It seemed improbable 125 years ago when a man from San Francisco named J.G. McCallum chose to sell his house in the chilly, damp, foggy Bay Area for a new one in the Mojave Desert, but the towns of Palm Springs and close by Palm Desert are two of the most cherished and fastest developing spots in Southern California today. Home to desert golf courses and near to historic Death Valley, Palm Springs and Palm Desert have endless activities to vacationers and at present, there are some terrific travel deals as well.
For example, these days tourists can get great bed and breakfasts. In addition, there are several activities for the family that are low-priced, and in a lot of instances, are at no cost. Persons who are interested in outdoor activities, such as finding diverse native desert flora and the local ecology will locate a sufficient amount to occupy them for weeks, if not months. Palm Desert has also supported a thriving arts community, which is on-going throughout the year.
Human inhabitance in the Palm Desert-Palm Springs region dates back at least to the mid-1600s, and maybe as far back as 1500. The earliest people to live there were the Cahuilla Indians. The Cahuilla Nation is still the principal landowner in the Coachella Valley. In the 1890s, the federal government divided the land between the Cahuilla Indians and the Southern Pacific Railroad, the latter as an incentive for progress.
Since the late 1940s, when the initial commercial real estate development was planned, Palm Desert has been visited by celebrities that over the decades have included Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Bob Hope. Palm Springs took a little longer to catch up. It was almost a ghost town until the early 1970s, but is today a year round vacation destination with several cabin rental accommodations.
Because of its sunny climate, with over 350 days of sun every year and a mere 5 inches of annual rain, golfing is one of the major activities in the area. Many resorts in the area are offering golf rental deals for the summer. Depending on the day of the week and tee times, green fees start at under $20.
Of course, just because its summer vacation does not mean the little ones have to stop learning. Palm Springs is also home to the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium, which has exhibits of desert fauna and flora from all over the world.
Guests will also enjoy the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in which you and your family will travel from the Southwest desert to the Arctic tundra in what was once a hike that took a few hours in under ten minutes. At the top of the San Jacinto Mountains, guests will find miles of hiking trails, majestic views of 200 miles in all directions and even an opportunity to ride a burro. Afterwards, folks can refresh themselves at one of the two fine restaurants at Mountain Station.
Wesley Mathews is part of the travel team at FindVacationRentals.com and FindBedandBreakfast.com. These directories provide detailed information on beach rentals and things to do.
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