Palm Springs Public Library and other Palm Springs, CA Things to Do Tips

We found the local library quite useful. We used it to keep up with the news (they subscribed to about 20 out-of-town daily newspapers). Also, the library allowed the use of the internet, so we were able to keep up with our emails, and find out what was happening on Virtual Tourist.

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Phone: (760) 322-7323
Address: 300 S. Sunrise Way
Website: www.palmspringslibrary.org

OK, What can I tell you about the windmills in Palm Springs that you don't already know?

Well, there are not any in Palm Springs. They are all in the Coachella Valley as you climb the pass and you pass them when travelling north of PS on Interstate Hwy 15 -- banks and banks of them -- probably for 10 minutes driving (so ten miles) as you climb the valley.

I haven't taken the wind power tour. Even though I am a power engineer, I suspect it would be a bit boring. It WAS interesting that you could see they had been installed over time -- i.e. some of them were antiques as far as wind turbines are. Most were three bladed, but some had only two. It was amazing how many were not running even though it seemed there was enough wind to run most of them. Obviously they are not being maintained properly.

Generally, wind turbines only run for approximately one third of the time. They are actually a challenge to put on the power grid as they start up and stop more or less randomly (dependant on wind) - so you may need a conventional source of generation so that there are not brown outs.

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Most houses in Palm Springs have swimming pools. Supposedly some days in mid-summer, residents need to cool their pools. Swimming certainly was a daily pastime while we visited.

Believe it or not, the place is a desert. Most neighbourhoods had sand yards. The only place with consistant grass was golf courses. There are a lot of golf courses, and we had one about three houses away. It was heaven to slip off your sandals just before dusk and wander barefoot on the fairways.

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When we were in Palm Springs in March 2007, we stared out at this chairlift every day -- our bedroom window faced Mt. St. Jacinto. During our week in PSm we never made it. I have read that the price is $22 (little less in the evening), and the website talks about the world's largest rotating tram ride -- Whoo hooo!

But I haven't found out anything about the trails at the top yet. We are going to PS again in March 2008 and this time we will spend a day up there, so I have to find out before then.

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