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Need Palm Springs Help

suzanne

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
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We want to do a winter Christmas vacation for 2013. I saw an article on Palm Springs and the Tram to top of Mountain. It looked like a nice place for winter trip. DH says he doesn't think there will be enough for us to do there in winter time as we don't ski. He loves dogsledding which we have done twice in Jackson Hole, WY. We also did winter snow coach into Yellowstone. Has anyone been to Palm Springs in the winter that could give us info on things to do besides skiing? Things like ice skating, sleigh rides, etc.

Suzanne
 
Things to do Palm Springs Winter

Sit out by the pool. Golf.

Go to the Palm Springs Air Museum and the Living Desert.

Sit out by the pool. Golf.

Sit out by the pool some more. Golf some more.

The weather will be mild in Palm Springs in the winter. The average high will be around 70 degrees. This is desert.

At the top of the tram there will be snow. I have hiked from downtown Palm Springs to the top of the tram but in December there will be too much snow. It's a tough 6-7 hour hike.

You could go to Joshua Tree Park easily. LA and Orange County are 2 hours away.

I love Palm Springs in the winter but there are not a lot of winter sports activities nearby. Lake Tahoe is the place for that.

I love the Marriott Desert Springs too. Full disclosure-I own at DSV II(Platinum-Winter).
 
No matter where you go, there's always plenty of things to do. It just depends on what your idea of fun activities might be.

As mentioned, winter sports does NOT come to mind when staying in Palm Springs. This is low desert and it's going to be warm. The Tramway is nice but I'm thinking it's not as you imagine. It's more a tourist ride to the top of a mountain with a restaurant and some hills for tubing. There was still snow up there when we visited last March but not enough to be excited about.

We spent time in Joshua Tree National Park. There is rock climbing and hiking available there. Probably some other activities but I didn't really check it out that closely.

The museums have been mentioned.

There are several nature tours that can be taken. We took a half day tour of the desert and San Andreas fault that we both found interesting.

There are shows, golf, casino's and shopping.

You can take a day trip down to the Salten Sea (sp?)

I have a photo album from the Palm Springs/Palm Desert vacation which includes pics from Joshua Tree National Park, The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Downtown Palm Desert and the Desert Advantures Tour. I can't speak for other timeshares but Marriott had a very nice informational session for guests where vendors came out to explain what they had to offer. It was time well spent for us.

This is the link to our photo album if you're interested. http://dougp26364.smugmug.com/Trave...s-and/22163216_pqkTDN#!i=1769765320&k=5NMGpGg
 
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Thanks everyone. Sounds like we will need to look elsewhere for winter snow vacation.

Suzanne
 
South Lake Tahoe
 
Wouldn't non skiers get a little bored ? at Squaw ?
 
Also looking at Montana, Park City or back to Jackson Hole maybe. They all seem to have lots to do besides ski.

Suzanne
 
Thanks everyone. Sounds like we will need to look elsewhere for winter snow vacation.

Suzanne

I would agree. Palm Desert/Palm Springs would not be my choice if you're wanting a winter snow vacation. We chose Palm Desert/Palm Springs as a winter vacation to get away from the cold and snow. It's a warm/sunny location in the middle of winter.
 
Squaw has ice skating and sleigh rides. Snowmobiling, snowshoeing, dogsledding, and snow tubing are also in the Squaw rec area. Gaming nearby as well. Plenty to do if you don't ski.
 
It's definitely not a winter/snow experience. People go there in the winter to get AWAY from snow, not embrace it.
 
Palm Springs in the winter

I agree with all of the other posters that Palm Springs is really not for snow skiing in the winter.

It COULD be a base for driving up to Big Bear which offers downhill and cross country skiing. IIRC, it is about an hour drive, but check Mapquest.com to be sure. Mamoth is further and is bigger...

Palm Springs in the winter will have daytime temps in the 60's, 70's and if you're lucky low 80's. Hard to do much skiing in that weather.

When you're in PS., try going to the Thursday night street fair in Downtown PS. Also, the College of the Desert Swap meet (Sat and Sun mornings) is active and worth going to.

Joshua tree national park is delightful.

Indian Canyons are worth hiking.
 
We want a snow vacation because we live in SE Florida where its always hot. Cold for a week or two sounds wonderful right now. Its 92 degrees already and its only 11:00 AM.

Suzanne
 
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