Palm Springs Area Dec 25-Jan1. Adult family vacation help Please :)
 

Hi,
I am planning a Christmas vacation for my family of 7 adults. I have been looking into rental housing at VRBO however I am not sure of what area. My research says south Palm Springs to stay away from wind. Any advice on the best location would be truly appreciated.
We would like to mostly relax by a pool, yes we are Canadians so the temperature although not as hot as I'd like its still way warmer than home at this time. Also maybe a hike/walk, shopping and the possibility of driving to perhaps Disney or Universal for a day trip.
I Thank you in advance for any advice anyone has to offer.
Cheers
K

I like the town of Palm Springs. If you choose your hotel well, you can walk to a dozen (or more) restaurants and other things like theater and shopping. If you stay out in Palm Desert, you can't walk to anything. There are nice resorts out there, but you have to have a car. We opted to stay in Palm Springs and only rented a car of a couple of day trips out to the desert. It's really a matter of personal preference.

Both Anaheim and Universal would be long day trips.

Unless you miss traffic (almost impossible most of the day) Disneyland will be a 2 hour drive each way, And Universal Holywood will take even longer.

I'd also stay close to downtown Palm Springs

Thank you for the replies, both very helpful.

If you have a car, you could visit Joshua Tree National Park and do a little hiking there. It's really different. www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm

Another fun stop is Shields Date Garden just outside of town in Indio. Have a date shake, shop a little and watch their little movie about this history of the place and how dates came to California. www.shieldsdategarden.com

Be sure and do at least one day soaking in the mineral hot springs that made the area famous. Some of the springs resorts sell day passes,so you don't have to stay at their hotel to soak in the mineral pools. We did a quick (and inexpensive) soak at Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel, which is very retro and laid back. Not fancy, but we enjoyed it after hiking at Joshua. www.dhsspa.com.

Oh -- I just noticed the dates in your title . . . The traffic won't be horrible because of the holidays, but both Disneyland and Universal will be HORRIBLY crowded, about the busiest times of the year.

For all sorts of reasons, I wouldn't recommend a day trip to Disney or Universal. You will find plenty to do in Palm Springs.

I'd also stay right in Palm Springs, and definitely do one or more day trips to Joshua Tree - extraordinary, and you can do some marvelous short hikes (or just tour from the road.)

http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload...110205_55a.jpg
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The PS aerial tram is fun, there's a decent casino in downtown PS, an excellent little art museum, lots of good food, great antique shopping, and you're surrounded by cool mid-century ring-a-ding architecture and golf courses.

Disney that week is mayhem, not to mention the current prices... yikes.

For your side trip to Joshua Tree, see this installment of Weekend Sherpa that I just got today:

http://weekendsherpa.com/issues/thre...national-park/

Weekend Sherpa is a wonderful service - I've done many hikes and visited many places they've suggested. I have to remember to donate.

Thank you everyone for the great information. I appreciate your time and advice.
Cheers,
Kerry