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Palm Springs
A two hour drive
through the Mojave desert, east from LA will bring
you to a lush green oasis appears – the Coachella
Valley with Palm Springs as its centre piece,
overlooked by the San Jacinto mountains and offering
spectacular mountain and desert views. Gay Palm
Springs has been referred to by many as a new Gay
Mecca. The city boasts a very large and diverse Gay
resident population and has become a prime travel
destination as more and more gay travellers discover
Palm Springs’ Gay-friendly spirit.
Popular as a
playground for the rich and famous – Bob Hope and
Rock Hudson had holiday homes here in the 1950’s,
Palm Springs has been a popular gay and lesbian
destination for 20 years – indeed 30% of the
population is gay or lesbian. Everywhere is gay
friendly and our accommodation selection features
both all male and all female properties as well as
luxury hotels offering simply the best in
accommodation and service.
Many properties enjoy the prestigious Out and About
magazine 4 or 5 Palm award and are situated in the
popular Warm Sands neighbourhood, about 20 minutes
walk from Downtown. Why is Palm Springs so appealing
to the Gay traveller? Well probably because it’s a
huge outdoor playground with consistently brilliant
sunshine and the sweet clean air of the famed
Coachella Valley. The jagged, boulder-covered San
Jacinto Mountains are set against a brilliant blue
sky which reflects hot, dry heat onto the
palm-studded valley desert paradise.
Apart from the usual Prides and annual festivities,
Palm Springs always has something of a party spirit
to tempt you out of your hotel room. Every Thursday
night the main street, Palm Canyon Drive, is closed
to traffic and opened to an extensive festival
including food vendors, arts and crafts exhibits and
loads of free entertainment by numerous artists.
Strolling, munching, looking and sipping the length
of Palm Canyon Drive from one end to the other in
the heart of Palm Springs is a great way to ‘people
and puppy watch’ for an hour or an entire evening.
There is loads to do here, take the aerial tramway
to the top the mountain, shop till you drop for
designer labels in speciality shops or try the
nearby outlet centre – over 100 stores. Walk or
cycle the many local trails and explore the desert
by jeep, horse riding, light plane or balloon. Of
course you could simply choose to chill out round
your pool and enjoy fine dining in the many
restaurants and a cocktail or two at your hotel
before heading out to the numerous nightclubs. Those
amongst you who enjoy a few rounds of golf won't be
disappointed and will surely be impressed by the
many courses offering superb facilities.
This is a great winter destination but the low
humidity makes even the summer temperatures
enjoyable for relaxation after sightseeing in LA or
San Francisco.
See Accommodation in
Palm Springs
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