A Palm Springs weekend

This year-round oasis is a timeless,  limitless haven that spells an unparalleled sense of escape, adventure, recreation, and relaxation at your own unique way of playing.

It is where you can discard every worry and welcome a breather from the fast pace of everyday life, with conscious or unconscious expectations.

Here, a kind of wealth awaits: 350 days of sunshine each year filled with festivals that celebrate music, food, sports and the arts.

You don’t need to make concessions to taste or appreciate the ambiance — from indulgently elegant or a shoestring mischievous, it is fancy-free.

The great thing about Palm Springs is it seems to bless you wherever you are.

Even the heat of concrete at noontime peculiarly fills you with suburban pleasure.

A trip that has been set in motion some weeks before. The family and grandchildren were piled into the car, with the children in their pajamas.

Within an hour they were whimpering, fidgeting, picking fights while the amusing rustic seniors, sat with admirable nonchalance, sipping tequila nicknamed Margarita. There were no complaints on the traffic or bad manners, between food stops.

No side show extravaganza can equal the patience, tolerance and peace inside the vehicle among the oldies.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (an engineering marvel featuring the world’s largest rotating tram cars) transports you on an exciting excursion into nature.

Through goosebumps (the size of a thumbtacks), a spectacular 10-minute, 2,643-foot elevation transports you to the Valley  Station (elevation 8,516 feet in an ascent).

You’ll pass through five unique life zones — from the Mexican Sonora Desert to an Alpine Wilderness. You gaze into special plants and animals, distinct to each zone. At the top is an incredible scenic wonderland in the M. Jacinto Park, encompassing 54 miles of hiking trails, primitive camp grounds, a range station and an adventure center for winter activities during snow season.

There are restaurants, a cocktail lounge, viewing areas, a natural history museum, a movie theater and gift shops. It’s an enjoyable getaway for everyone, especially for the whole family.

There are the casinos that bring excitement — just steps away from the fabled Palm Canyon Drive in the  heart of this city.

Famous Palm Springs celebrities have been recognized at the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

It has more golf courses than any other region in California and is the most popular golf destination.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival and Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films present movie star-filled, red carpet affairs in January and June.

The city also sponsored a Veteran’s Day parade, concert and fireworks display in one US Department of Veterans affairs-designated Regional States for the national observance of Veteran’s Day.

Palm Springs remains popular with the rich and famous of Hollywood, as well as retirees and Canadian tourists, despite competition from the desert cities. It has continued to prosper in the 21st century.

The movie colony started growing in the 1930. Hollywood movie stars built smaller getaways in these neighborhoods, away from their Los Angeles area estates: Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Estee Lauder and Bing Crosby.

I couldn’t help myself. I make like a tourist and ask a stranger to take my picture.

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