Heading into Palm Springs by air or land it is shocking to see encrusted sand and baked dirt turn immediately into green grass, manicured lawns, golf courses, and fountains fit for a Versace mansion. There is no gradual transition; it is instant. No border through which the passerby can acclimatize. Brown to green; it’s side by side.
Driving in from the desert we passed from the unusual isolationist characters who inhabit the twilight zone and into a world of luxury and decadence.
I will admit to having a preconceived idea of what to expect and it wasn’t one I embraced. I imagined a town of unbridled hedonism where the streets were constantly filled by those seeking a party. In my mind it was noisy, crass, and pretentious. I was wrong.
Palm Springs won me over upon arrival. Granted, it is a little like making nice with elective plastic surgery but if a boob job or a set of collagen lips made me feel as good as Palm Springs in the summer swelter, I’d be OK with that.
Everywhere you look there are reminders of the past. Mid-century modern is a term bandied about Palm Springs with such rapidity that you soon learn to come to the party and scrutinize those buildings that are not quite as mid-century modern as others…and you may just find you’re doing it like a snooty wine snob.
All the Hollywood elite came here and at one time it was their playground. The main street has its own Walk of Fame where golden stars announce the name and occupation of many well-known artists; mostly from an era fading slowly into history.
After journeying through the life of Gram Parsons as I slept in the room next to where he passed on, putting pedal to the metal in an attempt to escape the Borax of Trona, chatting with the sole resident of Ballarat, eaten in the dark by Box Beetles, finding Baby Jane in Amargosa, Leonard Knight at Salvation Mountain, the most gorgeous lake of life constricting blue, and a ranch of Bottle Trees on Route 66, it was a pleasure to enter Palm Springs.
The 110 degree heat did not seem as hot here. Maybe the knowledge that a pool awaited us only feet from the entrance of our bedroom door had something to do with it.
We ate well under the mist of cooling water jets, we swam till the moon was high in the sky, and we wandered the town in no particular hurry. To end up here after the incredible road trip we had just completed was perfect.
All we had left to do was just relax. It felt good.
Flat Tires and Slow Boats 
Lovely photos, in a way it looks exactly like I have imagined Palm Springs.
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Palm Springs is indeed an oasis in the harsh desert. I love the feel of new developed areas that give you a feel of clean and neat. Even if I know that underneath is still an arid landscape, I can’t help feeling good there…
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Lovely Photos Tim, it’s been over 4 years since I visited Palm Springs. Still beautiful as ever.
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Hahah love the line about boob jobs and collagen. Even some of the most “regular” tourist places can surprise us. Early on, I tried to convince myself I would not love Sun Valley, but guess what, I love Sun Valley 🙂
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How can you not love a place with Sun in the name 🙂
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Hi Tim. I’m surprised you liked Palm Springs. I always thought your travels took you off the beaten path. the path to Palm Springs has been beaten to death! It’s nice, but not one of my favourite places.
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I was surprised to. But having it as the final stop after a fairly “off the beaten track” road trip was like treat.
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Nicely written my friend! Now I have to go see Palm Springs.
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I have flown into Palm Springs several times and have always had the same reaction to the view from the air. Desert, desert, desert… Boom! Green, green, green. It is a bit unsettling. Then I start counting golf courses, but I always give up. There are too many to count. One of my favorite things to do in Palm Springs is to take the aerial cable car up to the top of Mt. San Jacinto. If you were inclined to then hike down the other side about 4 miles, you would come to Idyllwild, a lovely Alpine-like mountain town of Coulter pines and winter snow. My parents lived there for years.
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I didn’t do the cable-car but will return I am sure; will do it then and may even do the hike you suggest. Thanks.
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It’s been years since I was in Palm Springs. It was for a convention but a small group of us got out and about. It was lovely there. My trip was go go go and not as relaxing. That’s just the nature of conventions though.
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Gorgeous photos. The sky-color effect in all the pictures have made this post very attractive. Beautiful place!
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I loved Palm Springs! There was something so nostalgic there. I half expected Sammy Davis Jr or Dean Martin to come walking down the street:)
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I know what you mean Jacquie. We ended up eating at one restaurant where seeing either of those two would have seemed normal. We were also the youngest there by a few decades 🙂
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