La Quinta, California was founded in 1776 by Conquistadores led by Juan Baustista De Anza. In those days it was quite common for travelers from Mexico to stop every few miles on their pilgrimage to the Catholic Missions of San Gabriel, Riverside and San Bernardino. The present location happened to be fifth on the list of stops and consequently the name La Quinta which translated into Spanish as the fifth.

Surrounded by the Santa Rosa Mountains most residents at the time were the Cahuilla Indians, a tribe indigenous to the area and who remain in the valley and are quite active and prominent in the local community. Following Mexico’s independence from Spain, settlements in the area grew rapidly and records of such began to be collected in the early 1800’s.

The La Quinta Resort was a frequent resting place for Hollywood stars and for many years was the home of Frank Capra who wrote the screen play for “Lost Horizons” at his home there, became the first of its kind and was a popular watering hole and destination for Hollywood celebrities.

Perhaps the most popular place in La Quinta Village is Old Town, an exciting development located on Main Street which adjoins the Civic Center, the home of the La Quinta Arts Festival. Beginning in 1982 a group of civic minded individuals including then and first Mayor Fred Wolf were determined to create a La Quinta that would be, to quote Mayor Wolf, “the cultural and artistic center of the Coachella Valley, providing the community with the cultural and artistic offerings that are vital to a functional society.” Wolf and two other contributors created the La Quinta Arts Foundation in 1982. The Arts Festival is sponsored by Foundation and its partner, the City, which continues to sponsor a myriad of events in the area.

The Festival, which had its debut in 1983 had 50 artists and 1900 patrons including Red Skelton, was first held at the Desert Club Resort in La Quinta Village and has always been held within five miles of the original site. Today it’s held at the civic center adjoining Old Town and is ranked the 3rd best arts festival in the nation. Typically, it’s held in March of each year and features more than two hundred artists from 44 states and Canada and Mexico.

New at the festival in 2011 is the addition on the festival grounds of a restaurant and bar featuring an eclectic myriad of food and drink. My first time at the festival was in 2004 when I had the distinct honor of meeting many of the award winning artists. My wife and I have made a point of traveling from Los Angeles each year to attend the festival which continues to get bigger and more compelling each year. Planning is now in development for the 2012 season which is expected to be larger and better than ever.

Find out more about where to go and what to do on your next Palm Springs vacation, then visit Mitchell Sussman’s site on how to choose the best value for your next Palm Springs vacation.

Every year an event takes place in the country of France, that sees world class cyclists roll thru the roads, streets, and mountains called the Tour de France. In the California desert each year about 100 miles east of Los Angeles in a little city sometimes known as the playground of the stars, there is also a bicycle event that brings together hundreds of two wheel enthusiasts who seek some competition as well as some good ole’ fashion exercise.

Dubbed the Tour de Palm Springs, this event is the brainchild of biking enthusiast Tim Esser who was hit with an idea back in January of 1998 that the desert and it’s variety of terrains would be a perfect place to hold an annual bike event right in the heart of Palm Springs.

The Tour de Palm Springs is a bike event that throws all competitors into one event. It provides a 5, 10, 25, 56, and 102 mile ride thru the city, all designed to give the novice and the professional a full and adequate experience.

The desert scenery and the perfect weather led me to hop on a bike and give it a go on both Friday and Saturday in the shorter rides, the 5 & 10 mile jaunt thru the downtown area on Indian Canyon.

The goal of the event though is to raise money for a variety of charities like Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City, Girl Scouts, Palm Springs Baptist Church, Historic Youth Tours, Desert Aids Project, and the Disabled American Veterans.

With sponsors such as Arrowhead, Jiffy Lube, Cold Stone and Fox 11, the first event was able to raise $20,000.00 and was hailed as a marvelous success. A recent event raised over $200,000.00 and donated to 110 different entities that were meeting the needs of the people in the valley.

The Tour de Palm Springs is a not for profit organization called CVSPIN which stands for Coachella Valley Serving People in Need and that’s exactly the purpose of an event that attracts riders from all over.

Its reputation was elevated when in 2001, the Coachella Valley Desert Business Association recognized the Tour de Palm Springs as the best event in the Valley. And that’s including such events as the Bob Hope Chrysler Golf Classic, The Dinah Shore LPGA Tournament, and the BNP Paribas Tennis Open.

