What I didn’t know about Palm Springs

In my last post on my recent family vacation that included Palm Springs, CA, I promised to let you in on a few things that surprised me about this desert city.

Architecture  

Perhaps it’s because their dad owns a construction company, but my kids love to drive by houses while on vacation. We all enjoy seeing how different the design and landscaping is from New England. One famous home here is Bob Hope’s former residence, located high up on a cliff and as I later learned not accessible to gawkers like us. The reason I was so interested is that it was designed by architect John Lautner, once an apprentice to famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and one of America’s most significant Modernist architects. I had the privilege of seeing Lautner’s inspired, original drawings and architectural models during a visit to the Palm Springs Art Museum (thanks to the Visitor’s Center for pointing me here) where a special exhibition was underway.  This would have been kid bummer #4 but they stayed back at the hotel and tossed a football with Dad.

 Windmills

Wind turbine generators are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative source of energy. These types of windmills are located just outside Palm Springs and are an indicator of something the visitor’s center didn’t tell us:  Palm Springs is windy.  The fact that it is also a desert means that when the wind starts blowing you can have the makings of a sandstorm. Luckily they are rare and we didn’t experience one. But seeing row after row of these separate windmills ─ enough to power Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley ─ is something to behold.  I’m sure their presence has been controversial but I found them oddly beautiful and didn’t feel they detracted from the landscape.  

Flora and Fauna

Although Palm Springs is best known as a resort town, the desert here is simply stunning and I found the desert plant life beautiful.

Again, the Visitor’s Center steered us to the most famous hiking area, the Indian Canyons area, which contains three beautiful canyons and many small oases. The Visitor’s Center guide told us we could do a long hike or a short hike. Teenage girls opt for short hike until their brother tells them about rattlesnakes and then our hike became a photo stop.

Payback for the Las Vegas veto.

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posted by Melissa McKee

Collette Vacations

Tags: 2010, Collette, Destination Spotlight, Family Vacations

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