People to our east may have the Grand Canyon, Gateway Arch, and Broadway, but they also have intolerant immigration rules, tornadoes, and stressful traffic. People to our west may have Pacific Ocean beaches and Sunset Boulevard, but they also have fog and stressful traffic. We think Palm Springs beats any other place on the planet (yes, Paris is nice, especially in April, but the traffic is crazy). Here’s a (partial but numerically appropriate) list of things that make us feel warm and fuzzy about Palm Springs.
1 — Driving around town is a breeze
2 — Anyone you call long distance is envious you’re calling from Palm Springs
3 — Wildflowers in the spring
4 — Summer reading by the pool
5 — Never needing to touch a thermostat in the fall
6 — Never having to shovel snow in the winter
7 — Alpenglow on the mountains
8 — The strong but sexy facade of the convention center
9 — Passing through five life zones on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
10 — It’s Southern California without the attitude
11 — Eleven months of great weather
12 — August only makes you stronger
13 — The international airport is a cinch to navigate
14 — Kitschy/charming/retro one-of-a-kind boutique inns
15 — Shopping for handcrafted gifts at VillageFest
16 — Sidewalk tables for dining on Palm Canyon Drive
17 — Misters and heaters on restaurant patios
18 — Catching mardi gras beads tossed out at the Gay Pride Parade
19 — Experiencing the world through multiple film festivals
20 — Remembering Elvis at his Honeymoon Hideaway
21 — Taking visitors to see celebrity homes
22 — Drinking wine with popcorn and an art-house movie at Camelot Theatres
23 — The 360-degree view from the summit of Mount San Jacinto
24 — Roadrunners occasionally cross your path (though they never say “Beep Beep”)
25 — Getting fit on hiking trails
26 — Picnicking on a rock along the Lykken Trail, while overlooking the valley floor
27 — The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies proves you’re never too old
28 — Historic planes take to the air at Palm Springs Air Museum
29 — Free Second Sundays at Palm Springs Art Museum
30 — Abundant, statuesque palm trees
31 — Smooth-as-glass rocks in the Indian Canyons
32 — Crawfish in the desert? Yep, at Trio Restaurant
33 — Surfing in the desert? Yep, at Knott’s Soak City
34 — Sitting on The Tropicale’s patio
35 — Disco balls, yard flamingos, and flashing-LED “jewelry” at Party Lab
36 — Sweeping views of the horizon in all directions
37 — Artist Phill Evans’ iron fence at Palm Springs Dog Park
38 — Margaritas under the palapa at Las Casuelas Terraza
39 — Touring windmills without having to fly to Holland
40 — The nonclinical-looking El Mirador Tower at Desert Regional Medical Center
41 — Shopping for 1950s and ’60s furnishings in the Uptown Design District
42 — The resort pace of life
43 — Midcentury modernism clerestory windows, butterfly roofs, and patterned concrete block
44 — The sense of calm that overtakes you when you arrive/return
45 — People and businesses embrace diversity
46 — Fresh local produce from the farmers market
47 — A $20 tee time special at the public Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort
48 — The relaxing patio at Escena Golf Club
49 — Incredible deals at Revivals and Angel View Thrift Mart
50 — The community’s overwhelming philanthropic spirit
51 — Redeeming winning chips at Spa Resort Casino
52 — Downtown’s independent shops and eateries
53 — Free parking
54 — Old matchboxes, menus, and brochures at Palm Springs Historical Society
55 — Free tennis at Ruth Hardy Park
56 — Local artists frequent gallery openings
57 — Flipping through Assouline books at Just Fabulous
58 — The Steiger tractor in the Festival of Lights Parade
59 — Chocolate anything at See’s Candy
60 — Canopied glider tables at Azul Tapas Lounge
61 — Drag shows at Toucans Tiki Lounge and Azul Alibi
62 — The koi pond in the public library
63 — The boys of summer: Palm Springs Power baseball team
64 — Watching tourists take each other’s picture on the Lucy bench
65 — The Palm Springs map porcelain plate at Not Neutral and Just Modern
66 — The funny magnets and cards at Greetings
67 — Classic Chevys parked in front of McCormick’s Exotic Cars
68 — Palm Springs’ first pioneer home (McCallum Adobe) is downtown
69 — Blooming cacti at Moorten Botanical Gardens
70 — There’s always a party at Ace Hotel & Swim Club
71 — Time traveling at Melvyn’s at the Ingleside Inn
72 — Going to the coast and coming home in a day
74 — Temecula Wine Country is less than 90 minutes away
74 — Palm Springs Life attracts sophisticated subscribers (including a sheik in Dubai!)
75 — Did we mention the weather?