Since its inception, the Tour de Palm Springs has continued to grow and attract more and more riders as well as generating money for worth-while causes in the Coachella Valley. And it also allowed me the opportunity to meet new friends along with giving my legs a much needed workout. All in all a perfect part of my recent vacation to Palm Springs and the California desert resort cities.

Learn more about a Palm Springs vacation. Stop by Mitchell Sussman’s site where you can find out all about where to go and what to do on your next Palm Springs vacation .

Visit the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum on your next trip to Palm Springs and the California desert cities. The museum has very early roots as a bathhouse in the late nineteenth century and was in use as early 1889. The tribe of Cahuilla Indians leased the bath house land where a hot spring was located in what is now the heart of Palm Springs.

By 1910 it had came under strict scrutiny by the Federal government which at the time was collecting the entrance fees on behalf of the tribe. To make matters worse the tribe, which now owned the property, could not make repairs because of official bungling and red tape. It was later rebuilt but remained under Federal scrutiny throughout this period. Rebuilt again in 1930 the Agua Caliente Hot Spring became a magnet for Hollywood celebrities and the City of Palm Springs grew up surrounding it. Eventually the activities of the tribe became at odds with local businesses. By 1937 the Federal government took over the operation of the Reservation and reduced its income.

Today it’s a thriving museum and activity center which was officially dedicated in 1991 to the enlightenment of us all. As presently construed the museum is a non-profit entity otherwise known as a 501(3) organization dedicated in its own words “…to inspire people to learn about the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and other Native cultures….”. Activities today include educational programs, exhibitions of various relevant collections and research and is constantly striving to expand. My first visit to the Museum came at the founding celebration that year and to my interest and delight to see the enthusiastic spirit and intention to dramatically expand the vision of the Band and to become a resource for not only the local Native cultures but the general population as well.

Be sure to attend the five-day film festival which takes place in March of each year. Full length feature films, documentaries and short films were featured as well as many local activities, diverse presentations and even classes for some. The films are screened at the Camelot Theaters in downtown Palm Springs. I was privileged to attend both the opening and closing-night receptions and mingle with a special audience; filmmakers, actors and other celebrities sharing an interest in the promotion of knowledge and understanding of the Cahueilla Band.

My third, and most recent, visit was last October when I attended a Museum sponsored, delightful night under the stars in Andreas Canyon which included cocktails, dinner, an auction and Native entertainment.

Activities at the Museum continue to expand and along with its growth is a plan to build a $65,000,000, 110,000 Square foot Museum in what is known to the locals as Section 14 of Palm Springs otherwise known as the Tahquitz area. Designed by famed architects Jones and Jones the new Museum is expected to entertain nearly 150 thousand visitors a year. In the meantime all are invited to visit the museum as it is now, enjoy the activities and learn more about the indigenous Native cultures and the Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians.

Want to find out more about a Palm Springs vacation, then visit Mitchell Sussman’s site on how to choose the best Palm Springs vacation for your needs.

It all started in 1993 when rock band Pearl Jam played before 25,000 fans at a free concert on the desert lawns of the Empire Polo Club. From there the seed was planted for the nation’s biggest music festival to take form for one weekend, the Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival.

Six years later the Coachella Valley Music Festival or what it’s commonly known as Coachella Fest exhibits the best of the music world that perform for over 60,000 attendees each day in a span of 3 days with a variety of music performances playing at the same time on multiple stages.

In its early days, Coachella was held in the month of October. But the Festival Organizers realized the desert heat was in full bloom during that time of the year and decided to move it up into April when the heat was more tolerable and sometimes downright comfortable.

Performers like Madonna, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, Prince, Nine Inch Nails, and Jay-Z have graced the stage in the desert.

Camping is allowed on an adjacent polo field next to the venue grounds. The campsite provides a separate entrance, a karaoke lounge, a general store, and shower trucks.

Coachella has gradually grown into a musical bonanza for the avid music lovers since 2003. The festival is a prime event for reunion acts like Iggy Pop and The Stooges in 2003 or Rage Against the Machine’s reunion in 2007, which drew nearly 100,000 fans.

I highly urge to refrain from driving yourself since parking is a nightmare. Instead there are two excellent options to use such as using the shuttle service that is provided from all points in the valley or car pool so to lessen the burden. Once there, have plenty of water and become aware of the surroundings. As the day carries into the night and the fun and excitement increases, it becomes easy to get distorted and lose track of where you are unless you know your way around.

