Page 107 - 2020 Travel Guide to California

savored in stores selling the stunning art,
fashion and interior décor that infuses the
sun-worshiping local lifestyle.
Tribal Heritage
Palm Springs is named for the city’s healing
hot springs and serene palm-studded canyon
oases. Its native Agua Caliente Band of
Cahuilla Indians’ ancestral mineral springs
are downtown. The tribe’s peaceful Indian
Canyons, on the edge of town, are a haven for
hikers and wildlife. Its downtown Agua
Caliente Casino Palm Springs adds 24-hour
excitement with its live entertainment,
including outdoor concerts beneath the starry
night sky. And the Agua Caliente Cultural
Museum opening in 2020 promises to enrich
the experience of visitors and residents alike.
temporary and glass artists, and features
temporary exhibitions from internationally
acclaimed artists. Each month the museum
features a free community day on the second
Sunday of every month and is always free
every Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. For the avia-
tion and historical buffs, the Palm Springs Air
Museum offers an extraordinary collection
that pays homage to the aircraft and aviators
of two World Wars, plus the Korean and
Vietnam Wars. You can even exult in flying
demos, and in exhilarating Warbird rides that
include in a P-51 Mustang fighter of
“Tuskegee Airmen” fame.
Museums
Considered one of California’s finest regional
museums, the Palm Springs Art Museum is
located in downtown Palm Springs. The
museum’s extensive permanent collection
includes significant works by western, con-
Tramway to Another World
To truly appreciate Palm Springs’ beauty
and scale, thrill to a sensational cacti-to-
clouds ride aboard the Palm Springs Aerial
Tramway. The world’s largest rotating tram
car will deposit you at 8,516 feet near the
top of Mt. San Jacinto. Here, the Peaks
Restaurant has the ultimate table with a
view. The easy Desert View Trail also
rewards hikers with sensational views over
the city, while more challenging mountain
trails include the option for snowshoeing
and cross-country skiing in winter.
Get Out and Play
Palm Springs is also nirvana for outdoor
activities, especially during the fall and
winter. Along with many hiking trails
throughout the mountain range to capture
the valley views, cycling is also a great way to
see the city. There’s tennis at dusk. Plus, the
Palm Springs calendar is packed year round
with festive events. And every Thursday
evening, the downtown Palm Canyon Drive
transforms into VillageFest, a traffic-free
street fair that includes great entertainment.
Come As You Are
Palm Springs prides itself on their wel-
coming hospitality. No matter one’s
persuasion or preference, it’s the diversity of
the community and visitors that gives Palm
Springs its special character. With gay bars,
the vibrant Arenas Business District and
plenty of men’s clothing-optional resorts,
everyone is welcome to be exactly who they
are. No wonder they host the two largest gay
parties in the U.S. every April: The White
Party for men and The Dinah for women.
There’s always something happening in
Palm Springs—the fabled Rat Pack retreat
where warm desert days and starry desert
nights recapture the buzz of the swinging
’60s with a new hipster cool.
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