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INDIAN WELLS, CA - MARCH 19: Roger Federer of Switzerland returns to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 19, 2011 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
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By Jeff Crider
With clear skis, daytime temperatures averaging 20 to 28°C, and one of the driest climates in the world, California’s Coachella Valley is one of the most popular winter playgrounds for Canadian RV enthusiasts.
Bordered by snow-capped 3300 m peaks, the scenic desert valley two hours east of Los Angeles is home to nearly 100 golf courses, scores of natural hot springs, scenic hiking trails and so many activities and special events that winter visitors never run out of things to do.
“We are one of the most popular winter destinations in the country,” said Joyce Kiehl, media relations manager of the Greater Palms Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau in Rancho Mirage, adding that Canadians make up a significant portion of the Coachella Valley’s winter visitors.
Many Canadians start off visiting the Coachella Valley in their RVs and become so enamored with the area, its resorts and activities that they wind up purchasing a park model cottage as a permanent winter accommodation.
Here’s a sampling of attractions and activities scheduled for winter and spring of 2015:
Artistic and Cultural Events:
The Palm Springs International Film Festival (www.psfilmfest.org): One of the largest film festivals in North America, the Jan. 2 - 12 festival is known for its annual Black Tie Awards Gala, which honours the best achievements in film, as well as its extensive lineup of the best films in international cinema.
Southwest Arts Festival (www.discoverindio.com): This Jan. 23 - 25 event at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio featured nearly 300 artists from 22 states last year.
Modernism Week (www.modernismweek.com): More than 100 events are scheduled Feb. 12 - 22 to celebrate mid-century modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture, including home tours, bus-, walking- and bike-tours, live music events and a vintage trailer exhibition.
La Quinta Arts Festival (www.lqaf.com): This annual event in La Quinta, scheduled for March 5 - 8, is rated the number one fine arts festival and the number one fine craft festival in the United States by Art Fair Sourcebook, a top guide for arts and craft fairs in the U.S.
Indian Wells Art Festival (www.indianwellsartfestival.com): This event, scheduled for April 3 - 5 in Indian Wells, will include the second annual Objet Trouvé Found Art Festival.
Outdoor Recreation and Sporting Events
Biking: The Coachella Valley’s relatively flat terrain is ideal for bicycle riding. RV enthusiasts often form their own biking clubs. However, several local clubs offer organized bike rides. Major biking events include the Tour de Palm Springs (www.tourdepalmsprings.com), slated for Feb. 14th, which features 1.6 to 160 km rides as well as 1.5 to 4.5 km walks.
Golf: The Coachella Valley is home to some of the most famous golf courses and golf events, including the Humana Challenge Golf Tournament (www.humanachallenge.com), Jan. 19 - 25; the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational (www.franksinatragolf.org), Feb 19 - 21; and the LPGA Major Championship Tournament, formerly known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship (www.kncgolf.com), March 31 - April 5.
Hiking: The Coachella Valley offers numerous low-elevation hiking trails. Popular destinations include the Palm Springs Indian Canyons (www.indian-canyons.com), Tahquitz Canyon (www.tahquitzcanyon.com), the Whitewater Preserve (www.wildlandsconservancy.org) and the Coachella Valley Preserve (www.coachellavalleypreserve.org). The Coachella Valley Hiking Club (www.cvhikingclub.net) and the Desert Trails Hiking Club (www.deserttrailshiking.com) also offer docent-led daily hikes of varying duration and intensity throughout the winter months. Unique hiking destinations include the Ladder Canyon area of the Mecca Hills, east of Thermal, where hikers scramble up a series of ladders as they go through several slot canyons. Winter hikes, include spring wildflower walks, are also offered at neighboring Joshua Tree National Park and in the higher elevations of the San Jacinto Mountains as weather conditions permit.
Tennis: One of the biggest events in tennis, the BNP Paribas Open (www.bnpparibasopen.com), is scheduled for March 9 - 22 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, one of the finest tennis facilities in the world.
Unique Attractions
Desert Adventures Jeep Tours (www.red-jeep.com): This company takes visitors on dirt roads into the mountains that surround the Coachella Valley Indian cultural tours, sunset and stargazing tours in and jeep tours to see the San Andreas Fault are among its more popular tour offerings.
The Living Desert in Palm Desert (www.livingdesert.org): The Living Desert is a 480 ha (1200 acres) zoo that features wildlife of desert areas from around the world. Featured animals include bighorn sheep, which are native to the mountains surrounding the Coachella Valley, as well as jaguars, lions, hyenas, camels and giraffes. Daily activities include giraffe feeding, reptile shows and a wildlife wonders show.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (www.pstramway.com): The tramway features the largest rotating tramcars in the world. Hanging from cables strung between five towers that have been strategically located at various points along the steep east face of the San Jacinto Mountains, the tramcars climb from the mountain station at 805 m (2643 ft) to 2595 m (8,516 ft). Tram riders not only look out over the Coachella Valley, but also see the changing climatic zones of the San Jacinto Mountains as the tram climbs from a desolate desert canyon to a forest of pine trees. The top of the tram features a gift shop as well as a formal restaurant, a cafeteria-style restaurant and a lounge. The top of the tram is also a gateway to San Jacinto State Park and 86 km (54 mi) of hiking trails.
The Coachella Valley is also home to several major Native American casinos, which offer gaming, food and entertainment. For information on these and other attractions and special events across the Coachella Valley, please visit www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com.
Where To Stay
Caliente Springs Resort in Desert Hot Springs (www.calientesprings.com)
The 700-site resort has subterranean hot springs, which heat its 100,000-gallon swimming pool and four hot spas.
In addition to renting RV sites for towable or motorized RVs, Caliente Springs offers park model homes for rent and for sale.
The resort also has numerous amenities, including a par 3, 9-hole golf course as well as tennis and shuffleboard courts and a horseshoe pit. Health and wellness activities feature water exercise programs, while arts and crafts classes include acrylic and watercolor painting as well as dichroic glass and pressed flower crafts. The resort also has computer classes and a variety of clubs for photography, hiking and book reading enthusiasts, among other hobbies.
Nighttime activities include Friday night dances and Karaoke, while special events include monthly craft fairs and dinner dance parties. The resort also has an onsite chapel ministry with Bible study programs and related social activities.
Special events for winter of 2015 include a free health fair from 9 am to 2 pm January 10 that will feature more than 30 health oriented vendors, including representatives from Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs and Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage. Seminars will also be provided on a variety of topics, including how to help a spouse with Alzheimer’s or dementia; skin cancer; elder abuse; glaucoma; and senior citizen first aid.