flatlander_48

And yes, there is another: Palm Springs, FL

Who knew?!?!

Anyway, my wife and I will be headed to Palm Springs on New Years Day. Looking for neat and different things to do in the area and so far the possibilities are:

• The Aerial Tramway
• Palm Springs International Film Festival
• The Palm Springs Follies
• March AFB Museum
• Riverside International Automotive Museum
• The Spring (hot springs & spa)
• College of the Desert Open Air Market
• Sunnylands
• First Fridays at the Galen & El Paseo Art Walk

We do have a specific reservations for Sunnylands, but other than that it's open. So, thoughts and suggestions?

malsf1

For an air museum, try the Palm Springs Air Museum on Gene Autry Trail. It has a great collection of WWII planes. Thursday evenings, Palm Canyon Dr. in Palm Springs is closed to traffic for a Village Fest with different booths for arts & crafts, food, and other local vendors. This is the last season for the Follies.. but there are several casinos in the area with other entertainment options. The Spa Casino downtown also has a spa with natural hot springs. Joshua Tree National Park is also an easy drive from PS and well worth the trip.

flatlander_48

Thanks for the response. Yes, I was on the PS Air Museum site last night. Looks pretty cool. I'd like to do the tour through the Restoration Shop they have on Saturdays afternoons.

They have an SR-71 at March. I've seen the ones on display at DC and Seattle, but my wife never has. She's almost honor-bound to do this as she is a subscriber of Aviation Week.

I went through the new edition of Desert News and that's mostly where I got the above information from. Didn't know about Palm Canyon Dr. Interesting; could be a possibility.

Yes, I heard about the last season for the Follies. I was on their site last night, but didn't find a reason for the closing in May. 22 years is quite a run, though.

I only looked for spas with mineral springs in The News, but the Spa Casino was not listed. All of the sites were in DHS. I'll check into that.

Joshua Tree National Park also sounds like a real possibility.

Thanks for your thoughts!

gcashin

Very timely that I saw this thread - just arrived in Palm Springs with my bf and figured I'd check on FT to see if there were any suggestions on things to do!

Also, any recommendations from FTers on restaurants or bars to check out while we're here?

malsf1

Copa is the newest club.. next to Tropicale restaurant. Lulu's has decent food, fun ambiance, and great location downtown. For Austrian food, Johannes is excellent and also convenient to downtown. Trio is another good restaurant - a little further north on Palm Canyon but still convenient to downtown.

dddc

Was there some years ago, but friends were regular visitors to Palm Springs and took us to a Chinese called Wangs in the Dessert that was good. There were also some bars/clubs, but the names escape me. One had a visiting Judy Garland impersonator that was pretty dire, but the clientèle loved it.

We also got taken for a walk in the desert. Some trails, quite rocky, but you end up amongst the palms in the canyons. Very nice and an antidote to the night life. Might have been an Indian reservation?? Tried to google it but no luck. Maybe someone else can help.

peteropny

In PSP right now. You've covered much of the interesting things to do in town.

The Follies was interesting, we went this afternoon but long about 3 hours. They're closing for financial reasons.

Another interesting activity would be the outlet mall at Cabazon - about 20 min drive west.

There are hiking trails as mentioned in Tahquitz Canyon and Indian Canyons.

There are a couple of other Flyertalkers arriving today, Monday. If anyone is interested in a get together, feel free to PM me.

flatlander_48

Well, the guy that runs it is 81, so I suspect that is a major factor.

Yes, quite a list of stores!

Unfortunately those are out as my wife uses a wheelchair. However, I do agree that there are lots of interesting natural sites.

We're arriving on New Years and returning next week Wednesday to LA in order to get an early flight back on Thursday. How long are you around for? I've been putting together a spreadsheet for the week's activities (wife sometimes has some endurance limits), so I'll see what might be factored in and get back to you if the timing looks promising.

I hope the weather remains good. We're at 25 deg and snow flurries so it HAS TO BE an improvement!!

peteropny

We're leaving on Thurs 1/2 very early.

flatlander_48

Well, next time, I guess. I think by the time we get in and drive over from LA it will be between 8 and 9pm. Have a great time!!

Dieuwer

What is Palm Springs like over New Years? Lots of parties? Fun for a solo traveler or better go somewhere else?

malsf1

It is pretty much the same as other cities - the bars have parties and many guys from SF and LA show up to celebrate. Before moving here full time, I always had fun coming here for new year's eve.

Dieuwer

Block parties?

carlosdca

Somewhere else as in anywhere in the world?

If the budget allows it, Rio.
(It is summer in the southern hemisphere in December-March).
The whole city flocks to the beach, all dressed in white. Friends that have been there for new year's say that despite the crowdedness, the experience is unlike anything else in the world.

tatterdema

I have never been there NYE, but spend a lot of time there otherwise. IMHO, the crowd tends toward older (just in general, not sure about NYE), so if that bothers you....

What about San Juan?