Palm Springs and the Desert Resorts: Places to Explore

The permanent population of Borrego Springs, set squarely in the middle of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, hovers around 2,500. Long a quiet town, it's emerging as a laid-back destination for desert lovers... Read more

One of the fastest-growing communities in the desert, Cathedral City is more residential than tourist-oriented. However, the city has a number of good restaurants and entertainment venues with moderate... Read more

Desert Hot Springs' famous hot mineral waters, thought by some to have curative powers, bubble up at temperatures of 90°F to 148°F and flow into the wells of more than 40 hotel spas.... Read more

For the most part a quiet residential community, Indian Wells is the site of golf and tennis tournaments throughout the year, including the BNP Paribus Open tennis tournament. The city has three hotels... Read more

Indio is the home of the date shake, which is exactly what it sounds like: an extremely thick milk shake made with dates. The city and surrounding countryside generate 95% of the dates grown and harvested... Read more

The desert became a Hollywood hideout in the 1920s, when La Quinta Hotel (now La Quinta Resort and Club) opened, introducing the Coachella Valley's first golf course. Old Town La Quinta is a popular attraction... Read more

Palm Desert is a thriving retail and business community with popular restaurants, private and public golf courses, and premium shopping. Its stellar sight to see is the Living Desert complex.... Read more

A tourist destination since the late 19th century, Palm Springs evolved into an ideal hideaway for early Hollywood celebrities. They could slip into town, play some tennis, lounge around the pool, attend... Read more

The rich and famous of Rancho Mirage live in beautiful estates and patronize elegant resorts and expensive restaurants. Although many mansions here are concealed behind the walls of gated communities and... Read more

The Salton Sea, one of the largest inland seas on Earth, is the product of both natural and artificial forces. The sea occupies the Salton Basin, a remnant of prehistoric Lake Cahuilla. Over the centuries... Read more

The main gateway town to Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms is also the location of the U.S. Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Center. You can find services, supplies, and limited lodgings... Read more

One of the high desert's fastest-growing cities, Yucca Valley is emerging as a bedroom community for people who work as far away as Ontario, 85 miles to the west. In this sprawling suburb you can shop... Read more