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How El Paseo Became the “Rodeo Drive of the Desert”

Nestled in the heart of the Coachella Valley in Southern California is the charming city of Palm Desert. One of the highlights of this city is the famous El Paseo, a mile-long shopping district known for its high-end boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. El Paseo is often compared to the famous Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills due to its luxury shopping atmosphere and upscale offerings earning it the nickname “Rodeo Drive of the Desert.”

Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is one of the most famous shopping areas in the U.S. known for being one of the most expensive streets in the world. However, few people know that near Palm Springs which was dubbed the underrated Las Vegas of California, a particular shopping district in Palm Desert attracts a large number of visitors all year.

Known as El Paseo shopping district, it is a premier destination for luxury boutiques, dining, entertainment, and many art galleries with a unique blend of luxury, style, and culture.

El Paseo *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Why is El Paseo known as the “Rodeo Drive of the Desert?”

A similar upscale, luxury shopping experience as Rodeo Drive but set in a desert environment

El Paseo District is considered the “Rodeo Drive of the Desert” because it offers a similarly upscale, luxury shopping experience akin to Beverly Hills’ famous Rodeo Drive but set in the desert environment of Palm Desert. This premier shopping district features a curated selection of high-end boutiques and designer stores such as Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Swarovski, Bottega Veneta, and Saks Fifth Avenue alongside local luxury brands like Trina Turk that embody the Palm Springs desert lifestyle.

The district is known not only for luxury retail but also for its blend of style, culture, and entertainment including numerous art galleries, fine dining options, and public art installations that create a sophisticated and inviting atmosphere for visitors. The mile-long stretch of El Paseo lined with palm trees and beautifully manicured outdoor spaces offers a shopping and cultural experience that parallels the exclusivity and elegance of Rodeo Drive but with unique desert flair.

Additionally, El Paseo hosts events such as the El Paseo Art Walk (first Friday of each month through April) and car shows further enhancing its reputation as a vibrant social and cultural hub in the Coachella Valley. Its combination of luxury retail, art, dining, and desert lifestyle makes it a distinctive and celebrated destination earning it the nickname “Rodeo Drive of the Desert.”

El Paseo is home to a variety of up-scale art galleries

A rich art scene combined with public art installations along the street

California is often host to popular art events. For instance, Desert X is an art exhibit held in the desert, open to everyone, and displaying installations from artists worldwide.

El Paseo shopping district is a vibrant hub for art lovers boasting one of the largest and most diverse concentrations of art galleries in Southern California. Its galleries offer a rich blend of traditional and contemporary art including paintings, sculptures, photography, blown glass, and new media making it a must-visit destination for both serious collectors and casual admirers. The district’s galleries are known not only for their high-quality and varied collections but also for their welcoming atmospheres often hosting artist receptions, live performances, and special exhibitions that foster a close connection between visitors and the art world.

A premier gallery featuring a 6,000-square-foot indoor space complemented by a half-acre outdoor sculpture garden, Melissa Morgan Fine Art Gallery offers a sanctuary for cutting-edge contemporary art. It showcases a wide range of 2D, 3D, and new media artworks by national and international artists. The gallery is also noted for its live performances and inclusive, family-friendly environment making it a cultural centerpiece on El Paseo.

But this is only one of the many art galleries in the area. For instance, Desert Wolff, owned by Lucien Wolff, an architect-turned-art curator originally from South Africa, opened the gallery and interior design show room on El Paseo in Palm Desert in 2019 after operating a gallery in Los Angeles for 15 years. Desert Wolff offers a curated selection of contemporary art, accessories, sculptures, glasswork, custom furnishings, and unique design pieces that reflect Wolff’s sophisticated and well-traveled creative vision.

The gallery is known for its joyful and vibrant atmosphere featuring bright colors and art that aims to elevate mood and spirit. Lucien Wolff’s background in architecture influences his approach to interior design projects allowing him to create harmonious environments that blend large-scale art with the spacious desert architecture typical of Palm Desert. Desert Wolff is considered a cultural and artistic treasure trove on El Paseo attracting both local patrons and out-of-town visitors seeking a unique artistic experience.

In addition to art sales, Desert Wolff provides interior design services and custom furnishings making it a multifaceted destination for art and design enthusiasts in the Coachella Valley

One of the latest additions to El Paseo’s art scene is Lia Skidmore, owner and gallerist of Skidmore Contemporary Art. She has over 25 years of experience as an art advisor and dealer with a background in art history. Before relocating to Palm Desert in 2024, she operated successful art hubs in Malibu and Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station. Skidmore Contemporary Art is known for its focus on contemporary California realist and photorealist painters representing more than 30 artists with a program characterized by a fresh sense of beauty and optimism rather than a single visual style.

El Paseo hosts a variety of events

A dynamic calendar of events

The El Paseo shopping district hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year that cater to diverse interests including fashion, art, music, and community gatherings.

The Gardens on El Paseo hosts a popular annual concert series (January to March) featuring tribute bands and live music performances on Saturday evenings. The series supports local nonprofits and has raised over $1.5 million for community causes. Tickets include wine and preferred seating options creating a festive atmosphere for attendees.

Fashion Week El Paseo is the largest fashion week on the West Coast held annually in March. It showcases top designers and emerging talents through runway shows, cocktail receptions, pop-up shops, and exhibitions. The event highlights the latest fashion trends in a luxurious desert setting and attracts fashion enthusiasts from across the region.

The El Paseo Art Walk is a popular monthly event held on the first Friday of every month typically from 4 to 7 pm running through April. It invites visitors to explore up to 14 art galleries along El Paseo showcasing a wide range of contemporary and traditional art forms including paintings, sculptures, photography, and mixed media. The event offers gallery receptions, live art demonstrations, and opportunities to meet local artists making it a vibrant cultural experience for both art enthusiasts and casual visitors.

El Paseo District hosts a variety of seasonal and special markets that enhance its vibrant shopping and cultural scene. One notable example is the Mother’s Day Weekend Market, held annually on El Paseo offering a festive shopping experience with special offers, brunch specials, and family-friendly activities. These markets provide visitors with opportunities to shop unique gifts, enjoy food and drink specials, and participate in community celebrations.

In addition to these seasonal markets, El Paseo features pop-up shops and special in-store events during major occasions like Fashion Week El Paseo (March 13-18, 2026) and Palm Desert Food & Wine (March 19-22, 2026) where retailers, restaurants, and galleries offer discounts, tastings, meet-and-greets with designers and artists, and exclusive shopping experiences. These markets and events create a dynamic atmosphere that blends luxury retail with community engagement and celebration.

Nearby, the Street Fair at College of the Desert (running October through May on weekends) complements El Paseo’s offerings with over 100 merchants selling unique gifts, art, and food, further enriching the region’s market scene.

If you need an extra reason to visit, El Paseo features a free courtesy cart service that provides convenient transportation along the El Paseo shopping district. Visitors can simply wave at one of the drivers to get a ride anywhere within the 9-block area without any effort or cost. The carts operate daily from mid-October through May, between 11 am and 6 pm. You can also request a pickup via the Ride Circuit app or by calling/texting (760) 582-3552. This service is designed to make it easy and enjoyable to explore El Paseo’s shops, galleries, and restaurants

Of course, Palm Desert cannot be compared to Beverly Hills which is known for its many tourist activities. Still, El Paseo remains a great option for those who want to spend a day shopping.

While Palm Springs still wins the title of the perfect destination for art, culture, and architecture lovers, a trip to the nearby Palm Desert may positively surprise even the best art connoisseurs.

A variety of activities in Palm Desert

Outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, shopping, and family-friendly attractions

There are plenty of activities in Palm Desert and the surrounding region. For outdoor enthusiasts, hiking in the nearby mountains and canyons is a popular activity. Joshua Tree National Park, located about 45 minutes from Palm Desert, is a haven for hikers and rock climbers, offering stunning views of the desert landscape.

Golfers also flock to Palm Desert to experience some of the best courses in the world. With over 30 courses in the area, it is no wonder that Palm Desert is known as the “Golf Capital of the World.” The Indian Wells Golf Resort, located just a few minutes away from El Paseo, is a must-visit for golfers of all levels.

A range of attractions in Palm Desert

Outdoor adventure, luxury shopping, cultural richness, and relaxation

The Palm Desert region is home to many attractions that appeal to visitors of all ages. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a popular attraction that showcases the unique flora and fauna of the region. It is home to over 450 animals and more than 1,600 plant species making it a great place to learn about the local ecosystem.

The Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert is also worth a visit. It houses a collection of contemporary art, as well as exhibitions that feature works from artists all over the world.

For a taste of history, the Palm Springs Air Museum is a must-visit. It features one of the largest collections of WWII aircraft in the world including rare and vintage planes that have been restored to their original condition.

Similar reads

Weather in Palm Desert

Hot desert climate characterized by very hot summers, mild winters, and very low annual precipitation

One of the main draws of the Palm Desert region is its year-round sunny and warm weather. With an average of 350 days of sunshine per year, it is the perfect destination for those who love the outdoors.

The summer months can be very hot and dry with temperatures soaring above 100°F. However, this is the perfect time to take advantage of the many indoor activities and attractions in the region. The fall and winter months offer milder temperatures making it the ideal time for outdoor activities like hiking and golfing.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in October 2025. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.

Worth Pondering…

We have 51 golf courses in Palm Springs. He (President Ford) never decides which course he will play until after the first tee shot.

—Bob Hope

25+ Things to do in Palm Springs & the Coachella Valley

Relax by the pool, hike to a leafy palm oasis, soak in a soothing spa, or soar in a balloon above this desert hideaway

Appearing on the horizon like a desert oasis, the Coachella Valley City of Palm Springs morphed from being a famous resort town for Hollywood A-listers, world leaders, and socialites during the early 20th century to a wonderful city combining indoor-outdoor living. Palm trees, striking mountains, and cacti are everywhere in Palm Springs and its sister cities in the Coachella Valley.

The soaring San Jacinto Mountains nearby provide skiing opportunities and spectacular vistas during winter and spring. While Palm Springs may be the perfect place to use as a basecamp to explore the many top-notch parks in and around the Coachella Valley, the city has fun and entertaining sights, landmarks, and destinations to be discovered and enjoyed by all.

Palms to Pines Scenic Byway *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

1. Drive the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway

The Palms to Pines Scenic Byway stretches along State Routes 74 and 243 and passes by scenic forests, snow-capped mountains, and many more diverse landscapes in a short amount of time on its way from Palm Desert to Banning Pass.

Palm trees give way to piñon pines and firs as the byway climbs into Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.

