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

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 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