Palm Springs

Palm Springs is a famous California desert resort city, approximately 110 miles east of Los Angeles. This beautiful resort city is an ideal, tourist-friendly location on the edge of the great deserts of Southern California, flanked by high forested mountains that provide an escape from the prevailing heat that persists for most of the year, and yet only two hours drive from the expanding metropolis of Los Angeles.

It would be hard to find accommodations as excellent as those in Palm Springs, known for excellent golf courses and luxury amenities. The scenic surroundings and year-round sunshine are other main reasons why the town has grown into an exclusive retreat and retirement center.

Palm Springs, California is used to be known as the “Playground of the Stars” as it was home to some of Hollywood’s most famous people. Greta Garbo, Sonny and Cher, Howard Hughes, Bob Hope, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra all made Palm Springs their home. Today Palm Springs is a year round retreat for those seeking luxury resorts as well as for retirees and families. The newest residents of Palm Springs tend to be younger nowadays.

Downtown Palm Springs

Downtown Palm Springs, also called "The Loop", is where nearly every visitor will spend a considerable amount of time, enjoying shopping and dining. The Plaza Theater, home of the Palm Springs Follies, is in this district, along with the historic Village Green buildings and the Hyatt Regency Hotel. This district also hosts dozens of restaurants, including Muriel's Supper Club and the Kaiser Grille, as well as several gay nightclubs, with world famous Hunter's among them.

South Palm Springs

South Palm Springs is located along South Palm Canyon Dr and offers a mixture of moderately priced hotels, restaurants and residences. The Smoke Tree Ranch and Stables is located in this area, which is adjacent to the main portion of the Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indian Reservation, where a popular hiking attraction - the Indian Canyons, are located.

Palm Springs Residential Areas

One ritzy residential area is Little Tuscany, near the former Racquet Club, featuring many deluxe homes built in an Italian style. If you are on the Palm Springs Celebrity Tour, this area may be on your itinerary. Another stop for celebrity tours is the Las Palmas area, still the favorite of many wealthy Palm Springs residents.

Desert Hot Springs

Like Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs began with warm water bubbling up out of the earth. Several hotels take advantage of this great natural gift, including the Miracle Springs Hotel and Spa, the Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel and the Two Bunch Palms Resort and Spa. This community is located on the far side of Interstate 10, northeast of downtown Palm Springs.

Palm Desert and Indian Wells

Palm Desert features the deluxe shopping region of El Paseo, where fine stores offer art, clothing, jewelry and more. In fact, this street is often called "The Rodeo Drive of the Desert", named after the famous Beverly Hills shopping district. In addition, the McCallum Theatre is located in the Palm Desert community, along with the Living Desert Wildlife and Botanical Park.

Just after Palm Desert, Indian Wells offers the Indian Wells Country Club, the Miramonte Resort and the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort. Exclusive residential communities abound as well.

La Quinta

Farther along 111, golf center La Quinta hosts several private courses, including the PGA West Arnold Palmer Private Golf Course, which is one of the locations for the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. There is the La Quinta Resort and the La Quinta Golf Course as well.