Gf and I are headed to Palm Springs next week for a getaway. We rented a mid-century modern AirBNB with a pool so probably have lots of pool time. Also have a trip to Joshua Tree planned. The rest is mostly checking out the sights in Palm Springs.

Anyone ever been? Looking for recommendations on food/drink and other cool stuff.

Do no plan to play golf.

in this heat? good luck....i would definitely take the tramway to escape the heat

i plan to head that way in december...interested to see everyone's recs.

Indeed it's hot. Supposed to be "cooler" next week with highs under 100. We'll see. I'm not too worried about it. We hiked some national parks in Southern Utah during June a few years ago. Hot as hell but I had a great time.

We booked because I had a companion pass and it expires in a couple of months. We're planning to also hit Maryland In October.

If you decide to use the entrances to J.T.N.P. on 62, the eastern-most entrance tends to have fewer vehicles. But depending on time and date, both entrances off of 62 can have somewhat long wait times to get through.

There is an entrance off of I-10, but can't tell you anything about that one.

The Del Taco on 62, in the west side of Twenty-Nine Palms does a good job.

You might consider investigating a place called Pioneertown, located halfway between Palm Springs and J.T.N.P.. We have not been there, but it seems like it might be a fun place to blow an hour or two.

If by chance you are driving to P.S. and are going past the Salton Sea, there is a small restaurant at the outskirts of Bombay Beach called the Ski Inn that has good food and friendly staff. We have eaten there several times and have liked the place a lot. Hopefully, at this time of year you will be flying there instead of driving.....

C

Caladan said:

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If you decide to use the entrances to J.T.N.P. on 62, the eastern-most entrance tends to have fewer vehicles. But depending on time and date, both entrances off of 62 can have somewhat long wait times to get through.

There is an entrance off of I-10, but can't tell you anything about that one.

The Del Taco on 62, in the west side of Twenty-Nine Palms does a good job.

You might consider investigating a place called Pioneertown, located halfway between Palm Springs and J.T.N.P.. We have not been there, but it seems like it might be a fun place to blow an hour or two.

If by chance you are driving to P.S. and are going past the Salton Sea, there is a small restaurant at the outskirts of Bombay Beach called the Ski Inn that has good food and friendly staff. We have eaten there several times and have liked the place a lot. Hopefully, at this time of year you will be flying there instead of driving.....

C

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Great tips and advice. Wife and I were down there last Friday. It was baking. Few crowds tolerate the PS summer heat. We visit about once a month... wife works east valley commuting the 40 miles OW.

Del Taco west. Best of the two in town. Looks very 70s inside. However, food served is consistent.

Pioneertown is going to be 35 miles from Palm Springs... <10 miles from the west park entrance. It is about 4 miles off the 62 on, aptly named, Pioneertown Road. You can kill an hour.

Definately take the 10 to the Salton Sea. I remember driving to El Centro one year... never even knew what was the Salton Sea... was on the 86, looked to my left... and was "WTF?". It was one of the most awesome things ever I had seen. I like to visit it once every year or two. My wife is like, "It stinks. I don't like it". It once was 20 miles wide... 50 miles long... in the middle of the freakin' desert. A must see, in my book.

Wife and I finally visited the Rowan... rooftop bar and pool. Great views. We'll go back. Downtown PS.

Thursdays are Market Night. It's nice for a first timer. On Thursdays The Palm Springs Art Museum is free admisssion. Gotta go check it out. Nice place. Everything is right downtown.

Check for shows (concerts) at "The Show" at Aqua Caliente casino. My favorite, over 50 years, venue. Not a bad seat in the house. From A-listers to B-listers.

Check out El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert off the 111. About 10 miles east. Swanky shopping, and nice restaurants.

Take a drive down the 10... to the 60... to the 215... to the 91... to the 55 and drop off in Newport Beach. 1.5 hour drive... an 20-30 degrees cooler. You gotta visit the coast for day.

If you do visit the park you, literally, be driving within 1 block from my home. Give a wave when you pass Camino Del Cielo Trail.

Have fun. Welcome.

Caladan, you local?

JamesPShelley said:

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Caladan, you local?

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No, not local. But we live in S.E. AZ, so not far from your area. We stay at the Marine Corps base when we are in the area. Most of our meals are eaten there, which is why we have experience with only one place to eat in the little towns along 62.

I think we will make it a point to visit Pioneertown the next time we are in the area.

C

JamesPShelley said:

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Take a drive down the 10... to the 60... to the 215... to the 91... to the 55 and drop off in Newport Beach.

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I read this in "The Californians" voice.

If you need to get out of the PS heat, drive up to close-by Idyllwild. 5000+ ft elevation, highs in the upper 80s/low 90s, and pine trees.

Also if you go to Pioneer town, check out Pappy and Harriets. They get some name bands playing there some nights - Lukas Nelson, Son Volt, and the Toadies are all on the calendar right now. I've seen Bob Schneider there before too.

Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve is a cool little spot to hike a little with lots of shade and good birding if you are into that. The Palm Springs Air Museum is also pretty cool as well and will keep you mostly indoors out of the heat. I was there back in 2021 and it seems most of the good restaurants I remember from then have either closed or changed hands and been renamed.