Free from large towns and tall buildings, the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway allow you to enjoy Southern California’s contrasting landscapes away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Check this out to learn more: The Amazing Story of Palms to Pines Scenic Byway

2. Float in a balloon

One of Palm Desert’s best attractions is the colorful hot air balloons floating about through the skies above the rugged desert. Various tour operators whisk passengers up into the air to enjoy stunning sunrise and sunset vistas over the Californian desert.

3. Watch a match at Indian Wells Tennis Garden

Widely regarded as the world’s fifth grand slam, the Indian Wells tennis tournament is one of the region’s most significant sporting events drawing thousands of visitors to Palm Desert annually.

Capable of seating over 16,000 people, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden has hosted several other events.

Indian Wells Tennis Garden is at 78-200 Miles Avenue, Indian Wells.

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

4. Explore Cabot’s Pueblo Museum

Located inside a beautiful Hopi-style house built by renowned artist, activist, and explorer Cabot Yerxa from bits and pieces he found lying around in the desert, Cabot’s Pueblo Museum details the life of Cabot Yerxa and his wife. Containing various artefacts, items, and artwork which once belonged to Cabot’s collection, the four-story structure is a stunning hand-built Pueblo-revival structure that’s a fantastic destination to tour.

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum is at 67616 Desert View Avenue, Desert Hot Springs.

Here’s a helpful resource: Fascinating Hopi-inspired Pueblo Amazes

El Paseo Shopping District *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

5. Shop in El Paseo Shopping District

Palm Desert’s popular El Paseo Shopping District is home to over 250 boutiques, shoe stores, spas, eateries, and jewelers. Because of this, El Paseo is often compared to Beverly Hills’ famous Rodeo Drive. Ranging from local-run mom-and-pop stores to large global fashion brands, the El Paseo Shopping District is Palm Desert’s number top place to shop. Whether you’re planning to do some serious shopping or just window shopping, the El Paseo Shopping District is worth a stop.

El Paseo Shopping District is at 73-470 El Paseo Street, Palm Desert.

Coachella Valley Preserve *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

6. Hike the trails at Coachella Valley Preserve

Refreshing palm oases, intriguing wildlife, and miles of hiking trails draw visitors to the Coachella Valley Preserve. The sprawling 20,000-acre Coachella Valley Preserve is a stunning free-to-visit natural playground filled with diverse biomes, rich fauna and flora, and some of the best nature trails in southern California.

The expansive preserve which includes the 880-acre Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve is filled with rare desert animal and plant life, blooming wetlands, and seemingly endless amounts of soaring palm trees guaranteed to be a feast for the eyes.

The sheer size of the Coachella Valley Preserve means that you can come back many times without seeing the same thing twice, making it a wonderful Palm Desert landmark perfect for spending a couple of hours exploring.

Coachella Valley Preserve is at 29200 Thousand Palms Canyon Road, Thousand Palms.

Check out this article: Coachella Valley Preserve: A Desert Oasis

7. Take a ride aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Most of Palm Springs’ postcard-worthy views are from poolside, looking up towards the mountains. But for the ultimate view it’s the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, a huge rotating gondola ride (the largest of its kind in the world) built in 1963 that connects the Coachella Valley with San Jacinto Peak.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway whisks passengers to the top in under 10 minutes for a stunning view from the summit. Rising a staggering 8,516 feet to the top of the San Jacinto Mountains, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway ferries passengers to the 50+ nature trails and skiing slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains in an instant. Taking a journey on the tramway is a highlight of any trip to Palm Springs and a must-do activity to get your bearings.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is at 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs.

8. Feed the giraffes at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens

A zoo and botanical garden combined, the picturesque Living Desert Zoo and Gardens showcases a stunning array of desert and African animal species. Giraffes, eagles, Mexican wolves, and camels are just some of the many animal species visitors can catch a glimpse of while wandering the expansive zoo.

The zoo’s botanical garden features beautiful collections of cacti, palm trees, and various other desert biome plants in the lush and manicured garden. The botanical garden’s butterfly garden is another fantastic section of the zoo that’s well worth visiting.

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens are at 47900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert.

Tahquitz Canyon *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

9. Hike to a desert waterfall at Tahquitz Canyon

The waterfalls of Tahquitz Canyon are truly astounding flanked by lush greenery and picturesque wildlife. The crisp water rushing past you tumbles 60 feet from apex to completion.

On a self-guided hike (ranger-led tours also available several times daily) of this secluded canyon, you can also view rock art, ancient irrigation systems, and native wildlife and plants.

Participants must be able to navigate 100 steep rock steps along the 1.8-mile trail. Located at the entrance to the canyon, the Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center offers educational and cultural exhibits. The Center offers a display of artifacts, an observation deck, and a theater room for viewing The Legend of Tahquitz Canyon.

Tahquitz Canyon is at 500 W Mesquite Avenue, Palm Springs

10. See paintings at the Palm Springs Art Museum

This mid-size museum houses a collection of contemporary paintings, sculpture, and art glass from the likes of Henry Moore, Robert Motherwell, Helen Frankenthaler, and fellow West Coast artists like Sam Francis, Mark di Suvero, and Edward Ruscha. Exhibitions often focus on the cultures and themes of the desert: Modernism, Native Americans, and the American West.

The museum also operates a satellite location in Palm Desert as well as an architecture and design center in downtown Palm Springs.

Palm Springs Art Museum is at 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs

11. Fly on a warbird at the Palm Springs Air Museum

This air museum showcases primarily World War II as well as Korea- and Vietnam-era combat aircraft. You’ll find more than 40 flyable and static planes across three warehouses from the B-17 flying fortress to the F-4 fighter jet as well as a couple of aircraft on the tarmac like the C-47 and PBY Catalina Flying Boat. The museum also offers a limited number of flights aboard the C-47 Skytrain and P-51 Mustang.

Palm Springs Air Museum is at 745 North Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs

12. Plan your stay at the Palm Springs Visitor Information Center

The soaring roof of Albert Frey’s Tramway gas station is a Palm Springs landmark and home to the Official Palm Springs Visitor Information Center. The iconic soaring roof building welcomes visitors each year from all over the world to discover where to stay, play, shop, and dine in Palm Springs.

The guest services staff can assist you with accommodations, dining, shopping, museums, attractions, and events. In addition, the Visitors Center has gift items, maps, souvenirs, and Palm Springs-logo apparel for sale.

Palm Springs Visitor Information Center is at 2901 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

Joshua Tree National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

13. Take a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park

Craggy peaks, climbable boulders, and those beloved yuccas are barely an hour drive away. Joshua Tree National Park is a popular destination for overnight campers but you can explore plenty in a single afternoon, too, from an easygoing hike around Hidden Valley to vistas from 5,000 feet up at Keys View.

If you’re coming from Palm Springs, you’ll want to enter from the northwest entrance in Joshua Tree; if you’re staying farther east into the Coachella Valley, you can use the south entrance but it’ll put you—for better or worse—in a more desolate area that’s farther from the park’s main attractions.

Here are some helpful resources:

Joshua Tree National Park is at 6533 Freedom Way, Twentynine Palms

Oasis Date Gardens *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

14. Slurp a Date Shake at Oasis Date Gardens

Date shakes are a thing in Palm Springs and of course I had to try one. But I don’t cozy up to any old wizened fruit so I went to the source.

A 45-minute drive from downtown Palm Springs, Oasis Date Gardens is a 175-acre organic date farm. Established in 1912, it is one of the oldest date gardens in the Coachella Valley. The farm produces 20 different varieties of dates using sustainable and safe methods to ensure the highest quality of their products.

Stop in for a shake so thick you need a spoon, do a date tasting and watch a date-based video – it might be the best first date you’ll ever have.

Oasis Date Gardens is at 59111 Grapefruit Blvd, Thermal

15. Admire art at CODA Gallery

With a history of displaying expressive and thought-provoking art that stretches back some 30 years, the magnificent CODA Gallery is one of Palm Desert’s most important cultural centres.

It celebrates all things contemporary and modern art from California and beyond.

Unlike many other galleries and art museums, virtually everything on display in the CODA Gallery is for sale.

Filled with glass-art sculptures, contemporary paintings and stunning photographs, the CODA Gallery is a highly recommended place to visit that’s one of the cultural highlights of a visit to Palm Desert.

CODA Gallery is at 73400 El Paseo Suite B-1, Palm Desert

16. See the San Andreas Fault

Perhaps the most notable fault line in the world, the infamous San Andreas Fault stretches for over 746 miles from Mexico to San Francisco and separates the Pacific and North American continental plates.

Despite popular belief, the San Andreas Fault is not a massive scar in the earth; on the contrary, large sections of the fault can easily be mistaken for a ditch.

Sections of the fault are spectacular so be sure to visit parks and nature centers on or around the fault where you can join a guided tour led by geologists.

17. See the fan palms at the Palm Canyon

In this 15-mile-long section of Indian Canyons, you will find the largest Fan Palm Oasis. You can picnic near the stream, hike the trails, and learn more about the significance of this area to the Cahuilla Indians.

Situated just 6 miles from Palm Springs, the Indian Canyons consisting of Murray Canyon, Andreas Canyon, and Palm Canyon are a stunning collection of canyons located on the reservation lands of the Cahuilla tribe.

Hiking trails are throughout the canyons winding past spectacular desert scenery and trading posts selling authentic Native American pottery and artwork.

Indian Canyons is at 38520 S Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

18. Explore art galleries and shops along Palm Canyon Drive

You can barely walk a block along Palm Canyon Drive without stumbling upon an eye-catching gallery, antique or furniture showroom. Palm Springs and mid-century modernism go hand in hand and you’ll find plenty of galleries (notably a showroom from retro-inspired artist SHAG) and furniture stores dedicated to the jet-setting aesthetic. The northern stretch of the street is a bit more design-forward than the touristy but highly walkable downtown section to the south.

19. Admire the remarkable residential architecture across Palm Springs

Palm Springs is brimming with gorgeous mid-century modern homes. Remember that most of these are private abodes so you can’t exactly knock on the front door. But cruise around some notable neighborhoods from Tennis Club to Araby Cove and you’ll spot plenty of architectural gems along the way. Highlights include the Del Marcos Hotel and the Edris House.

20. Pose in front of the Cabazon Dinosaurs

The 100-ton Brontosaurus and T. Rex sculptures once beckoned motorists on their way to Palm Springs to a 24-hour diner. Today, they guard the entrance to a very kitsch dino museum (and a familiar landmark for Pee-wee’s Big Adventure fans). At the very least, pose for a photo with Mr. Rex and walk into the gift shop housed inside Dinny the Brontosaurus’s belly—but maybe consider saving some cash for a delicious date shake at nearby Hadley Fruit Orchards instead.

