Desert Fun

Jill's Journal: After basking in the sunlight and warmth of Palm Springs for the last couple of days, even my cold weather-loving Rob is starting to see the appeal of the desert. We did live in Phoenix long ago, so he’s no stranger to it, but it’s taken him this long to appreciate it. Yay! My work is done. :)

Our girls were thrilled to finally unpack their summer clothes, so they’re pleased as punch to be here also. Isn’t it amazing how a little sunlight just makes everything happier?

We’re enjoying exploring Palm Springs (this picture was snapped on the main drag, Palm Canyon Drive), which isn’t large at less than 50,000 residents, but seems much bigger when combined with surrounding cities like Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and several others. It’s a resort town and even now, in the "slow" season (the busy season is winter), there’s still a great deal of out-of-town traffic and visitors. Here’s something interesting: Palm Springs alone has over 125 golf courses and over 2,250 holes. At 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego, it’s truly Southern California’s desert playground.

Palm Springs was a favorite getaway for celebrities for several decades and the Palm Springs Walk of Stars is reminiscent of the one in Hollywood.

Downtown is peppered with the sidewalk stars of major celebrities who made Palm Springs home or had a major impact on the community. Bob Hope was one of them.

We took a little side trip to neighboring Cathedral City and Desert Memorial Park…

…where Frank Sinatra is buried…

…as is Sonny Bono, Palm Springs’ best-known mayor. I think of him as a goofy 1970s singer; this town loves him.

Speaking of celebrities, Elvis and Priscilla spent their honeymoon tucked away in this house.

It’s right in the middle of a neighborhood (the same one Liberace lived in!), but it’s peaceful.

Enough of celebrities. We’d heard Sherman’s Deli and Bakery was the best place in town for breakfast or lunch, so we had to try it. “They” were right. If you ever make it to Palm Springs, put this on your list. It doesn’t look like much, but the food is marvelous.

We toured the McCallum Adobe, the oldest building in Palm Springs. It was built in 1884 for the first white (non-Indian) settler to stay permanently.

Ruddy’s General Store Museum is next door to the McCallum Adobe. Stepping into this place is truly a step back in time.

A recreation of a 1930s general store, Ruddy’s has shelves filled to the brim with authentic 30s-era merchandise. The showcases are also original, as are the fixtures and the signs. And the merchandise! Over 95% of it is unopened and unused, filled with the original 1930s contents. The store's namesake, Jim Ruddy, spent 35 years amassing this collection. He opened the museum 30 years ago after buying the stock of a depression-era liquidator who had similar merchandise left untouched in his basement for 40 years. Ruddy’s makes up one of the most complete (and largest) collections of unused general store merchandise in the U.S.

What fun to feel like time travel is possible for a few moments.

Our highlight over the last few days was definitely a trip up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

It was a highlight because these two – my Mom and my brother Adam – surprised me for my birthday! I was trying to ignore the day, but they made it really special by driving hours just to be there and surprising the heck out of me. How awesome are they? Thank you so much, Mom and Adam (and Rob!); I felt so loved and blessed! I was so stunned to see them I don’t think I even squealed or anything…it’s not too often I’m struck mute.

Here’s Beppy, Uncle Adam, and the girls in the tram. It’s really something: the world’s largest rotating tram cars (the floor is constantly rotating) ascend from 2,643 feet to 8,516 feet in about 10 minutes. It’s a 2 1/2 mile journey to the top of Mt. San Jacinto. It’s chilly that high up, which I’m sure is a welcome relief for visitors in the heat of summer.

On the ascent…that’s a long way to the ground.

The destination is the “Mountain Station,” where one can hike and enjoy nature or dine in a really fancy mountaintop restaurant. Another surprise for me: Rob had reservations at the really fancy restaurant and we all splurged mightily. My Mom then surprised Rob by taking the check (and probably considered giving it back when she saw the total!). I think we could have all eaten for a week on what dinner cost that night, but it certainly was memorable. A lot of birthdays I don’t remember, but this one I’ll definitely never forget!

This is the view from the top; that’s Palm Springs way, way down there.