the visitor centre – with its maze, ponds, meditation classes and views of the San Jacinto mountains – there is a replica of the bench where President Obama was photographed after talks with China’s leader Xi Jinping in 2013.
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Sunnylands
37977 Bob Hope DriveThe Sunnylands estate of Walter and Leonore Annenberg – developed in the early 1960s – not only has mid-century modernist credentials but serious political connections, too. Walter was US ambassador to the UK, Leonore served as chief of protocol under President Reagan, and so many diplomatic meetings have taken place here it’s referred to as the Camp David of the West. In the charming, calming gardens of the visitor centre – with its maze, ponds, meditation classes and views of the San Jacinto mountains – there is a replica of the bench where President Obama was photographed after talks with China’s leader Xi Jinping in 2013.
Opened in March of 2018, this observatory is adjacent to the city of Rancho Mirage’s public library. Free observatory tours are available (10am and 5pm) during the week and regular stargazing parties are organised – there’s even an outdoor stargazing deck to park on. There are frequent lectures by astronomers and scientists, including, in December, Ice Worlds: A Tour of the Solar System’s Biggest Snowballs. Rancho Mirage suffers less light pollution than the other desert cities and its skies serve up a stunning show. Alternatively, take the 70-minute drive to Joshua Tree national park and explore its observatory.
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Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory
71-100 CA-111Opened in March of 2018, this observatory is adjacent to the city of Rancho Mirage’s public library. Free observatory tours are available (10am and 5pm) during the week and regular stargazing parties are organised – there’s even an outdoor stargazing deck to park on. There are frequent lectures by astronomers and scientists, including, in December, Ice Worlds: A Tour of the Solar System’s Biggest Snowballs. Rancho Mirage suffers less light pollution than the other desert cities and its skies serve up a stunning show. Alternatively, take the 70-minute drive to Joshua Tree national park and explore its observatory.
Food Scene
Capri Italian Restaurant
10625 Palm DrCasa Blanca Restaurant
66370 Pierson BlvdMexican Restaurant
The Cottage Too restaurant
66230 Pierson BlvdThai Palms Restaurant
12070 Palm DrRocky's New York Pizza
12856 Palm DrZapopan Mexican Food
14207 Palm DrBuilt in 1925, the Ingleside Inn became a Palm Springs institution through the ownership of Ruth Hardy (who ran it as a personal club) and its underground tunnels, which helped her dodge US prohibition laws. After years of neglect, Mel Haber bought it in 1975 and also opened its restaurant, Melvyn’s. The restaurant, with its tableside dining and Sunday afternoon jazz, became the place for celebrities to hang out. Sinatra was a fan, calling in advance to advise his entourage was en route. Naturally, he had a regular table: at the back, near the kitchen. Grab food or a cocktail and soak up the atmosphere, but know this: the martini packs a punch as hard as an enraged Rat Packer spotting papar
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Melvyn's Restaurant & Lounge
200 W Ramon Rd Built in 1925, the Ingleside Inn became a Palm Springs institution through the ownership of Ruth Hardy (who ran it as a personal club) and its underground tunnels, which helped her dodge US prohibition laws. After years of neglect, Mel Haber bought it in 1975 and also opened its restaurant, Melvyn’s. The restaurant, with its tableside dining and Sunday afternoon jazz, became the place for celebrities to hang out. Sinatra was a fan, calling in advance to advise his entourage was en route. Naturally, he had a regular table: at the back, near the kitchen. Grab food or a cocktail and soak up the atmosphere, but know this: the martini packs a punch as hard as an enraged Rat Packer spotting papar
Entertainment & Activities
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
47900 Portola AveDrinks & Nightlife
Calm those credit-card fears, you’re not staying here … So stroll past the Instagrammers taking selfies in front of the hotel’s swish Arabesque exterior and the “Drugs” sign in its lobby and make for the speakeasy-style Counter Reformation bar. Select from a menu of fine wines (3oz glass, $7) and small plates (from $10) such as avocado, haloumi and rye tartine with shaved iberico (or chorizo) and baked burrata with tumeric-raisin bread. If over-indulgence causes guilt, don’t worry, the bar has a confession booth. The hotel was once owned by cowboy-movie star Gene Autry and in the 1960s was used as a training residence for the baseball team he owned, the California Angles.
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Counter Reformation
4200 E Palm Canyon Dr Calm those credit-card fears, you’re not staying here … So stroll past the Instagrammers taking selfies in front of the hotel’s swish Arabesque exterior and the “Drugs” sign in its lobby and make for the speakeasy-style Counter Reformation bar. Select from a menu of fine wines (3oz glass, $7) and small plates (from $10) such as avocado, haloumi and rye tartine with shaved iberico (or chorizo) and baked burrata with tumeric-raisin bread. If over-indulgence causes guilt, don’t worry, the bar has a confession booth. The hotel was once owned by cowboy-movie star Gene Autry and in the 1960s was used as a training residence for the baseball team he owned, the California Angles.