Cabazon Dinosaurs are at 50770 Seminole Drive, Cabazon

The windmills *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

21. Visit the windmills

Flanked by Mount San Gorgonio and the Transverse Ranges to the North and Mount San Jacinto and the Peninsular Ranges to the South, the San Gorgonio Pass is a transitional zone from a Mediterranean climate west of the pass to a Desert climate east of the pass. This makes the pass area one of the most consistently windy places in the United States

Development of the wind farm began in the 1980s. It is one of three major wind farms in California along with those at Altamont and the Tehachapi passes.

You can view the wind turbines by pulling off the I-10 freeway at the Indian Canyon exit or by taking a tour. Palm Springs Windmill Tours has the only official tour that gets up close and personal with these giant machines.

Pro tip for photographers: Bring a wide lens and a long lens to give you options. The long lens will compress the photo and make you look closer to the windmills.

Pro tip for RVers: RVers have lost their awnings in this area so be sure you secure it tight before driving through.

Palm Springs Windmill Tours is at 62950 20th Avenue, Palm Springs

22. Soak in a hot spring

Fancy a soak in mineral waters? Head to Desert Hot Springs where you will find a multitude of pools, jacuzzis, and spas built around the hot and cold spring aquifers that lie beneath the city.

The hot water aquifer lies to the east of the San Andreas Fault while the cold water aquifer is located on its west side.

Pools at area properties are filled with the waters from these two springs. While the waters are considered to have healing properties we do know that a soak in one of the pools is deeply relaxing.

23. Discover Sunnylands

Sunnylands is an incredible, mid-century modern estate that was the home of billionaire businessman (and founder of TV Guide) Walter Annenberg and his wife. The vast 200-acre estate has hosted seven U.S. presidents and summit meetings with world leaders serving as a West Coast Camp David for several presidents.

Designed by celebrated MCM architect A. Quincy Jones, the 25,000 square foot main house and its incredible art collection along with its gardens can be visited.

Visiting the park-like grounds is free. Tickets can be purchased for docent-led tours of the house and art collection.

Sunnylands is at 37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage

24. Stroll the Palm Springs Villagefest

Every Thursday night, you can hang out with locals and tourists at the Palm Springs Village Fest in the downtown area. Palm Canyon Drive between Indian Canyon Drive and Belardo Road turns into a pedestrian street fair with over 180 vendors.

25. Visit Moorten Botanical Garden

Moorten Botanical Garden is family-owned and just one acre in size but it contains several thousand plants from deserts in the U.S., Mexico, South Africa, and South America. The outdoor collections include a very tall pachypodium and many striking aloes and agaves. A nature trail winds through the collections. The cactarium houses numerous species of cacti and succulents including some rare specimens.

You can also buy cacti and succulents at the onsite nursery. The garden is open Thursdays through Tuesdays from 10 a.m, to 4 p.m. and closed Wednesdays and on major holidays.

Moorten Botanical Garden is at 1701 S Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

26. Play golf

Palm Springs and nearby cities like La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, and Palm Desert have over 100 championship-level golf courses. Many of the city’s best courses are public and accessible to anyone.

Aside from the well-groomed and challenging courses, you also get the benefit of the beautiful scenery and desert backdrops. As you play, you’re treated to a changing desert landscape with the area’s different mountain ranges always visible in the distance.

Popular golf courses playable by the public include PGA West (home to the American Express Desert Classic, formerly the Bob Hope Classic), the Indian Wells Golf Resort (home to the Renaissance Indian Wells, the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells, and the Indian Wells Resort Hotel), Marriott’s Shadow Ridge, and the Indian Canyons Golf Resort.

Shields Date Garden *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

27. Visit a date farm

Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley have a rich agricultural history. One of the key crops is dates and the area produces more than 90 percent of the dates grown in the U.S. This Middle Eastern fruit was first planted in the desert in the early 20th century, one of the few crops that can be grown year-round in the area’s extreme weather.

The almost-20-acre date farm has a café, a guided tour of the date groves, and even a theater showing a kitschy 1940s movie about date farming. They also serve date shakes, a must-drink date milkshake-like smoothie every Palm Springs visitor should try.

Shields Date Garden is at 80225 US Hwy 111, Indio

DIG DEEPER: Best things to see and do in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley

Worth Pondering…

We have 51 golf courses in Palm Springs. He (President Ford) never decides which course he will play until after the first tee shot.

—Bob Hope

Visit Julian: California’s Mountain Town Gem

Nestled in the picturesque Cuyamaca Mountains, Julian is famous for its mouth-watering apple pies and cider from local orchards along with a rich California gold rush history

Julian is known for its historical charm, gold mines, wolf preserve, and apple orchards. Visitors can enjoy unique experiences, delicious food and drink, and explore popular places like Volcano Mountain Winery, Eagle Mining Co., and Julian Pie Company.

California has a wide range of activities to do and though many people think that it is very crowded, this gem of a town is less touristy and therefore is the perfect place to do some exploring. Julian is the ultimate place to get away for both California locals and visitors to the state. It offers all four seasons with tons of activities to take part in which can make it appealing (although the San Diego and Palm Springs areas are on the list of warm winter cities in California).

Julian *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Distance to Julian

Temecula: 53 miles
San Diego: 60 miles
Palm Springs: 100 miles
Indio: 100 miles

What’s so special about Julian?

Julian is located in San Diego County and is quite a small town with a population of 1,356 people.

What makes Julian so special compared to other Southern California locations is that it has all four distinct seasons. Not only that but what is also appealing is how the city celebrates them. Julian is a little mountain town that has lots of events throughout the year that make it an inviting place to visit.

Since Julian takes advantage of embracing the four different seasons, the town places a special emphasis on the outdoors. The public not only celebrates the nature that surrounds them but they take part of it too as there are tons of activities offered that are right in nature.

Things to do in Julian

In Julian, there are tons of unique experiences just waiting to be had. The town itself has lots of historical background which fill the streets with charm. Also, the unique aspects it offers such as gold mines and even a wolf preserve are things that travelers can only find here.

Food and drink are a popular commodity in the city so there a lot of different restaurants, bakeries, wineries, and fun locations that can offer a special culinary experience for visitors and locals to enjoy.

Whether you’re a first time or repeat visitor these are the most popular activities. Some of them like glorious apple pie never get old.

1. Tour a Julian gold mine

Several companies offer gold mining tours so that guests can learn more about San Diego’s only gold rush. This is such a unique thing to do making it a favorite Julian activity.

Julian Mining Company

For those who want a taste of gold mining without the commitment of an extended tour the Julian Mining Company located just a mile or so from downtown Julian offers gold panning (very popular with kids) alongside some edutainment about the local mining history.

Gold panning is the process of separating real pieces of gold from dirt, minerals, and other deposits using a pan and water. At the Julian mines, you’ll typically receive a lesson and be able to take a small vial of panned gold home with you.

Eagle and High Peak Mine

Eagle and High Peak Mine offers one-hour tours of what it was like inside a 1870s gold mine. Guests wind their way through the old mine tunnels and can also pan for gold.

Apple orchard *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

2. Pick apples

Apple picking in Julian is incredibly popular. There are several u-pick apple orchards in the area. Julian apple picking season happens in the fall and all ages love it. It’s a romantic thing to do with your partner and cheerful fun with your kids.

Orchards provide bags or baskets to fill and poles to grab apples with from off of the apple trees. You can even pick pears here especially at pet-friendly O’Dell’s Organic Orchard. The largest orchard is Volcan Valley Apple Farm.

It is always best to check which orchards are still open for a u-pick adventure at the time of your visit since harvests vary.

Julian Pie Company *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

3. Eat apple pie

If there’s one thing to eat in Julian, make it apple pie. It’s extraordinary and the Julian restaurants excel at this craft.

Julian Pie Company is the most popular. It’s possible to buy pie by the slice (with toppers such as ice cream or even melted cheddar cheese), whole pies, or pies to bake at home. Their little Main Street cafe offers good coffee, jugs of apple cider, and a lovely little patio area to sit in.

The other popular spot is Mom’s Pie House also located on Main Street. They have another location in Wynola on the way to Julian where you can even take a baking class to learn how a perfect apple (and other) pie is made.

4. Drink apple cider

Apple cider is also available at many Julian restaurants in regular and hard form. A visit to the Julian Cider Mill, family-owned and operated for over 30 years may give you more insight into the process and the final product. During apple season, they’ll press cider on an antique press in view of visitors.

Head 4 miles west of Main Street and you’ll land at Julian Hard Cider’s Miner’s Saloon located in an old apple packing facility. Here, it’s possible to sample their award-winning hard ciders made from Julian apples (though you can find their suds all over Julian and elsewhere in San Diego).

Mom’s Pie Company *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

5. Sip apple wine and other reds at Julian wineries

In recent years, Julian has also received attention for the number of well-regarded wineries in the area. Popular San Diego wineries like Orfila and Witch Creek Winery have wine tasting rooms on Main Street.

San Diego wineries like Volcan Mountain Winery located about 2 miles from downtown Julian have vineyards with cozy tasting rooms on property. You’ll find the Dolcezza apple wine here. Despite Dolcezza meaning “sweet” or “sweetness” in Italian, it tastes more like a Sauvignon Blanc with hints of apple.

The wine is made from 100 percent mixed variety apples grown at the winery. A visit here is also a fun thing to do in Julian with dogs as this winery is pet-friendly.

Menghini Winery is another small production Julian winery with vineyards and apple orchards also at the base of Volcan Mountain. They produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah. Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic lunch.

6. Explore downtown Julian

The commercial/business part of downtown Julian is actually tiny. It’s really mostly a single street (the aptly-named Main Street) of several blocks. It’s very picturesque and has a bit of an Old West look and feel.

In keeping with this mining town spirit, you may see people riding in a horse-drawn carriage tour by the Julian Carriage Company, a popular thing to do here.

Tourists enjoy shopping for antiques, crafts, yarn, hand-knit accessories, and specialty foods on Main Street in a small-town atmosphere.

You can stop into the Julian Town Hall & Visitor Center (home also to the Julian Chamber of Commerce) for information and to pick up a map or ask any tourism-related questions about things to do. They also have a fun self-guided walking tour of historic sites that is easy to take.

The Julian Market and Deli are popular for those who may want a picnic lunch to take to a campground, hiking or elsewhere.

Menghini Winery *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

7. Go hiking in Julian

There are dozens of hiking trails in and around Julian for all levels. Most are okay for leashed dogs. If you’re interested in the Californian wilderness, head just out of town on one of these popular trails.

