Palm Springs activities

[gorevs9]

My wife and I are thinking about a vacation to Palm Springs in April 2009. Except for Golf and hanging out by the pool, what are other activities in the area (within an hours drive).

I'm using RCI Points and the pickin's are slim. Looking at staying at the Desert Vacation Villas. The reviews seem OK, and it looks like the best use of points.

I'm open to any and all suggestions. We're just looking for a warm location after our New England winter.

Thanks in advance

 

[debraxh]

There was a fairly recent thread, but I'm using dial-up right now and the search function doesn't work very well.

We enjoyed Joshua Trees park, hiking in Indian Canyons and the Tram.

 

[nazclk]

Palm Springs

Carbazon Outlet Center, Idyllwild small little town up in the hills.

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

I'm wanting to go to Anza Borrego.
Liz

 

[Rmelnyk]

The air museum is a must, the desert museum is a bust. The Follies if playing is also another must see! The week-end vendor show at the college is also great.
R

 

[Red Rox]

And the Thursday night street fair in downtown Palm Springs is always fun. If you enjoy serious shopping, then plan to spend a day on El Paseo. Like you, we enjoy PS as a great place to get away from the cold of winter for sun and warm weather. There are loads of great restaurants, and day trips abound.

 

[John Cummings]

We live just an hour away from Palm Springs and visit there frequently for 2-3 day getaways. Apart from what has been mentioned, you have the aerial tram which is a must do and you have several pretty nice casinos in the area. My favorite casinos in Palm Springs are The Spa and Agua Caliente.

 

[barndweller]

We go to Palm Desert often. We always enjoy the Air Museum, the Art museum (free on Thursday evenings) and the Desert Museum. The weekly Thursday Night Street Fair is fun (free) and we always find a bargain or two at the Weekend Market at the college. Occassionally we will go to the Cabazon outlets for a little shopping and El Paseo just to windowshop and enjoy all the art galleries. The Follies is an enjoyable show & the casinos have some big names all the time. There are usually some sort of local special events going on like the Golf Cart Parade or Film Festivals. The drive to Idylwild is scenic and the little town is fun to browse around. If you are into Spa stuff this is the place, everything from hot springs to ritzy upscale full treatment modern spas. A day trip will get you to Disneyland.

In our dozens of visits to the area we have yet to take the tram or visit a casino.

 

[Debbie0329]

Second the Tram

Although I'm not a lover of heights taking the tram was a really worthwhile - go on a hot day and cool off up there! We also enjoyed the desert museum but go early if it's going to be hot....The Agua Caliente was good - they have a buffet and on the day we went they had all you can eat crab legs!!

Deb

 

[Elli]

I'm wanting to go to Anza Borrego.
Liz

Anza Borrego is great, Liz. We were there a couple of years ago, at the end of when all the wildflowers and cacti are in bloom. There is a website with updates when everything is blooming, but since we booked our timeshare in Palm Springs a year in advance, it is hard to coincide the two.

 

[Karen G]

I'm open to any and all suggestions. We're just looking for a warm location after our New England winter.

If you are open to other warm locations, I can highly recommend the Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix. We've used RCI points for short stays there several times and enjoyed it every time. You can get more info here.

 

[John Cummings]

I'm wanting to go to Anza Borrego.
Liz

We live less than an hour from Anza Borrego and have frequently gone there over the years. I would only go there to see the spring flowers when they have a good year. We went this past Spring. Last year was a very bad year. It is all determined by how much rain falls in the winter. Other than the flowers there really isn't anything to see that would warrant a special trip there.

 

[Elli]

We live less than an hour from Anza Borrego and have frequently gone there over the years. I would only go there to see the spring flowers when they have a good year. We went this past Spring. Last year was a very bad year. It is all determined by how much rain falls in the winter. Other than the flowers there really isn't anything to see that would warrant a special trip there.

John, that's because you live close by. If you come from a different area and are staying in Palm Springs, I think it is still worth a visit, even if the wild flowers are not in full bloom.

 

[applegirl]

While in Palm Springs, you must go to Palm Canyon and do a pic-nic and a bit of hiking! Our favorite is Palm Canyon, although you have a steep descent into the palm oasis area, so be sure you have good shoes and walk a short distance up/down a hill (paved). Beautiful!

For an oasis with no hills but some easy walking around, visit Thousand Palms Oasis off Ramon Road on the other side of the 10 FWY. Just ask your resort where it is. This is also really neat.

Please visit one of these!

Janna

 

[geoand]

We live less than an hour from Anza Borrego and have frequently gone there over the years. I would only go there to see the spring flowers when they have a good year. We went this past Spring. Last year was a very bad year. It is all determined by how much rain falls in the winter. Other than the flowers there really isn't anything to see that would warrant a special trip there.

John, you live too close. We have been to Palm Springs 5 out of the last 6 years and have been to Anza Borrego each time. We think it is absolutely beautiful. The view from Fonts point is incredible. Just the drive thru the park and up the mountains is another incredible opportunity for outstanding views.

 

[Jaybee]

We already have our tickets for The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies for next November, when we go to Marriott Desert Springs II. We love that show, and you don't have to be old to enjoy it.
http://www.psfollies.com/