Small Hotels Remain Focus of Walking Tour of the Inns

Palm Springs event may gain a companion event in the future

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Thursday evening's event runs from 4-8 p.m. and walkers can chooose from two starting points.
Walking Tour of the Inns.com

Walking Tour of the Inns may have a little sister down the road.

As one of the co-organizers of Thursday evening's 17th annual event in Palm Springs along with the Palm Springs Art Museum and Eat Drink Palm Springs website, the Small Hotels of Palm Springs (SHoPS) is considering adding a similar event during a month that doesn't necessarily require a jacket at night.

"We do feel there is another way to expose our properties to the public, local and otherwise," said John-Michael Cooper, president of SHoPS.  are the other two organizers. "We're talking to the people in Desert Hot Springs who put on their spa tour (in February).

The current version only includes a small portion of the 30-plus small hotel properties that dot Palm Springs.

For the present, however, the free event remains intact starting an hour earlier this year and running 4- 8 p.m. An additional new feature is two starting points to eliminate the crowds packed at just one –  The Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 N. Museum Drive, and the Del Marcos Hotel, 225 W. Baristo Road.

Each walker receives a little flashlight and a map, and the 17 stops will offer hot cocoa or cookies, entertainment and an opportunity to see the property.

The Walking Tour of the Inns doubles as a toy drive for the Well in the Desert. Walkers are asked to bring an unwrapped gift and drop them off at one of the start points.