Volcan Mountain Trail

Looking for gorgeous views over the rolling hills to the distant ocean? The Volcan Mountain Trail inside Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve is a moderate out and back hike with picturesque scenery.

It’s the most popular hike in the area so don’t expect to be the only ones there. If you’re in Julian during wildflower season, it’s even more spectacular.

Sunset Trail and Big Laguna Lake

This beautiful hiking trail is best between April and September when the lake is at its fullest. It’s also a great running trail with minimal elevation gain and a comfortable distance of 4.2 miles.

Five Oaks Trail

Another fantastic hike in the Volcan Mountain Reserve is the Five Oaks Trail. It’s shorter than the Volcan Mountain Trail and very popular among bird-watchers.

8. Learn History at the Julian Pioneer Museum

If you’re interested in history and want to understand this mountain town’s rich background better, don’t miss out on the Julian Pioneer Museum.

Located in a 1800s blacksmith shop, the little museum covers the Native American villages in the area to the frenzied activity of the Gold Rush. There are quite a few artifacts to see and enjoy here.

9. Stop at Oasis Camel Dairy for soap and camel encounters

Approaching Julian on Highway 78 you’ll see an increasing number of cattle ranches, horses, and other animals in fields beside the roads. One of the most notable is the Oasis Camel Dairy which makes and sells camel milk soap, lotions, and chocolate. They also offer tours.

So, if you’re looking for one of the most unusual Julian things to do, how often do you get to tour a camel dairy? And, truly, their silky smooth soaps make fantastic gifts. Check their website for opening times.

10. Visit the California Wolf Center

The California Wolf Center is a rehabilitation center for wolves. The center emphasizes public outreach to increase awareness of these beautiful animals, reduce wolf-livestock conflict, and promote wolf recovery in California.

This endangered species has been absent in the wild in California since 1924 until recently thanks to the center’s efforts. The center is home to several packs of grey wolves and offers public and private tours. Closed Wednesdays; call ahead for hours.

11. Attend seasonal events like the Apple Festival

The single event Julian is most known for is the annual Julian Apple Days festival held in late September each year. It’s a celebration of all things apple including a pie contest, crafts, multiple food vendors, and much more family fun. And, because it’s fall, you’ll have one of the only opportunities to peep fall foliage in San Diego County on the gorgeous mountain trees.

It’s also a popular destination during the holidays for tourists to see a wintry, old-time Christmas at the Julian Country Christmas with sleigh rides, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Santa, and more old-fashioned fun. These are the single two most crowded times of the year to visit the tiny town of Julian.

Where to stay in Julian

While Julian is a fairly easy day trip from San Diego and Coachella Valley many choose it for an overnight getaway. Since camping is incredibly popular advanced reservations are strongly recommended. But, don’t forget you can also opt for charming inns, hotels, and lodges.

Camping in Julian

William Heise County Park Campground

While there are a number of places to go camping near Julian, William Heise County Park is among the most convenient campgrounds. It’s about a 10-minute drive from the stores and eateries on Main Street. It’s a lovely park with various camping (tent, camper, group tent, cabins) and hiking opportunities.

William Heise County Park Campground is located south of Julian in the northern extremity of the Laguna Mountain Range. This 929-acre park is set in a forest of oak, pine, and cedar. Cedar Creek runs through the campground. In the winter the campground can have snow.

William Heise County Park Campground has trailer and RV sites (20 with electrical hook-ups), a separate tent camping area with 42 sites and a group tent-camping area. They also have cabins. Many of the sites in the RV loop are side-by-side while some are well-separated from one another.

Tip: Southern California is an excellent place to watch meteor showers and other notable astronomy events.

When is the best time to Visit Julian?

Fall is the most prominent time in the town of Julian and both visitors as well as California locals make there way up to this town to experience the ambiance the city has to offer. In the autumn, the annual Julian Fall Apple Harvest commences which means a good time to visit would be mid-September to mid-November when fall is in swing.

After that, even though this is in Southern California, since it is in the mountains it snows in the winter here. Obviously, the snow lasts longer in the elevated areas but this may affect some of the roadways as well so that is good to keep in mind if visiting in the winter.

Make sure to check weather conditions before heading to Julian because in the winter months the snowfall may vary. Also, snowstorms in Southern California are hard to track so it is smart to check reports.

The ways to get to Julian is by car and though it may be a small town having a good mode of transportation would be key when visiting. Overall, Julian is a gem of a small town that is great to visit because of the little tourism and amazing activities.

Worth Pondering…

There are not many places in the world where you can get to the beach in an hour, the desert in two hours, and snowboarding or skiing in three hours. You can do all that in California.

—Alex Pettyfer

Tahquitz Canyon: One of the Best Gems of Palm Springs

Tahquitz Canyon is one of the most beautiful and culturally sensitive areas of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation. Tahquitz Canyon is home to a spectacular seasonal 60-foot waterfall, rock art, ancient irrigation systems, native wildlife, and plants.

Palm Springs is one of the most famous snowbird oases of California (and one bursting with golf courses). Palm Springs is also centrally located to enjoy a range of other attractions in the region. Some of the more unusual attractions include the ghost town, Salton City on the toxic Salton Sea as well as the reputedly lawless Slab City (a bizarre swatters snowbird camp) and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, one of California’s most underrated parks to visit.

There is also a selection of great canyons to explore around Palm Springs—one of the best being Tahquitz Canyon.

Tahquitz Canyon is located on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation near Palm Springs in the San Jacinto Mountains. It is one of several canyon tribally managed around Palm Springs worth seeing (others include Palm Canyon, Murray Canyon, and Andreas Canyon).

Palm Springs at Tahquitz Canyon *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The ancient Native American history of Tahquitz Canyon

Tahquitz Canyon has a long and storied history and has been inhabited for at least 5,000 years (since before the pyramids of Egypt were built). For the Cahuilla people, the canyon is a place of cultural significance and the name is from the spirit Tahquitz from Cahuilla folklore. Knowing the Legend of Tahquitz is a great start to understanding the significance of the canyon to the Cahuilla people.

According to the legend, Tahquitz was the first shaman created by Mukat, the creator of all things. Tahquitz had much power and in the beginning he used his power for the good of all people. Tahquitz became the guardian spirit of all shamans and he gave them power to do good.

But over time, Tahquitz began to use his power for selfish reasons. He began to use his power to harm the Cahuilla People. The people became angry and they banished Tahquitz to this canyon that now bears his name. He made his home high in the San Jacinto Mountains in a secret cave below the towering rock known today as Tahquitz Peak.

It is said that his spirit still lives in this canyon. He can sometimes be seen as a large green fireball streaking across the night sky. The strange rumblings heard deep within the San Jacinto Mountains, the shaking of the ground, and the crashing of boulders are all attributed to Tahquitz as he stomps about the canyon.

Over the years, many petroglyphs have been created in the canyon although most are lost today. There have been a number of ancient artifacts discovered in the canyon. Visitors can also see the remains of ancient ditches built by the Native Americans to water their crops (historically squash, beans, and corn).

The canyon has produced some of the most artifacts and finds of any archeological site in southern California. It is one of the most extensively studied places to learn about the history of the Agua Caliente. See ancient rock art, irrigation systems, native wildlife, and more. It is one of the most stunning destinations on the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation.

What to know about Tahquitz Canyon waterfall

One of the main attractions in the Tahquitz Canyon is the Tahquitz Falls. They are a small waterfall in the desert on Tahquitz Creek. It is in the western skirts of the modern city of Palm Springs and it exists seasonally.

The best time to explore the canyon is October through May.

The trail leads to Tahquitz Falls and back. From the Visitor’s Center to the falls you will be gaining 324-350 feet in elevation. The trail is steep and rocky with numerous rock steps to climb. You must have good balance and be able to climb up and down rock steps that may be as high as 12-15 inches. This canyon has very little shade, no restroom facilities, and no water fountains. Hikers should dress appropriately for the weather conditions, protect themselves from the sun, carry water, and wear hiking boots or sneakers.

Height: 60 Feet

Trail: 2 mile loop

The creek flows over a slab of granite and cascades around 60 feet down. It is accessible by a loop trail managed by the Agua Calientes Band of Cahuilla Indians.

Planning a visit to Tahquitz Canyon

Today, anyone can visit the Tahquitz Canyon (which is a nature preserve open to the public). It is managed by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

The canyon has a visitor center and a hiking trail (the Tahquitz Trail). The visitor center has a display of artifacts as well as a theater room for viewing The Legend of Tahquitz video and an observation deck.

Tahquitz Canyon admission: $15 Per Adult ($7 Per Child); $125 for annual pass

The tickets for the Tahquitz Canyon are purchased at the Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center or the Agua Caliente Visitor’s Counter at the Palm Springs Visitor Center. Everyone must be aged 18 and over to enter the canyons alone.

Tahquitz Canyon opening hours

October 1 to July 4: 7.30 am to 5.00 pm (last hiker on the trail at 3.30 pm)

July 5 to September 30: 7.30 am to 5.00 pm (only open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays)

No animals are permitted on the trails and the last hiker can enter 1.5 hours before closing time. There are also ranger-led interpretive hikes for those interested. They are free with paid admission and last around 2.5 hours and depart from the visitor center.

Ranger-led interpretive hikes at Tahquitz Canyon

October to June: 8.00 am, 10.00 am, noon, 2.00 pm (every day)
July to September: 8.00 am only
Duration: 2.5 hours

What are the best times of year to visit Tahquitz Canyon?

The best times to visit Tahquitz Canyon are primarily fall through spring specifically from October to May. Here’s a breakdown of the seasons:

Fall (October-November): Comfortable temperatures make this a great time for hiking. The canyon is open daily during this period.
Winter (December-February): Cooler weather can be refreshing and the canyon may have some snow at higher elevations providing a unique landscape. It’s also a less crowded time for visitors.
Spring (March-April): This is often considered the best time to visit due to the blooming wildflowers and the waterfall at its most vibrant especially after rainstorms. The temperatures are mild making it ideal for outdoor activities.
Summer (May-September): The canyon can become extremely hot with temperatures often exceeding 100°F. Additionally, the waterfall tends to dry up significantly during this season. From July 5 to September 30, the canyon is only open on weekends limiting access.

In summary, for the best experience at Tahquitz Canyon plan your visit during the cooler months of fall and spring when you can enjoy both the natural beauty and comfortable hiking conditions.

How long does it take to complete the hike to Tahquitz Falls?

The hike to Tahquitz Falls which is a 2-mile loop trail typically takes about 1 hour to complete if you maintain a relaxed pace and make stops for photos or a snack at the waterfall. If you choose to swim at the base of the falls, the entire hike may take around 1.5 to 2 hours.

