High Desert Day Trip #2

                                                                Pioneer Town

 A fun afternoon trip is to head up Hwy 62, you will drive through the fabulous Joshua Trees that are so prolific to this area.  Pioneertown is a fun stop, it was originally built as a set for the old westerns, according to the website:"Pioneertown was built in 1946 as a movie set for western movies, including the movies of Gene Autry, The Cisco Kid with Duncan Renaldo, Annie Oakley with Gail Davis, Judge Roy Bean with Edgar Buchanan, Range Rider withJock O. Mahoney, and Buffalo Bill Jr. with Dick Jones.  The movie set was to provide a place for the actors to live, and have their homes used as part of a movie set."  Whenever I have gone it was quiet so we just looked through windows and then headed to Pappy and Harriets.  The gunfight on Saturdays is supposed to be fun.
Saturdays at 2:30 the Pioneertown Posse; a re-enactment troupe performs an old west type show with a shoot out.

                       For more information: http://www.pioneertown.com/f-index.htm

                                                                      Pappy & Harriets

When you are done checking out Pioneertown, head over to Pappy & Harriet's for great mesquite wood barbeque, a fun atmosphere.  There is always some type of music happening at night and the musicians are quite good, the people watching is fabulous and the decor one-of-a-kind.

For more information:  http://www.pappyandharriets.com/

Directions: From Palm Springs Take I-10 west to Route 62 (29 Palms Hwy - Joshua Tree Nat'l Park). Take Route 62 NE about 25 miles into Yucca Valley.At the second stop light (Pioneertown Road), make a left and take Pioneertown Roadabout 4 miles up. Pass the sign Pioneertown 1946" and just ahead on the right, you'll see the neon lights.
Reservations are not required but highly recommended 760 365-5956.

Free Real Estate info with No Obligation

The website http://deserthousesales.listingbook.com/  offers a fun program that allows you to see about 99% of the listing information formally only available to agents.  There is no obligation, and no cost.  You simply input information about your neighborhood or neighborhoods you are interested in and you will begin to recieve daily listing updates in your email box.   Some of my clients have been using it and love the simplicity, I hope you will enjoy it also.

Palm Springs Foreclosures and Economic Forecast

                                                                Desert Foreclosures

According to numbers provided by an article in the Desert Sun foreclosures in the Coachella Valley are not as prevalant as they have been. However, the number has been so high that prices have deflated and there are many values for Buyers. 
As a real estate agent here in the valley I look at what is new on the market daily, if you would like todays list of foreclosures in any of our desert cities just give me a call or send  an email to carol@greaterpalmsprings.com 

you can also visit my website:
http://www.deserthousesales.com/


The below link gives a bit of the article mentioned above:
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20111022/BUSINESS/110220311/Expert-State-failing-remain-competitive

Happy Hours

                                                                               Happy Hours

There are many great places for a drink and appetizers.  A client asked me where to go so I did a shout out to my friends and here are a few of their favorites...  Below is a website with some suggestions also; I noticed that some of the places are out of business.  You should probably call any of the below for an update.  Cheers!

Try a Caroltini, Orange vodka with a splash of Cranberry!

Palm Springs- Matchbox, Lulu’s, Las Casuelas does a really nice free spread!,Lulu All day and is great, Azul - Amazing drink specials fun music and lively.  Flat breads are awesome. Trio, Zin and Zinny, Johnny Costa…..a little quiet but nice for a low key hang, Village Pub, Kaiser Grill, Wang’s, Tropicale - great appetizers and mini pizzas

Rancho Mirage- Bangkok 5, Pierro’s Acqua Pazza, Flemings,

Palm Desert- Pacifica, Mama Gina's, Sullivan's (Thursday night), Tommy Bahama's, Ruth Chris

Cathedral City- Cello’s- great quality food, nice owners

La Quinta- Hogs Breath Inn, Stuft Pizza, Jackalope, Tack Room

Indian Wells – The IW Club, Hotel Miramonte (Thursday)

Thousand Palms- Oasis Bar- new owner is renovating, she is really great

http://www.desertdrinks.com/happy-hour

Hiking in and around Palm Springs

                                                                    Hiking in the Coachella Valley

There are many trails for hiking throughout the Coachella Valley.   I love Philip Ferranti’s book 140 Great Hikes in and Near Palm Springs, you can find it in any book store in the desert or on line. These are also some good websites for hiking.  The photos are from one of the trails located within the Living Desert.   The book is pictured, but sorry clicking on it won't get you inside, you will have to try Amazon.com

http://palm.mydesert.com/hikes/

http://www.hiking-in-ps.com/

Shields Date Gardens

                                                              Shields Date Gardens

A short drive from Palm Springs is a town called Indio, which is a major growing region for warm weather crops, mostly citrus and dates.   Along Highway 111 right as you enter Indio is Shields Date Gardens, where there is a great store that continually plays a movie called something like “Romance and Sex Life of the Date”  watching it you will  learn about  the farming, date production and how long it takes to grow productive date palms

The store at the gardens has all kind of varieties of dates, date products  and lots of other goodies. The date shake is very popular and although I don’t like shakes my friends always stop by for one and love them.

