Nine Distinctive Cities; One Fabulous Destination
Come with us as we explore the distinctive characteristics of each of these cities, conveniently located for all visitors to Southern California.
PALM SPRINGS
A combination of perfect weather, Hollywood glamour and an intimate village atmosphere keep Palm Springs on the A-List of great destinations. Enjoy fine dining, shopping, and world- famous boutique hotels located in a unique setting distinguished by celebrated mid-century modern architecture.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
“Camille” starring Greta Garbo premiered at Palm Springs’ Plaza Theatre, now home to the world famous Fabulous Palm Springs Follies.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes visitors to 8,200 feet and 54 miles of hiking trails in Mount San Jacinto Wilderness State Park. The 10-minute ride up the mountain is one of the steepest ascents in the world.
Famed director Frank Capra shot the Shangri-La waterfall scene in the 1932 classic ‘Lost Horizon’ in Palm Springs’ Tahquitz Canyon, still open to hikers today.
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and countless other stars honed their acts before smaller crowds at The Riviera Palm Springs Resort before taking them to mass audiences in Las Vegas.
DESERT HOT SPRINGS
Desert Hot Springs is located in the foothills overlooking the Coachella Valley. It is the only valley city on the North American Tectonic Plate. This unique geology is the source of the city's world famous mineral springs. The city's stunning mountain views are framed by a sparkling newly refurbished downtown.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Cabot Yerxa discovered the curative mineral waters of Desert Hot Springs. Today, the community still boasts unspoiled desert terrain and stunning mountain views as over 20 boutique mineral water spa resorts and spa hideaways have sprung to life on the miracle hills. From the famed Two Bunch Palms to modern, Moroccan and clothing optional, Desert Hot Springs is "California's Spa City."
The city's drinking water continues to win national and international attention. Originating from Mt. San Gorgonio as snow melt, it travels for 7 years into the city's protected aquifer. Desert Hot Springs is one of the most decorated cities in the United States for its exceptional drinking water.
CATHEDRAL CITY
Cathedral City is conveniently located at the heart of all Coachella Valley activities! The City is a center of family oriented fun, unique dining, hiking, one of a kind shopping – from vintage collectibles to the new and trendy. The Desert IMAX Theater is the only large format screen in the Valley.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
People from around the world come to visit the award winning Fountain of Life in Cathedral City’s Town Square.
RANCHO MIRAGE
Unique for its designation as the “Playground of Presidents,” Rancho Mirage’s stellar golf courses, lushly landscaped estates, first class shopping and fine dining remind visitors why the likes of Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Walter Annenberg chose to call this city home.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Frank Morgan, the actor who played The Wizard in “The Wizard of Oz” was the earliest celebrity to have lived in Rancho Mirage.
Lucille Ball was the first Honorary Mayor of Rancho Mirage
The Ford model Thunderbird was named for Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage.
In the late 1960s, Bob Hope donated more than 80 acres of his personal land to the City of Rancho Mirage, to build what is today Eisenhower Medical Center.
PALM DESERT
From its beginnings as a secluded getaway for Hollywood’s in-crowd, Palm Desert has evolved into the region’s cultural, educational, and retail center featuring the “rodeo drive of the desert” – El Paseo. The city also claims the renowned McCallum Theatre, The Living Desert, some of the area’s best hiking trails, a variety of golf resorts, and shopping for every taste and budget.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Palm Desert is home to the desert’s largest, full service hotel, the renowned 884-room JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa.
America's only citywide Golf Cart Parade is held in Palm Desert each year, drawing about 25,000 spectators who watch more than 100 golf cart floats parade down El Paseo.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The state-of-the-art, 55-acre Indian Wells Tennis Garden is home to the prestigious BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, NBA Outdoors, and Indian Wells Arts Festival.
One of the most extraordinary zoos in the United States, The Living Desert, is located in Indian Wells and Palm Desert.
The annual Desert Town Hall Indian Wells speaker series brings the most prominent names in public affairs, business, and the arts to the community. Speakers have included President George H.W. Bush, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, acclaimed journalists Fareed Zakaria and Thomas Friedman, and retired General Colin Powell.
LA QUINTA
Charming La Quinta is delightful! Golfers enjoy phenomenal golf at PGA WEST, SilverRock Resort, and many other top golf courses. Outdoor aficionados explore the scenic trails of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Art lovers indulge in the abundance of art and culture. Everyone enjoys fabulous dining, shopping, and hospitality!
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
La Quinta lured Hollywood elites including Frank Capra, Clark Gable, and Greta Garbo. And famous names like Arnold Palmer and Clint Eastwood have made their marks here.
Now the city boasts a variety of stores and restaurants along the bustling Highway 111 Corridor and the La Quinta Village (a charming historic destination).
Premier hotels include: La Quinta Resort & Club, Embassy Suites La Quinta, Homewood Suites, and Lake La Quinta Inn.
La Quinta features a museum, library, farmers market, concerts, art shows, car shows, movies in the park, and more!
INDIO
Indio is a family oriented community that celebrates its culture and retains its heritage, making it an ideal place to live, work and do business. It has been aptly nicknamed “The City of Festivals,” with agriculture as much at home in the city as world-recognized entertainment, blue-blooded polo tournaments and gaming.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Indio is historically significant as the Coachella Valley’s oldest and fastest growing city
The city served as the site for the region’s first railroad depot.
Indio’s “City of Festivals” moniker is attributed to the special events that draw more than 1 million people annually.
COACHELLA
Known as “the city of eternal sunshine” that has “small town atmosphere” but “big city advantages,” Coachella was initially founded in 1876 as Woodspur. Renamed in 1901, it was incorporated in 1946 and is the Valley’s farthest city to the east.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
A booming 95% of the America's dates are produced in Coachella and its neighbouring cities of Indio, Thermal, and Mecca.
Beloved Hollywood film director Frank Capra (It’s a Wonderful Life, It Happened One Night) is buried in the Coachella Valley Cemetery.
Alison Carmichael-Rulten
Hi, I'm Alison Carmichael-Rulten the Publisher of Vacation Goddess, and I want to thank you for visiting Vacation Goddess – the one-stop shop for insider travel news, deals, 'Guest Goddes's stories, and of course our personal travel experiences. Plus, as we love to cruise we also try to find some amazing cruise deals for you too. From luxury, longer escapes right down to weekend breaks we know you love everything travel related. Here at Vacation Goddess, we hope you will find loads of inspiration and of course some amazing travel deals. We love a holiday at a great price and that's why we seek out what we call 'Champagne Experiences, on a Sparkling Wine Budget.' We constantly showcase a variety of special deals and offers and from time to time some very special competitions. Our recent 'Win a Trip to London' competition received over 24,00 entries. We invite you to visit us often, join our mailing list and please tell your friends
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