The trail features an elevation gain of approximately 324 to 350 feet with some rocky sections and steps making it rated as easy to moderate in difficulty.

What kind of wildlife can be spotted in Tahquitz Canyon?

Tahquitz Canyon is home to a diverse array of wildlife reflecting its unique desert ecosystem. Here are some of the notable species you might encounter:

Birds: The canyon is inhabited by various bird species including phainopepla, red-tailed hawk, Costa’s hummingbird
Mammals: Hikers may be fortunate enough to spot gray fox, bighorn sheep, rabbits, squirrels
Reptiles: Several lizard and snake species can be found such as desert spiny lizard, granite spiny lizard, king snake, Southwestern speckled rattlesnake
Amphibians: The endangered Mountain yellow-legged frog was reintroduced to the area in 2010 adding to the canyon’s ecological significance

The canyon’s varied habitats support not only these animals but also a rich assortment of desert plants contributing to the overall biodiversity of the region.

Are there any guided tours available in Tahquitz Canyon?

Yes, there are guided tours available in Tahquitz Canyon. The Agua Caliente Tahquitz Visitor Center offers ranger-led interpretive hikes which are included with the admission fee. These tours provide valuable insights into the canyon’s cultural and natural history and occur daily at various times including 8 am, 10 am, noon, and 2 pm from October to June. The hikes typically last about 2.5 hours.

Additionally, other tour operators in Palm Springs may offer guided experiences that include visits to Tahquitz Canyon as part of broader sightseeing tours.

Worth Pondering…

Once in a lifetime, if one is lucky, one so emerges with sunshine and air and running water that whole eons might pass in a single afternoon without notice.

—Loren Eiseley

The Salton Sea’s $540 Billion Treasure

The Salton Sea’s lithium deposit is estimated to be equivalent to 382 million electric vehicle batteries

It’s the dream of many a metal-detecting young child to stumble upon a buried pirate treasure filled with gold coins, rubies, and pearl necklaces. But not all that glitters is gold and not all that’s treasure is gold either.

In fact in this unusual California lake the most valuable treasure hidden in the water’s depths is a different kind of metal that can prove much more useful in our modern world than gold coins. In a research project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy scientists have located a mine of “white gold”, aka lithium, at the bottom of the Salton Sea.

The Salton Sea has an unusual history of tourism-turned-eco-nightmare. But it appears the lake’s noxious nature was hiding an undiscovered deposit of wealth that has major ramifications for industry: a natural deposit that’s valued at over $540 billion in California’s largest inland body of water.

Just how was this vein of natural wealth found? And what does this mean for the Salton Sea?

Salton Sea *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Pre-history of the Salton Basin

There was often a lake here as the Colorado switched direction

Over the last hundreds of thousands of years, the Colorado River would alternate between emptying into the Gulf of California and emptying into the basin where the Salton Sea is today. When it would empty into the basin a freshwater lake formed but when the river switched back to the gulf, the lake would dry up and become desert.

The most recent freshwater lake was Lake Cahuilla (or the Blake Sea)—it once covered an area of over 2,000 square miles, around six times the size of the Salton Sea.

According to archaeological sites and radiocarbon dates, the lake was filled three to four times over the last 1,300 years. When it was full, it attracted Native Americans to its shores where they would fish and hunt birds and other animals coming to the lake. Today there are hundreds of these archaeological sites to be found along the ancient shores.

According to an oral history of the Cahuilla people, the last lake existed in the 17th century and dried up after 1700.

Creation of the Salton Sea

It was once a burgeoning resort town that turned toxic, literally

The present Salton Sea was created by a massive ecological disaster in the early 1900s. It was formed in 1905 after floodwater from the Colorado River escaped an irrigation canal that was under construction in the county and flowed into a deep basin in the desert.

The size and volume of the lake has historically, then, been fed by irrigation runoff from the Imperial Valley and the Coachella Valley (yes that Coachella of music and Palm Springs fame) serving as a “sump” for agricultural runoff as described by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

By the mid-1900s, the lake had become a haven for migratory birds and in the same era developers were intrigued by this newly formed lake-in-the-desert. Soon, luxury resorts popped up along the shores of the Salton Sea lined with palm trees and a golf course.

The resort area was a hit and celebrities from Frank Sinatra to President Eisenhower to the Beach Boys would visit for a holiday in the sun. It attracted people from all walks of life quickly becoming a vacation destination for fishing and swimming.

However, by the 1990s the sea was changing and it was no longer safe to recreationally enter the waters anymore. Since the lake was largely sustained by agricultural runoff it was filled with the refuse of the farms including pesticides and nitrates. These undesirable elements when mixed with the salt naturally formed in the lake bed increased the salinity of the water dramatically.

The salt content was so high (and noxious fumes became so bad) that masses of fish quickly began dying in droves and toxic algae blooms popped up in the water. The resorts and vacation homes were abandoned and the Salton Sea’s thriving destination enclave soon became another one of the many great American ghost towns much like the famous Bodie in California.

People can still visit the Salton Sea and explore the remaining ghost town left behind. There is a gift shop on site and previous visitors reported that the odor is bearable for a bit while visiting the lake. Just beware that local residents are known to suffer from asthma due to the smell so if you have any breathing issues perhaps steer clear.

How was lithium discovered in the Salton Sea?

From rags to riches

What once was a popular family vacation spot akin to the beautiful resorts at Lake Tahoe quickly turned toxic and noxious. The increasingly unbearable heat of the Imperial Valley coupled with water rights conflicts has also drained the area of much allure and currently threatens the health of local populations.

Despite its modern un-attractiveness as a tourist destination the lake is now being re-evaluated for something much more valuable, however. Researchers discovered that the lake bed of the Salton Sea was actually composed of geothermal aquifers that housed “lithium-infused” brine deposits.

A UC Berkeley Lab confirmed this discovery quantifying in their extensive report that 3.4 million tons of pure lithium is located at the bottom of the Salton Sea of which some 2.6 million tons are considered mineable based on current extraction technologies. This makes the formerly abandoned lake the home to the largest lithium deposit in the entire world.

In 2020, the state established a lithium extraction commission which was tasked with researching and analyzing the possibility of the mineral’s extraction from these geothermal brines in the Salton Sea.

It is a challenging process to extract lithium and technology has been and is needed to be developed to make extraction possible—and safe. But the payoff could be absolutely massive for not just the state of California but the country and in a very macro sense, the world.

Why is lithium so important?

It’s called “white gold” for a reason

In a world that is attempting to become less reliant on fossil fuels, lithium is the absolute mineral king in achieving that transition. Lithium is used in many pieces of modern technology from smartphones to laptops to tablets and most importantly lithium is a key component of batteries used in things like electric vehicles and RVs.

The Salton Sea deposit could craft batteries for more than 380 million electric vehicles removing the reliance on lithium extraction from other deposits overseas like those near Chengdu in the Sichuan Province of China. This is in essence what makes lithium so valuable; much like oil is considered “black gold” as an energy resource, lithium is fast assuming the mantle of white gold for the very same reason.

Worldwide, only about 200,000 tons of lithium is consumed yearly meaning that this Salton Sea deposit could significantly contribute to American energy resources for years to come. However, the extraction process can and will affect local populations around the Salton Sea significantly.

In an area with already contested water issues the extraction plants would use massive amounts of water from the Colorado River. Residents of the area are further worried that the economic benefit will not actually reach the locals but rather will support an economy built and propagated by multi-national companies.

Naturalists are also concerned about lithium extraction’s impact on the migratory bird population that still calls the Salton Sea home despite its toxicity. In the face of all of this, construction began on a new extraction plant earlier this year and researchers and state officials are hopeful that this new hotbed of ultra-valuable material will positively impact the community.

250,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium is expected to be mined yearly, enough to support over 400,000 electric cars a year. Let’s just hope that this is a turning of the tide for the Salton Sea and its community, human and avian.

Worth Pondering…

Apparently Bolivia is the key source of lithium in the world. So we’re gonna trade the Saudis for the Bolivians.

—P. J. O’Rourke

10 Amazing Places to RV in January 2023

If you’re dreaming of where to travel to experience it all, here are my picks for the best places to RV in January

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.

—Amelia Earhart

It’s unknown exactly when Amelia Earhart, the first woman to complete a solo flight across the Atlantic, said this quote but it reflected her personality in full. The remainder of the quote says, “The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life and the procedure. The process is its own reward.” Earhart chased her own dreams and her words inspire us to do the same regardless of the challenges. You can have as much determination as you want but to reach your goals you also have to take the difficult step of acting on that will.

Planning an RV trip for a different time of year? Check out my monthly travel recommendations for the best places to travel in November and December. Also, check out my recommendations from January 2022 and February 2022.

Palm Springs *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

1. Winter in Palm Springs

The winter climate in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley cities is reliably sunny and among the warmest, mildest weather, and most beautiful climates in the U.S. In Palm Springs, you can count on consistently sunny blue skies. Most visitors think it’s warm in the winter in Palm Springs. Locals think it’s cool. And everyone agrees it’s beautiful. There is very rarely (perhaps once every couple of years) a brief (nighttime or early morning) frost or a freeze during the winter months in the Coachella Valley. The morning sun thaws any light freeze very quickly.

World’s Largest Killer Bee *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

2. The Killer Bee of Hidalgo

There’s a line in Act IV of Hamlet where Claudius says to Gertrude, “When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.” Change the word “sorrows” to “bees” and while the result may be an unpopular sentiment among Shakespeare scholars, it will assuredly resonate with people who have faced the threat of a swarm of killer bees. People like the residents of Hidalgo, Texas.

The buzz started in 1990 when the first colony of Africanized killer bees was found to have reached the United States via Brazil—the outcome, literally, of a scientific experiment gone wrong. The bees decided to settle just outside of Hidalgo upon arrival where news of the event provoked widespread panic among many.

Killer bee of Hidalgo *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The Chamber of Commerce approached then-mayor John Franz about turning an occasion that might have been swept under the proverbial rug into a bold symbol. “We need to put Hidalgo on the map,” Franz told the Houston Chronicle in 1993. And the gears of the merch machine began to spin.

The Killer Bee of Hidalgo or The World’s Largest Killer Bee as it’s promoted was commissioned for $20,000 by the City of Hidalgo. Constructed to scale, the replica of the menacing insect is a black and yellow sculpture made of steel overlain with a fiberglass exoskeleton. The whole creature reaches to about 10 feet tall and 20 feet long, not including its ominous antennae.