Coachella Fest is much more then just music. It is a gathering of people that enable them to sustain friendships and make new ones all being aided by a variety of music as well as art work that can be seen throughout. Most of the pieces are interactive, and provide entertainment and eye candy, which there is a lot of, for the many attendees walking throughout the Polo grounds.

Coachella has become a signature event in the California desert and, if you love good music, a must stop on your next Palm Springs vacation.

Learn more about a Palm Springs vacation. Stop by Mitchell Sussman’s site where you can find out all about where to go and what to do on your next Palm Springs vacation.

Get out and grab your cowboy hat and pull on your cowboy boots because when it comes to hearing some all around good quality country music, there is no better place to spend a couple days then the Stagecoach Festival.

A week after the Coachella Music Festival comes to an end, Stagecoach picks up right were the rock festival left off. Taking place in Indio at the Empire Polo Club, this two-day event on Saturday and Sunday features an array of performers like Kenny Chesney, Darius Rucker, The Judds, Kid Rock, Carrie Underwood, The Eagles and Reba McEntyre to name a few that reveal the diversity in the country music world.

Stagecoach draws a large crowd of devoted and passionate fans that continues to grow each year. Starting on Saturday when parking opens at 9 a.m., the country music festival really gets going around 4 p.m. and comes to an end each night about midnight.

When I entered the main entrance, I immediately noticed a lot of energy, a lot of excitement, and a lot of togetherness that created a great atmosphere filled with hugs, kisses, singing along, and compliments galore being hollered out loud.

There is a variety of food to choose from along with beverage stands in a number of different areas so that I wouldn’t be far when my cup went dry to filler up. Movement thru the sea of people is smooth and comfortable, even with the immense about of boots stomping thru the green grass area.

Along with the mainstream artists that are known by the many, Stagecoach provides an excellent venue for the unknown artists who have an excellent opportunity to become known.

The Stagecoach Festival is a fantastic change of pace following on the heels of the rock phenomenon known as the Coachella Fest. It provides a relaxed atmosphere that is more of a community of performers and fans that work together to create an enjoyable experience. This event is perfect for those looking to avoid the big attendance numbers and the congestion that it brings, but has just as much quality music for the listening ear.

So if you’ve never been to a country music festival, Stagecoach is a must stop on your next Palm Springs vacation and an experience that will be forever cherished over time.

Want to find out more about where to go and what to do on your next Palm Springs vacation, then visit Mitchell Sussman’s site on how to choose the best Palm Springs vacation for your needs.

The Palm Springs stadium watching the Palm Springs Power is the place to be on a balmy summer night after hot day in the desert.

The Power is a collegiate-level baseball team. Based in Palm springs, the team has supplied a number of players to such major league teams as the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, and Philadelphia Phillies to name a few.

When I first arrived at the Stadium for the 7:00 contest, I noticed the ease in finding parking since their ample area on either side of the stadium. As I walked thru the gates, the strong aroma of hot dogs and cotton candy filled the air. Seating is very simple since it is all bleachers and the view is unbeatable. I was able to follow the ball and the player movements very well along with taking in some of the emotion and expressions that come with the game.

The Power exhibit what it means to play the game for the love of the game. Playing in the Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association, the Power had an impressive 2010 campaign going 19-1 in conference play and finishing 33-4 overall. In between the homeruns, strikeouts, and double of the walls, is Rocky the Ram – the team mascot. The Ram gives the children a reason to smile as he enjoys the game with them and has a little fun along the way. You’ll notice Rocky since he’s the only Ram wearing a Power jersey with double zero on the back.

Night games under the lights are fantastic as they give off a feeling of taking a trip back thru time when the game meant fathers and sons sharing popcorn as well as the reason to walk the eight hitter in the lineup with the pitcher coming up and the bases now loaded.

I would highly advise to dress accordingly when the games are in the middle of the day. However, a cool beverage and some ice cream can definitely ease the summer heat. The friendly confines, the team atmosphere, and good baseball all equal to a memorable experience that is worth the well-affordable price. And remember, there are no long lines be it at the concession stand or in the parking lot making this a great way to spend an afternoon or a balmy evening on your next trip to Palm Springs and the desert resort cities.

