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.

 

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