Killer bee *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Suffice it to say, Hidalgo, the self-proclaimed Killer Bee Capital of the World embraces just about every aspect of its claim to fame with T-shirts, postcards, and other merchandise emblazoned with images of killer bees to be had all over town. All reminders that when killer bees come to Texas—whether they be a single spy or in battalions—the people of Hidalgo are ready.

3. Palms to Pines Scenic Byway

On this drive, you don’t have to choose between desert and mountains—you get both. Play golf under swaying palms then watches the snow falling on cedars. This byway zigzags from Palm Desert to nearly 6,000 feet cutting through the lands of Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument. Pull over at Coachella Valley Vista Point for a view north and east of Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, and the San Jacinto and San Gorgonio mountains. From there ascend to Paradise Valley where the Pacific Crest Trail passes through. Pause for lunch and boutique shopping in the charming mountain hamlet of Idyllwild or relax under Humber Park’s big conifers before zipping down the switchbacks to Banning.

Edisto Island *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

4. Discover South Carolina’s best-kept secret

Edisto Island, a sea island in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, lies only about an hour south of bustling Charleston as the pelican flies. But Edisto, part of a chain of more than 100 tidal and barrier islands along the Atlantic coast between the mouths of the Santee River in South Carolina and St. Johns River in Florida, is a world apart.

This is a rustic world of majestic live oaks that are thickly draped with light-as-air beards of Spanish moss, salt marshes, meandering creeks, and historic plantations.

Edisto Island State Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Edisto Island State Park includes an interpretive center and two campgrounds that offer 112 standard sites with water and electric hookups—ocean-side and near the salt marsh. 49 of the standard campsites offer 20/30/50 amp electrical service. Several sites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet.

Atchafalaya Basin *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

5. Atchafalaya Basin

The largest wetland in the United States covers over 2,200 square miles of Louisiana and is home to hundreds of species of reptiles, mammals, and birds. True wilderness is difficult to find in the United States, but the Atchafalaya Basin may just be one of the last remaining landscapes where visitors are completely entrenched in pure nature. While highways, levees, and other man-made structures exist around the Basin, the inner waterways are a natural maze. If you take a tour of the Basin with the Nature Study Project, you’re in for a day (or more) of tranquility, bird watching, and awe of the biospheres that have formed in and around this watery paradise.

Sonoran Desert National Monument *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

6. Wandering in Sonoran Desert National Monument

Containing almost a half-million acres of diverse and sprawling tall cactus desert, Sonoran Desert National Monument is a special place hiding in plain sight about 60 miles southwest of Phoenix. What it lacks is a centerpiece attraction. There are no signature sights, no defining experience. There’s no official entry point, just a lot of barely marked dirt roads. Maybe that’s why I like the monument. It challenges visitors to make their own fun.

The monument contains three distinct mountain ranges, the Maricopa, Sand Tank, and Table Top mountains as well as the Booth and White Hills, all separated by wide valleys. The monument also contains three designated wilderness areas, archaeological, and historic sites and remnants of several important historic trails.

Just park and set off cross country—you’ll have a great day making your own discoveries far from civilization, mingling with the saguaros, and chatting with lizards.

Sonoran Desert National Monument is in central Arizona. Easiest access comes via some dirt roads bearing north off State Route 238 that winds between Maricopa and Gila Bend and from Vekol Road (Exit 144) turning south off Interstate 8. Bring water, plenty of gas, and real maps. Don’t expect your cellphone to work.

Padre Island National Seashore *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

7. 70 Miles of Protected Coastline

Padre Island National Seashore protects the longest stretch of an undeveloped barrier island in the world with 70 miles of protected coastline including a coastal prairie, a dynamic dune system, and wind-tidal flats teeming with life. It’s a sanctuary and nesting grounds for the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and a haven for 380 species of birds which, impressively, represents roughly half of the all documented bird species in North America.

From the beach to the bay, Padre Island National Seashore offers countless opportunities to discover and enjoy the amazing recreation and resources of the park. Take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico or build a sandcastle. Swim in the recreation area at Bird Island Basin or in the Gulf of Mexico.

Manatee in Crystal River *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

8. Swim With Manatees in Crystal River

Every winter, ocean temperatures plummet, rendering the water too cold for manatees. To escape the cold these large mammals migrate up into Crystal River, a natural spring-fed oasis continuously emitting water at 72°F. Finding the temperature just right manatees huddle around the source of the spring by the hundreds. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience one of the coolest things to do in Florida: snorkeling with manatees!

Yuma Territorial Prison *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

9. Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park

Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park in Yuma, Arizona is a wealth of history, interesting people, and stories from the past 400 years. Sitting on a bluff overlooking the Colorado River, three miles west of the confluence of the Colorado and the historic Gila River, stand the ruins of Arizona’s famous Territorial Prison and a short distance west are the remaining buildings that served as a part of the Yuma Quartermaster’s Depot. $25,000 was budgeted for the project in 1875 and some of the prisoners were pressed into service to build their cells. A total of 3,069 prisoners including 29 women lived within the walls during the prison’s 33 years of operation.

Quartzsite RV Show *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

10. A quirky desert town

Quartzsite is a small town that welcomes up to two million visitors each winter. Located just 17 miles from the California border at the intersection of I-10 and U.S. Highway 95, Quartzsite has been a rock hound’s paradise since the 1960s. Thousands of acres of dispersed BLM (Bureau of Land Management) camping draws upwards of a million RVing visitors a year. Snowbirds enjoy the warm winters while camping in over 70 RV parks and 11,000 acres of BLM Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) plus five 14-day free dispersed camping areas.

With over a thousand vendors arriving each winter, Quartzsite is also known for its RV and ATV friendly atmosphere. Off Road Vehicle (OHV) trails lead in all directions from town with beautiful desert scenery along the way.

Quartzsite *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

With the influx of RV snowbirds, there’s plenty to do all winter long. Seasonal restaurants, multiple swap meets and shows, gem and mineral shows, live music, OHV trails, art/quilt/arts and craft shows, bingo, rock hounding, gold hunting, gem and mineral classes, dancing, RV show, and more!

Worth Pondering…

Always maintain a kind of summer, even in the middle of winter.

—Henry David Thoreau

Five Fall Road Trips in Arizona

Get on the road again with five sojourns perfect for your Arizona fall season

Despite what it seems like by the time September rolls around, summer is not endless. It is winding down. So it’s time to start planning your quest to see some fall colors.

Grand Canyon National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Grand Canyon North Rim Drive: Highway 89 from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Lodge

Driving Distance: 208 miles from Flagstaff

Turn-by-Turn Directions: Head north from Flagstaff on US-89 to Bitter Springs. Here, turn left onto US-89A. Follow this north to SR-67. Turn left and drive south on SR-67 to the lodge.

There’s nothing like tracing the Grand Canyon’s edge with the Colorado River raging below. If that isn’t enough to inspire a drive on Highway 89, I’ll also tempt you with Marble Canyon, Vermilion Cliffs, and the aspen golds of the North Rim.

Navajo Bridge *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Plan this trip for early fall, since the Grand Canyon’s North Rim closes for the season on October 15. Launching from Flagstaff, you emerge from the pine forest to a desolate expanse of land with sightlines for miles. The road moves over rounded slopes while reddish sandstone cliffs tower on either side. At Bitter Springs, veer left on Highway 89A to Marble Canyon which offers a good stopping point for breathtaking photo-ops and sustenance. First up, pics: Stand on the Navajo Bridge, a historic span over the Colorado River. Then, food: Marble Canyon Lodge serves hearty lunch and dinner with outdoor seating to boot.

Marble Canyon *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Marble Canyon marks the beginning of the Grand Canyon and nearby is a campground and popular put-in for river runners and Horseshoe Bend paddlers. Push on southwest, nestling close to the bewildering spectrum of reds, yellows, and oranges of Vermilion Cliffs rising from Paria Plateau.

You’ll spot junipers and pines the closer you inch to Kaibab National Forest but once you reach the North Rim the scenery explodes in leafy canopies of firs, spruces, tall pines, and aspens.

Leaving Tucson *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Southern Arizona Drive: Highway 83 from Tucson to Bisbee by way of Sonoita and Sierra Vista

Driving Distance: 109 miles from the starting point in Tucson

Turn-by-Turn Directions: Follow I-10 east to SR-83. Drive south on SR-83 to SR-82. Take this east to SR-90. Head south on SR-90 to Sierra Vista and continue southeast on SR-90 to SR-80. Follow this east to Bisbee.

The southern half of the state can’t compete with Flagstaff’s autumnal glow. And yet… This south-of-Tucson trip is fraught with scenic vistas.

On the road to Sonoita *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

From Tucson, you’re on I-10 for only a short stretch before you get to ease off the accelerator and enjoy the leisure of Highway 83. The road weaves through the Santa Rita Foothills where desert flora fades into one of the finest grassland valleys of the Southwest—45,000 acres to be exact. Las Cienegas National Conservation Area preserves this landscape of cottonwood trees, spiny mesquite, and the rare marshes of a perennial creek. Stop and stretch your legs before the quick drive to Sonoita.

Sonoita and nearby Elgin boast the largest concentration of wineries and vineyards in Arizona and the Santa Rita, Whetstone, and Huachuca mountain ranges that envelop grasslands and vine-covered hills. Take Highway 82 east to explore the tasting rooms; this will also link to SR-90, your route to Sierra Vista.

Lesser Goldfinch at San Pedro House *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The Huachuca Mountains punctuate the expansive views in Sierra Vista. Pine trees crowd the peaks and thick-leafed oaks in crimson and orange blanket the lower elevations. And all around, the sycamore and maple trees of Ramsey Canyon and the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area bloom in full fall color.

Bisbee and the Mule Mountains *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Finally, arrive in Bisbee in style. By style, I mean Mule Pass Tunnel, a dramatic entrance through the Mule Mountains that leads travelers into the stair-clinging slopes of Bisbee.

Apache Trail *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Apache Trail Bypass: Highways 60 and 188 from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Lake

Driving Distance: 80 miles from Apache Junction

Turn-by-Turn Directions: From Apache Junction, drive east on US-60 to SR-188. Turn left and follow SR-188 north to Roosevelt Lake.

Superstition Mountains along Apache Trail *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

As scenic drives go, the 40-mile Apache Trail (Highway 88) winds through the Southwest’s most stunning scenery. It’s a rugged ribbon of hairpin turns and stark drop-offs that meanders past three lakes and carves through canyons and over the Superstition Mountains before concluding at Roosevelt Dam.

Highway 88 runs northeast from Apache Junction passing through Tortilla Flat along the way to Roosevelt Lake. While you can still access the road to Tortilla Flat, the portion north of the town is temporarily closed.