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Palm Springs is a really stunning desert city in California with a population of almost 50,000. As a result of multitude of recreational activities which may be carried out in Palm Springs, for example swimming, horse back riding, golf, rock climbing, the city has become a major attraction for tourists and families who wish to spend their holidays in a good and relaxing atmosphere. The city is well-known for the festivals and international events that take place annually, but also for its rotating aerial tramcars, the largest in the planet, which offer a unique view of the city to these interested in visiting the surroundings and seeing the Palm Springs properties from above.

Palm Springs architecture is extremely modern day, several Palm Springs properties becoming designed by the famous architect Alexander Houses. The Palm Spring homes generally have low-pitched roofs, floor to ceiling windows and wide eaves, producing them extremely stylish and appealing. They are very modern and combine not just the newest and most popular architectural types with today’s leading engineering, but also the comfort and the relaxing atmosphere of a household property to be able to please even essentially the most sophisticated home buyer .

Annually you will find more than 3000 Palm Springs homes for sale, and if you are trying to buy a house in Palm Springs than you ought to know which you will locate not merely household and vacation households, but also condos or golf and tennis country clubs. All you need to do is search for the property you are thinking about. Real estate companies are really expert and will gladly enable you to when searching for the house that suits you finest.

You must also know that Palm Springs homes aren’t very pricey, the prices becoming very attractive for those looking to seek out a family or a holiday house. Also, the view along with the surroundings are quite stunning, the city becoming surrounded by mountains, making it the ideal spot for all those who adore rock climbing or skiing as there are lots of ski resorts in the location.

So, if you are enthusiastic about buying a place to reside or just a vacation house in Palm Springs, then that you are possibly creating a good selection that you just won’t regret. Palm Springs properties are known for their distinctive mixture of modern day architecture and newest technologies as they’re specially developed to enhance comfort. Also, Palm Springs is a really beautiful area filled with activities, generating it a fantastic spot to reside and invest your holidays in.

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On your next trip to downtown Palm Springs, look into taking a carriage ride with your loved one down Palm Canyon Drive.

In 1988, Palm Springs Carriages came to be. And from there, it has grown into three carriages with five horses that allowed a simple visitor like myself to smell the desert air while taking in the sights of Palm Canyon Drive at the height of the tourist season.

We were picked up on Palm Canyon Drive in front of the historic Village Green, home of the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and Cornelia White’s original house. From there I was whisked away on a tour of the Palm Springs main drag, Palm Canyon Drive, and then over to a wonderful excursion of the Tennis Club District that is rich in history. As I was carried around the area, enjoying the sound of horseshoes against the pavement, I was given the option to have my journey narrated by one of the courteous and knowledgeable drivers or just enjoy a quiet and relaxing ride.

While being jogged around the downtown area at a nice brisk pace that was extremely relaxing and comfortable. I was able to get an up and close look at the many historic buildings that have been the playground to some of Hollywood’s most beloved characters to grace the stage and screen and who have made this desert paradise their home since the 1920’s.

In the hot summer months, there are carriages running as long as weather permits as the owner of tends to her horses in a way that would please any animal rights activist. In the cooler months from October thru May, the Palm Springs Carriages offer longer tours of two to three hours. They include visiting such places as the Las Palmas areas, and some of the homes of past and present celebrities.

There is a whole host of different tours to choose from, all ranging from 10, 20, 30, and 45 minutes to one, one and a half, two, and three – hour tours for those who have a little romance in their heart and some time to spare.

For special occassions the Palm Springs Carriages break out an Antique carriage, which is rich in splendor and catches the eyes as it passes by the throngs of tourists lining the streets and window shopping along tony Palm Canyon Drive.

Should this be your first time to the desert or you are on a first date with somebody special, a little quiet time roaming around Palm Springs being pulled by a fantastic horse is the way to go to get comfortable with that special someone on your next Palm Springs vacation.

Want to find out more about where to go and what to do on your next Palm Springs vacation, then visit Mitchell Sussman’s site on how to choose the best Palm Springs vacation for you.

Two former big league baseball players had dreams. Big dreams, which come alive in the California desert resort city of Cathedral City just outside of Palm Springs.

The Odekirk brothers, Rick and Jeff wanted to share their passion and love for baseball, fast and slow pitch, by creating an environment that would give participants, for the most part regular people young and old, the opportunity to experience the big league feeling by creating environments that would give them that chance. In early 1998 they created the first of the Big League Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City, California just outside of Palm Springs.

