Palm Springs
With only a few days left before going back into the field I decided to do a last minute trip to Palm Springs. The highlight of my trip was hiking in the Indian Canyons, the world's largest natural palm oasis. In my short time in this city I was impressed by the diverse landscape, and relaxed lifestyle.
Palm Springs has been on my bucket list of things to see in Southern California for awhile. Only two hour drive away, all that held me back until now were a few friends who thought I would find it boring. While it was apparent that the city it carters to an older demographic, I learned that there are many outdoor adventures possible here.
As I drove over Banning Pass into into the Cahuilla Valley the first thing I noticed were wind turbines, many of them. The area was so windy that I started to second guess my plan to go hiking that afternoon. After checking at the visitor center, I was told the Indian Canyons were not windy, but that I would have to pay an entrance fee if I wanted to hike there. The attendant told me they had a student rate of $6. Not bad, but I told him I was not a student. He said that I looked like a student so he would only charge me $6.
Of the three possible canyons, I was referred to Murray Canyon, a 4-mile hike, which I could comfortably complete that afternoon. While I expected to see palm trees, the beautiful rock formations were a surprise. The trail first took me through the desert, and then dropped down into the oasis where it criss-crossed the stream about a dozen times before reaching a waterfall. It turned out to be one of the most unique hikes I've ever done, comparable to Hawaii in my opinion.
I headed downtown for an early dinner, and was surprised to see many restaurants packed already. I felt very young eating dinner surrounded by mostly retired people. Compared to Los Angeles the downtown strip seemed almost sleepy, certainly relaxed. This is Palm Springs--the snapshot I've seen of it.