Travel Advisory: In 2019, the Woodbury Fire burned several areas on the Apache Trail, and a 7-mile section of the road from Fish Creek Hill Overlook (milepost 222) to Apache Lake Marina (Milepost 229) remains closed.

For a still-scenic alternative, leave Apache Junction via Highway 60. The Superstition Mountains with their jagged peaks are to the north. The “Supes” backcountry area delineates the transition from the Southern Sonora Desert to the Central Mountains. Take in the sight of thousands of saguaros set against colorful rock layers as you approach Miami.

Along Highway 60 *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Here, you have two options: Continue on Highway 188 or hang in town to peruse the shops on Main Street, grab a bite to eat (crispy fried chicken at Dick’s), or visit the impressive Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum.

Then it’s north on 188. Unlike the original alignment of the Apache Trail, here the bends are gentle and the curves wide. No white-knuckling the steering wheel. Roosevelt Lake’s serene blue sparkle comes into view.

Along Highway 177 *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Old Pueblo Back Way: Highway 177 from Phoenix to Tucson through Winkelman and Oracle

Driving Distance: 163 miles from Downtown Phoenix

Turn-by-Turn Directions: Drive east on US-60 out of Phoenix. Turn right and head south on SR-177. In Winkelman, pick up SR-77 and follow it south to Tucson.

Globe *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Travel east on US-60 to Superior and Globe. Visit Besh-Ba-Gowah Museum, search out a rare find at the Pickle Barrel Trading Post, or munch on quiche at the Copper Hen. Follow SR-77 past the Pinal Mountain-shrouded ghost town of Christmas. You’ll want to spend time in Winkelman delighting in the fall glory of Aravaipa Canyon.

Besh-Ba-Gowah *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Continue south to see the Galiuro Mountains rise from the golden grasslands. Thickets of oak, Ponderosa pines, maple trees, and Douglas fir cover the slopes, the tallest of which tops at 7,671 feet. Stop for a quick visit to the mining camps of Mammoth and Copper Creek.

Catalina State Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Next up: Oracle, where the hardwood forests of the Santa Catalina Mountains meet the desert. Oracle is your destination; good news because after sundown you’re rewarded with the celestial sights of the city’s International Dark Sky.

In the morning, venture up to Oracle State Park, then south again on Highway 77 past Oracle Junction to Catalina State Park on the northwestern edge of Tucson.

Palm Springs & Mad Max Cities: I-10 to Palm Springs and home through Joshua Tree National Park

Driving Distance: 653 miles round trip from Downtown Phoenix

Turn-by-Turn Directions: From the I-10, go south on CA-78 to CA-115. Turn right. Drive north on CA-115 to Wiest Road. Turn right and head north on Wiest. At Noffsinger Road, turn right, then make a quick left on Highland Canal Road. When you reach Beal Road, turn right and follow it to Salvation Mountain.

“Let’s plan a fall colors drives on Interstate 10!” Said nobody, ever! But hear me out. This trip features all the hallmarks of an autumn getaway: quieting the noise, slowing the pace, and discovering new places.

Colorado River near Ehrenburg *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Heading west on I-10, saguaro sightings become fewer and sand gathers in windswept piles. After crossing the Colorado River (you’re in California now), drive south on Highway 78. But first, fuel up in Ehrenburg, Arizona, and avoid the high cost of gas in the Golden State. This is the route to the Salton Sea through the hottest, driest corner of the Sonoran Desert.

The Salton Sea sounds like a magical place ruled by a Greek god. In reality, it’s more mythological than magical. Accidentally created thanks to an irrigation “oops” in the 1900s, the Salton Sea once reigned as a 1950s retreat. Today, over-salinity has nearly dried it up. What’s left: brackish, murky water, a shore lined with decomposing bird and fish bones, and an abandoned beach town or two. Well, almost abandoned.

Bohemians and wanderers have made their way here to set up desert communes of makeshift homes and life-size art. One striking example is Salvation Mountain, an art installation of discarded tires, old windows, rusted auto parts, and bright paint spelling out spiritual messages. The work is so strangely beautiful that it boasts a stamp of approval from the Folk Art Society of America and has been covered in National Geographic.

From Salvation Mountain, drive north on Highway 111 to join I-10 to the Coachella Valley cities of Indio, Palm Desert, and Palm Springs. Immerse yourself in the fall foliage of the San Jacinto Mountains which loom over the valley at nearly 9,000 feet. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway ferries you from the foothills to the peaks and hiking trails letting you wander among the vibrant leafy color.

For the trip home, opt for the roundabout drive through Joshua Tree National Park. Start at the West Entrance, then follow a paved, two-lane road scattered with scenic pullouts and dotted not with maples and oaks, but with yucca, ocotillo, “jumping” cholla cactus, and its namesake Joshua trees.

Worth Pondering…

Alone in the open desert, I have made up songs of wild, poignant rejoicing and transcendent melancholy. The world has seemed more beautiful to me than ever before.

I have loved the red rocks, the twisted trees, and sand blowing in the wind, the slow, sunny clouds crossing the sky, the shafts of moonlight on my bed at night. I have seemed to be at one with the world.

—Everett Ruess

The Best Locations to Visit this Spring According to TikTok

As warmer days approach, you might start thinking about your next vacation—and if you’re looking for an unexpected gem you might not have to look very far

International luggage delivery company MyBaggage recently published its list of the 10 most popular places in the U.S. to visit this spring based on a potentially surprising methodology: TikTok views. And for the most part, the winners weren’t typical beach destinations in Florida or tourist attractions in California or New York.

The Texas Hill Country © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Rather, the list primarily featured locations near mountain ranges, national parks, and other natural attractions—mostly in the western and southern U.S.

To get the list, MyBaggage ran a series of location-based hashtag searches through TikTok and sorted the results by total views. At the time the report was compiled, videos tagged with Macon, Georgia had 53.7 million views on the app, according to MyBaggage. Texas Hill Country had 51.3 million views, by comparison.

Check out the top 10 for some great ideas on where to potentially travel this spring:

Macon © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Macon, Georgia

TikTok views: 53.7 million

Average temperature in May 2021: 71 F

Macon, Georgia is a nature lover’s wonderland. Nestled in the middle of the state, it’s the perfect place for a getaway to experience the great outdoors. Hike through 180 acres of upland forest at Amerson River Park, pick fresh produce at Lane Southern Orchards or Dickey Farms, hop on your bike for a ride through the Historic Downtown, or kayak along the bubbling Ocmulgee River.

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Step back in time and visit Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. Ocmulgee has had 17,000 years of continuous human habitation. Explore the museum with over 2,000 artifacts and visit the Earth Lodge with its original floors that are dated to 1015. The park’s 702 acres include fields, forests, and wetlands located along Walnut Creek and the Ocmulgee River. The Ocmulgee Wetlands allows visitors a glimpse into an ecosystem including birds, animal, reptiles, and plants. Immerse yourself in the wetlands environment by taking a stroll on the park’s boardwalk.

Related Article: The Best RV Destinations to Explore this Spring

Guadalupe River at Kerrville © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Texas Hill Country, Texas

TikTok views: 51.3 million

Average temperature in May 2021: 76 F

The Hill Country lies in southwestern central Texas. Although it has no technical geographic boundaries, it generally is defined as the area west of Austin and north of San Antonio—bordered by Interstate 35 on the east, U.S. 83 on the west, U.S. 90 on the south, and Texas State Highway 29 on the north. It is a land of steep, rolling hills; woods; streams and rivers; and small towns. Towns include San Marcos, Boerne, New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, and Johnson City.

Fredericksburg © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

With a strong German heritage dating to the 1800s, several Hill Country towns are known for their German restaurants and bakeries. Other attractions include wineries, state parks, barbecue restaurants, festivals and fairs, and wildflowers. Canyon, Buchanan, and Marble Falls are three major lakes in the area and among the primary rivers are Medina, Guadalupe, Colorado, Pedernales, and Llano. RV parks and resorts are abundant throughout the Hill Country and along I-35 and I-10.

Related Article: The Best Stops for a Spring Road Trip

Sedona © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Sedona, Arizona

TikTok views: 28.9 million

Average temperature in May 2021: 51 F

Red Rock Country © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Sedona is also known as the Red Rock Country, which—as the name implies—is home to red-rock formations and canyons amongst the desert trails and cacti. The springtime offers visitors a mild temperature to enjoy those red rocks before the heat of summer sets in.

Bell Rock © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Winding through Sedona’s Red Rock Country, Red Rock Scenic Byway (Highway 179) is often called a “museum without walls.” This All-American Road winds through the evergreen-covered Coconino National Forest and past two famous and beautiful vortexes—Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock. Stop at the several scenic pullouts for great views and enjoy the prehistoric red rocks with nearby parking (RV friendly). There are all levels of hiking and biking trails.

Palm Springs, California

TikTok views: 14.8 million

Average temperature in May 2021: 79 F

Coachella Valley © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Located in the Coachella Valley with the snow-capped peaks of the San Jacinto Mountains as a backdrop, Palm Springs has long been an upscale escape for area visitors and famous figures. Movie stars and mob bosses ditched L.A. to vacation here during the town’s first boom in the 1920s, popularizing a Spanish-Mediterranean architectural style.

Today, the village has grown and attractions consist of much more than just hanging out poolside. Whether it’s golf, tennis, polo, taking the sun, hiking, or a trip up the aerial tram, Palm Springs is a winter desert paradise.

Related Article: 12 of the Best State Parks for Spring Camping

Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee

TikTok views: 5.2 million

Average temperature in May 2021: 67 F

Clingmans Dome, Great Smoky Mountains National Park © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The Great Smoky Mountains, also a national park, are a mountain range along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee where visitors can hike, camp, go whitewater rafting, and experience remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture. It’s the country’s most-visited national park. The Appalachian Trail also runs through the Great Smoky Mountains.

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Scenic drives such as the Newfound Gap Road provide a welcome mat to countless brooks, waterfalls, overlooks, and trailheads; along winding roads where we can capture those s-curve-through-nature photographs that we love so much.

Related Article: 10 Inexpensive Outdoor Activities for Spring

Other locations in the top 10 most popular destinations include:

Oregon Coast, Oregon
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Nantucket Island, Massachusetts
Garden of the Gods, Colorado
Port Townsend, Washington

Worth Pondering…

You make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise.

—Florida Georgia Line, Cruise

Palm Springs: Like No Place Else

This desert escape never goes out of style

The town received another tourist boost during the ’50s when this became a hip Rat-Pack hangout. They brought with them significant Mid-Century Modern architects who crafted uber-cool homes, many of which were restored in the 1990s, and some of them (like the Kaufmann Desert House and Palm Springs City Hall) is now open to the public.

