Desert Hot Springs
Desert Hot Springs is well-named. Over 80 spa hotels are within its
borders, notable not only for being spas, but for their mid-century
modern style of architecture. This modern style can be found
throughout the streets of the city. Desert Hot Springs is the
northernmost city in Coachella Valley.
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is very much an oasis. Hikers, bikers and sightseers
all love the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which accesses San Jacinto
Mountain, and dozens of trails, from the valley floor. Moorten
Botanical Garden and Cactarium celebrates desert beauty in a tamer
setting. Of course, there are no end to golf courses and tennis courts
– and shopping – for those about town. Palm Springs is south of Desert
Hot Springs and I-10.
Cathedral City
Cathedral City, just south of Palm Springs, is named after
Cathedral Canyon’s rock formations nearby, although, ironically, it
spent its early history as a haven for gunslingers and gamblers.
Cathedral City is also significant for being home to the Forest Lawn
Cemetery and Desert Memorial Park, where many stars, including Frank
Sinatra and Dinah Shores, are buried.
Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage is just south of Cathedral City. This has been a
resort city for the rich and famous for decades and its Annenberg
Estate has housed Bob Hope, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, to name a
few. This is a popular vacation spot for presidents and this is where
Gerald Ford died. Golf resorts are a common sight here.
Palm Desert
Palm Desert is one of the fastest growing cities in California, let
alone the Coachella Valley. The city plays host to the Art of Food and
Wine Palm Desert festival, and is home to the beautiful Living Desert
Zoo and Gardens. The famous high-scale shopping street, El Paseo, is
also here. Palm Desert is south of Rancho Mirage.
Indian Wells
Indian Wells is situated between La Quinta and Palm Desert. This is
a city of millionaires - and tennis. The Indian Wells Masters
tournament is held here, in the massive Indian Well Tennis Garden.
La Quinta
La Quinta is south and a little east of Palm Desert, and west of
Indio. La Quinta is very close to two of California’s natural wonders
– the Santa Rosa Mountains and the San Andreas Fault. Lake Cahuilla is
also very close. La Quinta is also lauded for its excellent golf . . .
and cheese.
Indio
Indio is situated just east of La Quinta. This is very much an
agricultural center, particularly for dates – thus the Riverside
County Fair and National Date Festival. Festivals are, in general, a
large part of Indio. Other festivals include the Coachella Valley
Music and Art Festival and the Indio International Tamale Festival.
Indio is also known for the unique Indio State Palms, within Coachella
Valley Preserve.
Coachella
Close enough to the remarkable Salton Sea to be its gateway,
Coachella is also growing very rapidly. The city is rich in Latino
culture and several large festivals take place here, particularly
Cinco de Mayo and September Fiestas Patrias. Coachella is the
easternmost city of the valley. |
