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2008-06-11

by John Esther

Palm Springs

Summary

A two hour drive from Los Angeles gets you fun in the sun

Article

As temperatures begin to hit three digits heading east toward the desert may not seem too hot of an idea but things will cool down, eventually, though never too much in the City of Palm Springs.

Located approximately 112 miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs was once a getaway where cinematic stars of the hoi polloi would come to get away from the riff-raff that supported them and to which they so secretly despised. Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sonny Bono (who became mayor of Palm Springs), Ginger Rogers, Charles “Buddy” Rogers and many other household names of yesteryear graced Palm Springs with their presence.

As fewer famous figures dwelled in the oasis over the years (The Palm Springs Walk of Stars has gone from tourist attraction to a joke to now invisible except to only those who are involved), Palm Springs had to adapt and change to the time, eventually transforming into a hot spot attracting people of many ages to live and visit, but primarily celebrate.

Today with names like Frank Sinatra Drive and Bob Hope Drive (in neighboring Rancho Mirage), elderly people looking for heat and nostalgia retire here while young hedonists from all over come to party here over the holiday weekends. (Empirically speaking, Palm Springs is a great place for coitus encounters). Not only do various ages of people come here to retire, reside, recreation or reap the wild life, the traditionally conservative city has progressed in years. For one thing, Palm Springs has become a city with a prominent, no longer closeted, GLBT community.

Warm weather, parties, the elderly, and GLBT: with components commingling like this it is only natural the city offer swank hotels, arid activities and art.

Located near the southern part of the infamous Palm Springs Strip, one of the hippest hideaways on the hush-hush map is the newly renovated Horizon Hotel.

A single-story secret oasis mixing art-deco, desert demure and contemporary amenities, the newly renovated boutique houses 22 rooms with easy access to the centrally-located pool.

Our room hosted the delights you would expect for a party pad of this caliber. There is a high-definition television, CD player, an air conditioner and other amenities, most of which can be controlled via remote. However, we could not access the hotel’s wireless service.

The beds are huge, comfy and quiet. Thanks to the interior design you can control how much privacy you want as huge curtains drape half the place. This is something you may want to pay attention to as the big showers in the rooms are visible and, as the warm water seems endless, you may be taking longer showers than usual. Hi there.

There is no smoking inside the hotel but each place has a patio where you can comfortably get your fix of nicotine (or something else).

The Horizon offers splendid pool service. Towels are brought to you the minute you approach the pool seeking a spot in the hot sun (get there early if you want an umbrella). The bartender with a skateboard inquires about libations. A refreshing pool offers several levels of depth. Out of the pool guests can bake in the sun while gazing at the beautiful local mountains while listening to the typical Palm Springs sounds of the Molden Age. (I am still waiting for one Palm Springs hotel to play good music by its pool.)

There is a bar at Horizon Hotel, but my advice is to bring your own drinks (no glass) or drink in your room and then come outside (You should be going inside anyway to use the bathroom, anyway. People who drink all day without going to their room are suspicious). While the bartender does know how to make some tasty, powerful drinks, at $10 a pop those drinks – with or without a name -- can add up to an expensive afternoon by the pool in the hot sun.

The bar also hosts a complimentary Continental Breakfast.

Perhaps most important of all for those of you who have had enough of the rambunctious adolescent behavior often associated with Palm Springs, guests at the Horizon Hotel must be 21 or over.

Another swank stay in Palm Springs is Rendezvous Hotel. Located near the Northern part of Palm Springs Strip, Rendezvous Hotel recently renovated its 50s-themed rooms with all the comforts and joys you would expect in hotels that are more expensive than this one.

As you come from the ample parking lot the first thing you hear, once again, is the nostalgic 50’s music wafting through the air. From there you pass into the courtyard where there is a pristine pool, hot tub, and blue Astroturf sun deck. You may be tempted to settle yourself under one of the terracotta umbrellas and wrap yourself in a plush towel and state out into the mountains.

Across the pool is the small hotel desk and pop art lounge straight out of Ikea. Most likely there you will meet Jake Cohen, the son holding down this Cohen family Bed & Breakfast (they also have a place in Lake Tahoe). Jake is there to create a smooth stay while you are in Palm Springs. When the clock strikes 5 p.m. Jake breaks open Happy Hour. You can munch and drink for free while discussing where to go out that night. Whatever it is you are into Jake possesses the information or the will to find what is you want or need. We are talking superb service here.

After a night on the town, and if you have not had too much to drink, Rendezvous Hotel’s whirlpool tub under the desert sky should put you in the mood for sex or slumber.

While I am not a fan of 1950s nostalgia, the rooms at Rendezvous Hotel pack comfort into every corner. In the Honeymoon Hideaway (which is not much of a hideaway), a wall divides the bedroom and shower on one side and a bathroom and kitchen on the other side. Despite the room’s name this might be more suitable for newer couples who do not want to share distinct noises this early in the relationship. We were unable to pick up on the wireless service here, either.

In the morning Jake whips up a personal healthy breakfast, accompanied by gourmet coffee, tea, juice and one of Jake’s smoothies. Then it is pool time.

Of course, and this may sound sacrilegious to some, one can only party for so long. There must be something to do sober.

First of all there are the shops along the strips where you will find items found anywhere as long as Palm Springs product. More importantly there is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which will take you up to a place where you will have impressive views of the valley from 8,500 feet.

If you are more demanding of your time and travel, check out the Palm Springs Art Museum. Replete with cool air-conditioning, plus older, 20th Century, and contemporary art and installation works of various merits, Palm Springs Museum is the best museum within a 80 miles westward and the best museum hundreds of miles to the north, south or east. And for those visiting earlier in the year, in earlyl January the Palm Springs Film Festival kicks off the film festival year.

For more information:

Horizon Hotel. Address: 1050 East Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92264; Phone: 760/323-1858; Website: www.thehorizonhotel.com.

Rendezvous Hotel. Address: 1420 North Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Phone: 800/485-2808. Website: www.palmspringsrendezvous.com

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Address: One Tramway Rd., Palm Springs, CA 92262. Phone: 888/515-TRAM. Website: www.pstramway.com

Palm Springs Art Museum. Address: 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Phone: 760/322-4800. Website: www.psmuseum.org

Palm Springs Film Festival. Address: 1700 E Tahquitz Canyon Way # 3
Palm Springs, CA 92262. Phone: 760/778-8979. Website: www.psfilmfest.org

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