Related Article: Desert Star: Palm Springs

A useful place to start on any road trip is always the local visitor center but in Palm Springs this stop is more essential because of its iconic building. Housed in the Tramway Gas Station building, this landmark structure is considered a prime example of modernist architecture.

Palm Springs from Tahquitz Canyon © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Featuring a distinctive soaring roofline, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places making it the perfect destination to begin a tour of Palm Springs’ famous mid-century architecture. Gather information on areas of interest including a guidebook of notable retro style homes to admire while in town.

The main draw for snowbirds is the year-round sunshine but modern art and architecture buffs are attracted to the works of the architects who put their mark on the town including Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and William Krisel. Given its residents’ penchant for art and design, the area is also home to some of the state’s best vintage shops.

Shopping Palm Springs © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The Palm Springs Art Museum is the largest cultural institution in the Coachella Valley offering a collection of contemporary California art, classic Western and Native American art, glass studio art, mid-century architecture, and photography. Marvel at fascinating statues both inside and outside the architecturally-significant building. The area surrounding the museum is filled with public art installations including a 26-foot-tall Marilyn Monroe statue that’s sure to catch everyone’s eye.

Related Article: Good for What Ages You: Palm Springs

The Agua Caliente Cahuilla peoples were among the first to settle here and their descendants have established the Agua Caliente Indian Canyons, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Indian Canyons are one of the most beautiful attractions for any Palm Springs visitor, especially if you love to hike. You can hike Palm Canyon, Andreas Canyon, and Murray Canyon. Unlike other area trails, most of the trails in the Indian Canyons follow running streams. Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm), and indigenous flora and fauna are abundant.

For a more challenging hike, consider the trailhead tucked fashionably behind the Palm Springs Art Museum. While you’re there, visit one of the many fascinating design and architecture attractions that make the city famous.

Your hike continues from manmade wonders to natural spectacles. The waterfalls of Tahquitz Canyon are truly astounding, flanked by lush greenery and picturesque wildlife. The crisp water rushing past you tumbles 60 feet from apex to completion.

On a self-guided hike (ranger-led tours also available several times daily) of this secluded canyon, you can also view rock art, ancient irrigation systems, and native wildlife and plants. Participants must be able to navigate 100 steep rock steps along the 1.8-mile trail. Located at the entrance to the canyon, the Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center offers educational and cultural exhibits. The Center offers a display of artifacts, an observation deck, and a theater room for viewing The Legend of Tahquitz Canyon.

Once you’ve rinsed off, it’s time for some serious retail therapy at some of the area’s famed vintage and antique dealers. There are tons to choose from but some favorites include the Fine Art of Design, Angel View Thrift Mart, and the Palm Springs Vintage Market, the latter of which is an open-air vintage flea market that takes place the first Sunday of each month.

The beautiful San Jacinto Mountains are the backdrop to Palm Springs. You can visit the top of the San Jacinto Mountain via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. It’s the world’s largest rotating tramcar. It travels up over 2.5 miles along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon.

Disembark at the Mountain Station located at an elevation of 8,516 feet where you’ll find two restaurants, scenic observation decks, a natural history museum, documentary theaters, a gift shop, and more than 50 miles of hiking trails. The weather is 30-40 degrees cooler so you can go from warm to cool weather in a 10-minute tram ride. It’s known to have snow as early as November. You can go from a t-shirt to a coat, back to a swimsuit in a fall afternoon. Only in Palm Springs!

Will you be in town Thursday night? If not, rearrange those plans! VillageFest rocks Palm Canyon Drive every week with a dazzling array of delightful fare. Fall hours are 6–10 pm.

Downtown Palm Springs transforms into a diverse array of artists, artisans, entertainers, and purveyors of fresh fruits and veggies, flowers, jewelry, snacks, and sweets. Add all that to the great shops, restaurants, clubs, and entertainment venues located along World Famous Palm Canyon Drive—and the result is one of Southern California’s most popular weekly events: VillageFest!

Related Article: Out and About In Southern California

Nosh on finger foods from area restaurants, gaze at visionary pieces by local artists, and shop to the max at a bevy of business stands. The only thing missing is you!

Worth Pondering…

We have 51 golf courses in Palm Springs. He (President Ford) never decides which course he will play until after the first tee shot.

—Bob Hope

The 10 Best Day Trips in Southern California

Did your favorite Southern California experience make the list?

Home to so many large urban centers, Southern California is also incredibly rich in diverse ecosystems that range from deserts to mountaintops. Small charming towns provide a wonderful, relaxing destination in their own right while national and state parks offer active recreation but also an opportunity to get close to the natural world.

Palm Springs

Located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Palm Springs is known for its healing hot springs, luxury hotels, world-class golf courses, and pampering spas. Palm Springs has a number of great mid-century modern architecture examples especially in its downtown shopping district on Palm Canyon Drive.

Just outside the city is Coachella Valley with excellent trails for biking, hiking, and horseback riding. Take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of San Jacinto Peak for spectacular views of the city. Visit the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens to see what thrives in the sparse desert ecosystem. Enjoy the 1938 Palm Springs Art Museum to learn about regional art, performing arts, and natural science.

Julian

Julian is a charming historic town and a popular mountain getaway in the scenic Cuyamaca Mountains. Julian was in the heart of the only San Diego gold rush when gold was found in a local creek in early 1870. The gold rush did not last long but many miners stayed to farm the rich land. Many remnants from the gold rush era are still standing and visitors can travel back in time by visiting the historic 1870 buildings.

Gold made Julian, but apples made Julian famous. Its legendary crop won first prize at two World’s Fairs and is still the reason many visitors flock to this mountain town. No trip to Julian would be complete without digging into a slice of the town’s famed apple pie.

Old Town Temecula

Located in the heart of Temecula, the Old Town district is a unique blend of historic buildings, shops, restaurants, museums, hotels, weekly farmers’ markets, and special events in one walkable area. History buffs can wander the streets viewing rustic buildings, sidewalks, and storefronts reminiscent of the historic golden west in the 1880s. Take a step back in time and stroll along the wooden boardwalks past rustic western-era buildings, antique shops, and specialty boutiques.

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum is a house museum in Desert Hot Springs. A large, Hopi-style pueblo was built in the Pueblo revival style by homesteader and adventurer Cabot Abram Yerxa in the early 20th century. The four-story 5,000-square-foot house was entirely hand-made from found and reclaimed objects and has 35 rooms, 65 doors, and 150 windows.

The house museum is a fascinating portrait of the life adventures of Cabot Yerxa and his family. It includes many household artifacts collected during their adventures through the Dakota Territory, Mexico, Alaska, Cuba, France, California, and the Southwest. There are also many artworks from Alaska Native and Native American cultures as well as curious memorabilia of desert homesteaders’ life.

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park has two distinct desert ecosystems, the high Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert. It is home to an incredible diversity of plants and is characterized by stark, empty desert landscapes and rugged and colorful rock formations.

The park got its name for one of the most common trees in the region: The twisted, strange-looking, bristly Joshua tree. The incredible beauty and strange energy of the place have long attracted painters, musicians, and other artistic types.

Today, the park offers all kinds of adventures, from exploring the Indian Cove Nature Trail to rock climbing at Echo Cove or any of over 8,000 climbs and 400 rock formations to strolling through the magical Cholla Cactus Garden.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Anza-Borrego Desert, the largest state park in California, and was established in 1933 to protect unique and fragile desert ecosystems. The park is framed by rugged ranges of the Bucksnorts, the Santa Rosas, the Jacumba Mountains, the Vallecito Mountains, the Pinyon Mountains, the Anza-Borrego Mountains, and the Carrizo Badlands.

More than 500 miles of roads run through the park, over rocky hills, deep sands, cool streams, and steep hills, some requiring an off-road vehicle. The park includes some of the warmest temperatures in the country as well as rich 6,000-year-old archaeological findings. Visiting the park in the spring will award visitors with a spectacular mosaic of wildflowers. The park is home to many animals including mountain lions, coyotes, and bighorn sheep.

Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge

As a US congressman from California, Sonny Bono fought for funding to save the Salton Sea which suffers from water depletion, pollution, and too much salinity. The refuge was established in 1930 as a breeding ground for birds and wild animals and was renamed to honor Bono after he died in a skiing accident in 1998.

Over 400 bird species, 41 species of mammals, 18 species of reptiles, four species of amphibians, and 15 species of fish have been recorded on the refuge. The refuge features a visitor center, an observation tower, and a trail that climbs to the top of a small inactive volcano—two miles out and back.

Temecula Wine Country © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Temecula Valley Wine Country

For many visitors, the Temecula Valley Wine Country is a surprise. After all, a lot of people just don’t expect to see gently rolling hills blanketed with rows of vineyards in Southern California. But the Temecula Valley has been producing top wines since the 1970s. And like the best vintages, this wine country just gets better with age.

It’s a diverse growing region, home to everything from cooler climate grapes like Chardonnay to such warm-weather loving varieties as Syrah and Grenache. The tasting experience is varied, too. Visit posh wineries with lavish restaurants overlooking the vines and summer concerts featuring top performers.

Coachella Valley Preserve

One of the most unique places in the Coachella Valley is the Coachella Valley Preserve. The 17,000-acre site has 25 miles of hiking trails and is home to the spectacular Thousand Palm Oasis which is fed by water seeping out of the San Andreas Fault.

There are also several other palm oases including the Willis, Hidden Horseshoe, and Indian Palms. Located in the center is the Paul Wilhelm Grove which is also the location of the Preserve’s visitor’s center. The preserve has several hiking trails including the McCallum, Hidden Palms, Moon Country, Pushawalla Palms, and Willis Palms.

Borrego sculptors © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Monsters in the Desert

The desert landscape near Borrego Springs has been changed forever by the appearance of prehistoric creatures that pop up alongside the roadside. The original steel welded sculptors, the craft of artist/welder Ricardo Breceda, began arriving in April 2008 on Dennis Avery’s private parcel of land known as Galleta Meadows Estate.

There are now over 130 meticulously crafted metal sculptures sprinkled throughout the small town of Borrego Springs. Elephants, raptors, mammoths, sloths, and saber-toothed tigers prowl the desert off Borrego Springs Road north and south of the town proper. From ground-hugging desert tortoises to rearing horses, each rust-colored sculpture is filled with intricate detail–from the curling eyelashes of 10-foot high elephants to the shaved metal fur of the equally imposing sloths.

Worth Pondering…

Trampled in dust I’ll show you a place high on the desert plain where the streets have no name, where the streets have no name …

—Joshua Tree, sung by U2, 1987