The Palm Springs area of California is a resort strip alongside Joshua Tree National Park. Look through the information below to gain a better orienation on the different cities within Palm Springs and the attractions they offer.
Overview
The Palm Springs area, or the Coachella Valley, is a resort strip alongside Joshua Tree National Park. Most of the cities along this strip are famed for high-scale golfing and spa recreation, but each of them has a unique flair.
Cities of Coachella Valley
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.
Other Things to Know
The Coachella Valley is situated along I-10, which makes traveling from city to city very efficient.
