Palm Springs

"Consistently rated the best guides to the regions covered... Readable, tasteful, appealingly designed. Strong on dining, lodging, culture and history."—National Geographic Traveler This book leaves no stone unturned. A complete guide that includes many wonderful sights not included in other travel books. The long history of celebrity association in Palm Springs is regaled in detail (including some juicy gossip)! Distinctive for their accuracy, simplicity, and conversational tone, the diverse travel guides in our Explorer's Great Destinations series meet the conflicting demands of the modern traveler. They're packed full of up-to-date information to help plan the perfect gateway. And they're compact and light enough to come along for the ride. A tool you'll turn to before, during, and after your trip, these guides include these helpful features: chapters on lodging, dining, transportation, history, shopping, recreation and more; a section packed with practical information, such as lists of banks, hospitals, post offices, laundromats, numbers for police, fire, and rescue, and other relevant information; and maps of regions and locales.

From the chic pools of Palm Springs to the rugged alien beauty of Joshua Tree National Park, soak up the California sunshine with Moon Joshua Tree & Palm Springs. Inside you'll find: Flexible itineraries, like relaxing weekends in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley and the week-long best of Joshua Tree National Park, including day trips to the Salton Sea and Idyllwild Strategic advice for outdoor adventurers, spa-seekers, poolside loungers, and more The best hikes in Joshua Tree and the Palm Springs area marked with mileage, duration, difficulty level, and elevation gain, plus trailheads and detailed directions Top activities and unique experiences: Discover hidden waterfalls, fan palm oases, and stunning canyons on a hike through Joshua Tree, or trek part of the Pacific Crest Trail on a day trip to the Sand to Snow National Monument. Try a rejuvenating sound bath or soak in serene hot springs. Admire mid-century architecture and sip retro-chic cocktails in Rat-Pack-era hangouts, and sample the best of the party scene, from poolside resorts and live music venues to wild west saloons Insider advice from SoCal local Jenna Blough on when to go, where to stay, and how to get around, including how to get to Joshua Tree and Palm Springs from Los Angeles Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Background information on the landscape, history, and culture and tips for families, seniors, LGBTQ travelers, and visitors with disabilities Experience the best of the desert with Moon Joshua Tree & Palm Springs' practical tips and local insight. Exploring the national parks? Check out Moon Death Valley National Park or Moon Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon.

This guide encourages readers to explore Southern California's desert resort area, which offers a wealth of outdoor adventures.

Palm Springs has been a desert vacation oasis for nearly a century and remains the ultimate posh desert spa in pop culture. Film stars put Palm Springs on the map as a destination for weekend getaways. In the postwar era, it became a centerpiece for golfers and a second home for such Hollywood icons as Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Over the years, postcards portraying Palm Springs have concentrated on its hotels, spas, golf courses, celebrities, and other aspects that have fed the national reputation of the city and its environs as a playground for the rich and famous.

* Hikes organized by nine regions in the Palm Springs area * A wide variety of hikes, from family- and dog-friendly to difficult treks * Hike ratings, seasonal advice, and introductory comments help hikers select the appropriate trail From surreal lunar landscapes to high elevation trails with spectacular views, and from breathtaking wildflower hikes to treks that start near downtown Palm Springs, this best-selling guidebook offers hikes for every age and experience level.

Palm Springs, long a desert hideaway for celebrities, has a history as unique and varied as its residents. From the original Cahuilla inhabitants of the area, to the settlers who were drawn to the therapeutic waters of the original hot springs, you will get to know the people and stories that made Palm Springs famous.

Moon Travel Guides: Make Your Escape The resort chic of Palm Springs and the alien beauty of Joshua Tree National park are linked by the perpetual sunshine of the California desert. See the best of both worlds with Moon Palm Springs & Joshua Tree. Strategic itineraries in an easy-to-navigate format, from a relaxing weekend in Palm Springs to a week-long best of Joshua Tree, along with the best hikes for every season Expert advice from local writer Jenna Blough, who shares her love of the California desert Activities and unique ideas for every traveler: Admire mid-century architecture and sip retro-chic cocktails in Rat-Pack-era hangouts. Sample the best of the party scene, from poolside resorts and live music venues to wild west saloons. Hike through shady canyons to a rare desert waterfall, or take a tram up snow-capped mountains. Scale granite monoliths, soak in local hot springs, and camp under the Milky Way. Full-color photos and detailed maps and directions for exploring on your own Background information on the landscape, history, and culture Essential insight for travelers on recreation, transportation, and accommodations for Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, and the nearby travel hub of Los Angeles Recommendations for people traveling with children or pets, seniors, LGBTQ travelers, and visitors with disabilities In-depth coverage of Palm Springs, the Cochella Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, and The Yucca Valley With Moon Palm Springs & Joshua Tree's practical tips, myriad activities, and local insight, you can plan your trip your way. Exploring the national parks? Check out Moon Death Valley or Moon Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon.

