Venture beyond the borders of Greater Palm Springs — to wild country, where rainbows and eccentric ideas prevail, and even the misfits fit right in.
Hit the Road
If you can’t stand the heat, GTFO.
A cool escape from the heat holds extra appeal during the summer. So pack up your tote bag for a day trip to places like Lake Arrowhead, Idyllwild, and Corona.
The Wild Wild East
For adventures and the unexpected, go to the mysterious east.
For adventures and the unexpected, take a day trip to East Coachella Valley and explore Slab City, Painted Canyon, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Grab a bite for breakfast at Red Ocotillo in Borrego Springs, then drive to the Visitor Center and Desert Garden. To see the best sights, go on the 4.5-hour Overland California Jeep Tour or hike Borrego
Don’t Beat the Heat; Join It
Shutting yourself in the kitchen freezer may provide temporary relief, but believe it or not, a nice hot soak is just what the doctor ordered.
A resort that takes advantage of the hot springs of Desert Hot Springs, Two Bunch Palms is also rich with Hollywood history. Legend has it Al Capone built the 270-acre resort as his West Coast hideout. The resort was featured in the film The Player. It’s built around the healing powers of the mineral-rich springs. 67425 Two Bunch Palms Trail,
Night Sports
One of the disconcerting realities of summer in the desert is the inadvisability of pursuing sport under a 110-degree noon sun. But under the moon is a different matter.
A combination of golf and soccer, footgolf offers two ways to feel like a klutz, but at least you get a cardio workout. You play with soccer balls and 21-inch diameter holes, and rounds can range from 90 minutes to three hours on an average hole length (about half the length of a traditional golf game). Play in summer without
The Great Escapes
The summer heat is a great excuse to indulge in a little getaway and explore our neighboring towns.
If you live in the Coachella Valley you’re surely used to others’ shock, awe, and amazement when they learn you brave the scorching summers here and live to tell. For those of us who stick it out — dependent on patio misters, fabulously frigid air conditioning, and plenty of evening cocktails — the reward is a quieter community where we
Get Elevated
Of the many things that often sharply defines a valley are the mountains that surround it. And we have some of the best. Get ready to ascend.
Easy switchbacks on a two-lane highway lead to Idyllwild, a mile-high community that’s big on rustic. Nestled in the heart of the San Jacinto Mountains, Idyllwild is close to the desert but feels like it’s a world away. The pine trees grow tall and lanky. The air is snappy. It’s cozy. Stroll through local shops to pick up gifts for
Kids’ Stuff
With the season officially over, but almost everything still open and begging for patronage, this is the ideal time to let the kids have their way throughout the valley.
www.cdmod.org ; www.palmspringsairmuseum.org www.smoketreestables.com www.nps.gov/jotr Content sponsored by Trilogy at The Polo Club, 51750 Polo Club Drive, Indio, 760-775-5522. For more information, please visit the Explore 52 day trip kiosk at the Trilogy at the Polo Club clubhouse.
Out and About
For three days you have experienced your hotel, the music festival, and the commute in between. Go beyond the valley for something just a little bit different.
If you’ve ever dreamt of being a race car driver, start your engines here. Courses at the BMW Performance Driving School tell you how to skid, drift, change lanes, brake, and slalom, all performed at excessive speeds. Teachers provide real-time instruction over walkie-talkies while you drive. Put your newfound knowledge to the test in a drag race around the private
Desert Done Right
Headed to Joshua Tree National Park? Consider these detours to complete your High Desert experience.
Whether you’re hooked on beavertail cactuses and desert iguanas or intrigued by the dozens of galleries and outdoor sculpture studios nestled among the byways that straddle Highway 62 en route to Joshua Tree National Park, one thing is certain: You’re going to find more than one worthy detour. “That’s how my love affair with the High Desert took off,” says
