Palm Desert Things to Do Tips by nyc10025 Top 5 Page for this destination

Coachella Valley Preserve

This preserve in Thousand Palms is not very well publicized but is well worth a visit. The preserve has a one mile walking trail (fairly easy walk but has some soft sand and some wet areas so wear appropriate shoes). The trail starts at the Thousand Palms Oasis which has hundreds of closely packed large Desert Fan Palms (60 feet high with leaves over 6 feet wide). These palms have been providing food and shelter since before the last ice age. The water from this oasis and those nearby came from the San Andreas Fault which you walk across on the trail. The Fault causes underground dams that bring the water to the desert surface. At the end of the trail is a grove with a small pond surrounded by more palms. Right behind the grove are large sand dunes.

Directions: Take Montery Avenue away from Palm Desert, after passing Interstate 10, turn right on Ramon Road to Thousand Palms Canyon Rd. and make left turn (you can only go left). Look for Coachella Valley Preserve sign on Ramon Rd.

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Living Desert Zoo Review

This 1,200 acre zoological gardens has many different desert ecosystems that have representative plants, animals and birds. We spent our time in the southwestern desert area which represents the ecosystem of the surrounding area. They also have African Animals, for example, but you can see them at any zoo. They also have a number of areas for children. Open Sept. 1 to June 15 from 9 to 4 and June 16 to August 31 from 8 to 1.

Address: 47-900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert, CA

Directions: Just slightly south of downtown Palm Desert

Phone: 760-346-5694

Website: http://www.livingdesert.org

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Travel 12,700 feet on a cable car from the desert to an artic/alpine mountain area almost 9,000 feet at the cable mountain station. From the top you can see Palm Springs and many of the nearby towns. There are 54 miles of hiking trails from the station but there are easy marked trails that you can spend a short time on. When we were there in March, the mountain was covered with snow and had a temperature of about 40 when the valley was at about 70. Make sure you have good walking shoes and something to wear for the colder temperature (it's always about 30 degrees colder on the mountain). The cable car holds about 60 to 80 individuals and leaves about every 10 minutes from 10 to 8 during the week and 8 to 8 on weekends. Fare is $21, $19 for seniors and discounted after 3 PM. The ride itself is quite an experience as you see the changes in the mountain as you ascend (the cable car slowly rotates). If you have a major fear of heights, you may not want to do this trip, however, if you stand in the middle of the car you don't have to look down.

Address: 1 Tramway Road, Palm Springs, CA

Directions: Near downtown Palm Springs

Phone: 1-888-515-TRAM