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Perry & Cindy Mack
Palm Springs Perfect, CA
Hiking the Museum Trail
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Perry & Cindy Mack
Palm Springs Perfect, CA
Desert Hills Premium Outlets
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Perry & Cindy Mack
Palm Springs Perfect, CA
Downtown Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs
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Perry & Cindy Mack
Palm Springs Perfect, CA
Be patient getting in to Indians Canyons
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Perry & Cindy Mack
Palm Springs Perfect, CA
Idyllwild
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Perry & Cindy Mack
Palm Springs Perfect, CA
Idyllwild
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Perry & Cindy Mack
Palm Springs Perfect, CA
Levels trails through Indians Canyons
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Perry & Cindy Mack
Palm Springs Perfect, CA
Palm Springs Art Museum
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Perry & Cindy Mack
Palm Springs Perfect, CA
Resting at Lost Horse Loop Trail, Joshua Tree National Park
Story & photos by Perry & Cindy Mack
Choosing a winter home isn’t much different than choosing your permanent residence. There are key things that you look for, all of which fall into three categories; mental and physical stimulation, weather, and amenities. They sound so bland and yet, when you experience these in the perfect combination – it’s grand!
For us, the Coachella Valley provides a combination that creates a near perfect winter destination. Before I delve into lifestyle, let’s discover some of the bland, but life-easing, conveniences. Palm Springs has an international airport. Since we get family and friends flying in to visit (kids love warm, sunny, free vacations) we find that the airport is small enough to pick-up and drop off visitors easily, yet large enough to service destinations from across the country.
That’s enough bland, let’s talk grand! Part of the attraction of warm weather is getting outside – from picking lemons off the tree in the morning, to walking past enticing shops, to hiking outdoors and discovering spectacular views around every bend in the trail.
We love the exploring the diverse landscapes that surround this small city, and the urban amenities it has, which are more typical of a larger centre.
Palm Canyon Drive is the main street for Palm Springs. A plethora of shops and restaurants frame roughly seven blocks, and amongst the trendy, funky (and iconic souvenir shops), is the Palm Springs Art Museum (PSM), in Palm Springs (not to be confused with the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert). Founded in 1938, this is not a small town museum but one that rivals the largest urban centres. Generous and affluent residents have loaned or donated works throughout the 14,000 sq m (150,000 sq ft) including those of Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore and Robert Rauschenberg. You don’t have to be an art aficionado to wonder at the modern collections of glass, photography, art and architecture, and of course western and Native American art. Two outdoor sculpture gardens, and the obligatory café and gift shop complete the physical presence. But it’s the dynamic calendar of events and performances that make it an attractive draw for snowbirds.
Part of the PSM is the intimate, 430-seat Annenberg Theatre, a warm venue with nearly perfect acoustics drawing internationally known artists and performers in music, dance and theatre - and events including the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Switching from mental to physical stimulation is less than a stone’s throw away as immediately behind the PSM is access to the aptly named museum trail. Hiking to the top, the trail links to others than follows the line of the hills with dramatic views of the mountains and desert. You can refresh yourself physically and spiritually along more than 140 trails, traversing over 2,000 km (1250 mi) within 100 km (60 mi) of Palm Springs.
Within this radius is the idyllic town of Idyllwild. In perfect contrast to the desert rock formations and cacti of the valley floor, Idyllwild emerges from the mountainous pine forest like an oasis rises in the desert.
An eclectic palette of funky shops and eateries that some would call quirky, line streets that wind carelessly on the mountainside, and provide a warm and safe trailhead for exploring Mt. San Jacinto (pronounced ‘ha-SEEN-toe’) State Park. Explore for the day or weekend, or journey into the high country for epic overnight adventures.
A very popular area for strenuous, outdoor urban hiking (some call it shopping) can be found at Desert Hills Premium Outlet Mall. It has to be mentioned because any group with a shopaholic will need to stop there. It’s a short 20 minute drive from Palm Springs and you are virtually guaranteed to come home with something you didn’t know you couldn’t live without.
Other outstanding hikes and unique places to explore that we enjoyed include; Indian Canyons, Coachella Valley Preserve/Thousand Palms Oasis, Joshua Tree National Park and the Salton Sea. Another is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which provides access to easy alpine forest hikes with breathtaking views. Bring warm clothes and footwear with good traction; it snowed during our hike in January.
The Coachella Valley is a favourite winter home for us, our family and friends. Perhaps it is the perfect combination of civilization and wilderness that is just right for you?
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