They weren’t the only ones with a dream. Kirk Walker, a softball coach at Oregon State, wondered why there were no world – class tournaments on the West Coast. Many of the West Coast teams were seeking a more convenient venue to play and half never went to the then existing big league tournament known as the “Lead-off Classic” in Columbus, Ohio. Walker began planning an inaugural event in 2001 and the first “Classic” was held in 2004. Walker was able to bring together the UCLA, Arizona and the US Olympic team to the first event and The Cathedral City Classic had been born. Big League Dream Parks like it have become immensely popular and construction has exploded throughout the United States.

Many have replica fields so one can play fast pitch or softball in replica stadiums like Ebbets Field, Forbes Field, Angel Stadium and others including some well know Polo Fields. Participants can experience the exciting experience playing and watching world – class athletics in a major stadium setting as they can in Cathedral City. The latest addition is a spectacular complex which recently opened in Las Vegas.

The desert complex has grown remarkably over the years and the stadium is regularly filled with spectators overflowing onto the field. As presently construed Cathedral City has five fields with replicas of Fenway, Yankee and Wrigley parks. In addition to these three fields there are two fields located at each end of the existing venue not to mention a 20,000 Square foot indoor soccer stadium and restaurant.

The venues are multi-purpose use stadiums and feature everything from dog and auto shows to birthday celebrations and weddings and concerts. My first trip to the Cathedral City Park was to attend a sold out concert by Winona Ryder. My second field experience was attending the 2009 NCAA Womens College World Series Softball Tournament where I had the very special opportunity to see defending Champion Washington play talented Arizona. All of this with no maintenance cost to the community and the fields supporters.

Baseball, softball, soccer fans and all others are enthusiastically encouraged to visit the park and attend the Cathedral City Classic for world – class athletics on your next vacation to Palm Springs and the California desert resort cities.

Learn more about a Palm Springs vacation. Stop by Mitchell Sussman’s site where you can find out all about where to go and what to do on your next Palm Springs vacation.

The mythical South American city of gold, Eldorado, sought after for nearly a century by Conquistadors from Pizzaro to Cortez. That name is uniquely apropos for the Club now known as the Eldorado Polo Club. Located in the warm, flat desert of the Coachella Valley it lies between the small cities of La Quinta and Indio, California snuggled against the San Jacinto Mountains. Some call it a tropical paradise. Others an oasis in the desert.

Polo came to America at the turn of the 20th century and the sport a millennia years old took root in America. In the west it first became popular in the San Diego area where it was played on Coronado Island. The desert became a popular destination for many famous Hollywood celebrities and others beginning 20 years earlier when known to only a few that La Quinta had become popular in it’s own right.

By the 1950’s Polo in Palm Springs had begun to attract the interest of Polo players from around the country. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, with whom my mother and I had the honor and pleasure of sharing a moment with him and Mrs. Eisenhower in his limonene, truly brought fame and attention to the desert.

The original fields were located much closer to Palm Springs near the location of today’s Palm Springs International Airport. Then, because of urban sprawl and rising property values the Club was forced to move and the next stop was Palm Desert and from there to it’s third and present location in La Quinta where I visited for the second time. Once again because of the hunger for development and the same rising property values surrounding the Palm Desert location, now the Vintage Club, had happened twice before as is typical for any activity which requires a large amount of land and attracts a lot of people and interest.

The Club plays host to many additional charities not the least of which is the College of the Desert located in Palm Desert for which the Club raises tens of thousands of dollars annually. Perhaps the most well know of these charities is the Barbara Sinatra Skins Polo Game which supports charities for neglected and abused children.

My most recent visit to the polo fields, which incidentally is a mere two hour drive from Los Angeles and a half hour from Palm Springs, was an eye opener. On my first visit to the Club as a child there were only two playing fields and a few players. Now, as the nations winter capital of polo, due significantly to the weather there are twelve fields, ten owned by the Club and two leased from the nearby Empire Polo Club, and during my visit there were twenty-nine teams playing consecutively in three formats, low score, medium and high scoring events with an eclectic groups of players, it’s truly a “players” club, as it was from the beginning and includes all members of the family including children. All in all my recent visit to the California desert reinforced my interest, appreciation and love of the “paradise in the desert” and I know you will as well whether playing or watching.

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