The seductive beauty of palm trees and soaring mountain peaks bring people from around the world to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. And with 360 days of sunshine each year, the ways to discover this desert paradise are endless. 100 Things to Do in Palm Springs Before You Die contains itineraries and tips on what you'll discover in Greater Palm Springs—a sun-kissed community comprised of nine cities. Get outside and hike through the natural wonder at Indian Canyons. Head up high on the Aerial Tramway or down low into the San Andreas Fault. Or check out the endless string of local celebrations, like the Tamale and Date Festival or, for music and art lovers, Coachella and the brand-new Desert X. More interested in old-school cool? Don your finest “desert casual” fashion for a night at The Purple Room, the choice hangout of the famed Rat Pack. As a longtime resident and seasoned traveler, author Lydia Kremer provides both a local’s insight and a penchant for discovery to her own backyard. With this book as your guide, you won’t miss a thing in this glamorous desert oasis.

The Land Of Fun & Sun: As the story goes, Hollywood grew and prospered and with it, the local resorts, country clubs, and tennis facilities until everything was so overcrowded, so expensive and so exclusive that even the members of the Hollywood movie colony found it difficult to get some peace and relaxation. Two of those celebrities, Charlie Farrell and Ralph Bellamy, began to look for something better. They found it in a small, sun-drenched community in the desert east of Los Angeles a place called Palm Springs. Farrell and Bellamy built their own tennis resort there, and their friends clamored to join. Soon, Palm Springs became the favorite getaway for an ever-expanding group of actors and actresses, directors and producers. Some enjoyed the warmth of the desert during the otherwise chilly winter months. Some enjoyed escaping the harassment of the media. Others simply enjoyed a private retreat within reasonable distance of their workplace: Hollywood. Hedy Lamarr had a house on the northeast corner of El Alameda and Hermosa Drive. Gloria Swanson had a hideaway where she could entertain Joseph Kennedy. Darryl Zanuck and Howard Hughes were notorious for their use of Palm Springs as a place to bring their paramours. The region continued to grow, spurred on by such annual events as the Bob Hope Desert Classic, the Dinah Shore LPGA Golf Tournament, and the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Golf Tournament. Today there is a veritable showcase of glittering hotels, resorts, restaurants, bistros and boutiques intersecting with streets bearing such familiar names as Bob Hope, Dinah Shore, Fred Waring, Gene Autrey, Gerald Ford and Frank Sinatra. Lana Turner, Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor, Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner, and Cary Grant and Barbara Hutton all honeymooned here. But there is more to this region than a sense of being in Hollywood East. To the south and west, the terrain becomes mountainous and there are remnants of century-old gold mines scattered among the apple orchards near Julian and Ramona. There also are the Indians, descendants of the original settlers of this lush and varied area, and the names of their reservations reflect the heritage of generations: Cahuilla, Manzanita, Los Coyotes, Santa Rosa, Capitan Grande and Morongo. If you have been planning to pamper yourself, now is the time and this is the place. Few north-south roads penetrate this land of mountains, state parks, national forests and Indian reservations. The primary ones are state routes 78 and 79, both extremely scenic links to such little-known but highly interesting communities as Julian, Ramona, Hemet and Borrego Springs. This guide explores the region in depth, with an emphasis on outdoor activities, from golf and birdwatching to wine tours, watersports and hiking. Touring chapters take you to all the well-known sights, and then lead you off to unusual attractions that will amuse and delight you. Accommodation sections cover all, from camping to B&Bs to historical houses. Restaurants and cafes are chosen for their charm and impressive cuisine. Often, doing something that you've done a dozen times before, but doing it in a different place, at a different time, or with a different person can make all the difference. Under the right circumstances, even the routine can become an adventure. Everything in life is an adventure. At least, it is the first time you experience it. Every sight, every sound, every scent, every taste, every sensation is an adventure that once. Why? Because it is aadiscoverya. And every new discovery is anaadventure. So, the authors dedicate this book to discovery: to experiencing new places, new people, new activities, new sensations, but above all, to discovering new dimensions within ourselves."

Chief Francisco Patencio recounts the stories and legends of his people in this slim, but, invaluable record of the Palm Springs Native Americans. Originally published in 1943 by the Palm Springs Desert Museum, the tales and traditions of the Cahuilla are kept alive in the new edition.

is the essential source for in-depth travel and relocation information to beautiful Palm Springs, California. Written by a true insider, it offers a personal and practical perspective of Palm Springs and its surrounding environs.

Palm Springs has long been known by Los Angeles residents for its beautiful hiking trails. With the Joshua Tree National Monument to the east, the San Bernardino National Forest north and south, and the Pacific Crest Trail not far away, this area is rife with wonderful outdoor opportunities. This book collects each of them and offers detailed ratings and maps for use out on the trail, providing an invaluable resource for hikers of all levels.

Nestled beneath the San Jacinto Mountains in an oasis of palm trees is a mineral hot springs. For thousands of years, this was the winter home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the original inhabitants of this harsh desert region. A U.S. government survey party discovered the spring in 1853 and identified the area located at the base of "two bunches of palms." In 1884, Judge John McCallum of San Francisco purchased land near the springs for $800 and built the first adobe structure, which still stands today. Stage lines and railroads provided transportation through the area, bringing in visitors year-round. Dr. Welwood Murray built the first Palm Springs Hotel, and in 1909, Nellie Coffman built The Desert Inn, which would become famous as a tourist attraction. This was the beginning of the area's major industry. Today Palm Springs is still a destination for visitors throughout the year and home to a growing population of permanent residents.