80225 US Highway 111 Indio, CA 92201-6599  (800) 414-2555

http://www.shieldsdategarden.com

Palm Springs Cable Cars

 

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

                                                                     

The Tram opened to the public in 1963.  Presently there are two- 80 passenger cars that are enclosed and rotate. They ascend from the valley floor to an elevation of over 8,500 feet.  The weather there is always much cooler than the desert and even gets snow.  A great day includes a picnic lunch and hike along one of the many trails.  There is also a restaurant for those who are there purely for the view and a fun ride.  If you do hike bring water and follow a trail, every year we have several rescues of hikers that have lost their way.

http://www.palmsprings.com/active/tramway.html

One Tramway Road

Palm Springs, CA. 92262

Horseback Riding and the Indian Reservation

                                                                           Horseback Riding & the Indian Reservation

The weather in Palm Springs is great and the Indian Reservation provides the perfect setting for a ride.   There is also hiking with numerous trails and a Trading Post with some interesting things to buy.  Some of the trails have streams; a good little trail to start is the one right where the parking lot is; it takes you around a stream and ends up where there are a few picnic tables.  Bring lots of water and wear comfortable shoes.  Often times I have seen park rangers there that can help you pick a trail based on your stamina.  There is also a map by the parking lot that gives you an idea of how long each trail is and the difficulty level.

Try the Smoke Tree Stables they offer guided tours.

http://smoketreestables.com

Desert Hot Springs Day Trip

              A great Day Trip is just a short ride away to Desert Hot Springs

                                                                                        Cabot Museum

Start off by going to the Cabot Museum, it is a fun stop along the way to the mineral waters of Desert Hot Springs.

Built by Cabot Yerxa with reclaimed materials from the valley it was a work in progress for years.   He homesteaded the land in 1913, was lucky to find a water source.   I brought my mother, sister and her family;  we  took the guided tour and enjoyed it very much.  There are lots of tables and the staff welcomes picnickers which is what we did.  We were going to the mineral waters afterwards but the winds were too strong.

The website description:   “structure is hand-made, created from reclaimed and found objects. The Pueblo is four-stories, 5,000 square feet and includes 35 rooms, 150 windows and 65 doors. Visitors will notice many unique features: including windows and doors collected and reassembled from abandoned homesteads, old telephone poles, buck board wagon parts and many other materials used creatively.”

http://www.cabotsmuseum.org/

                                                        The Mineral Hot Springs

                                                       The magic, healing waters of Desert Hot Springs

                                                       The Grotto in Two Bunch Palms

After visting Cabot Museum, head over to one of the many mineral springs.  Desert Hot Springs boasts of having  the only aquifer of thermal, mineral spring water in southern California.There are over 22 boutique spas; the most famous being Two Bunch Palms.  Desert Hot Springs Spa is not quite as refined as Two Bunch Palms but is quite inexpensive and has in the past had a day pass for $10.

Besides the waters each day spa of course offers all kinds of great spa treatments, be sure to ask if they are having any specials.

http://dhsspa.com  

According to the Two Bunch Palms web site “Two Bunch Palms was built by mobster Al Capone in 1923 as a base for his West Coast operation. Capone enjoyed partying with motion-picture stars of the day, and the place became a second home for guests including Charlie Chaplin and Rudolf Valentino, who enjoyed a desert oasis away from Hollywood’s bright lights.” 

http://www.twobunchpalms.com/the-grotto.htm

For a complete list of spas in Desert Hot Springs:

http://www.visitdeserthotsprings.com/index.php/dhs-spa-hotel

Street Fairs and Markets

                                                                       Street Fairs and Farmers Markets

                                                                                  

                                                                               Palm Springs Village Fest

  

Every Thursday night except Thanksgiving , offers blocks of vendors, art, music and food.   Located on Palm Canyon starting at Baristo, great people and pet watching, fun things to buy including produce stands.    The Palm Springs Art Museum is free to the public on Thursdays and is right around the corner from Village Fest.  All downtown stores, bars and eateries are open also.

                                                                           College of the Desert

 Located in Palm Desert on Monterey  between Fred Waring & Parkview.  Open Saturdays and Sundays at 7:00am.  This is the biggest, weekly street fair in the desert; big food court and enough items for sale that everyone in your group no matter what age or gender will find something.  A large food court and close enough to El Paseo that you can head there after shopping for a nice lunch.

                                                                Palm Desert Farmers Market

Only open seasonally,  this open air market features farm and food vendors offering organic and transitional produce, herbs, lavender, cheese, bread, honey, nuts, eggs, olives and olive oil, fresh cut flowers, orchids and plants and California wine.   Wednesdays, 8 am - 12:30pm September - June

Palm Desert Visitor Center at 72-567 Highway 111 (at Hwy 74 ) in Palm Desert, California

                                              Certified Farmers Market at Old Town La Quinta

This seasonal market (September-May)  is open every Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Old Town La Quinta.    Vendors offering fresh vegetables and fruit (no spray and organic), cut flowers, honey, eggs, nuts, herbs, bread, cheese and plants.   Music, vendors, and close to great coffee, dogs are welcome.

78100 Main Street in Old Town- La Quinta, CA 92253

A High Desert Day Trip: Antiquing, Integratron & Orchid Factory

                                        High Valley Day Trip

One of my favorite day trips with guests is to go to the high desert for a day of shopping in the funky little antique malls, and junk shops.  After a bit of retail we head over to the Integratron for a "Sound Bath" it is such a cool thing to do and everyone I have brought just loves it. 
To get there just head west on Interstate 10 to Hwy 62 and you will end up in the little town of Yucca where there is great antiquing and a few fun junk shops that sometimes yield treasures. 
                                       Antique Stores and Junk Shops    

Route 62 Vintage Market Place- Nice little antique mall with various vendors. My friend was excited to pick up some of American Indian pottery that I have pictured. 55635 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley  760 365-4330 
Tamma's Magic Mercantile is located just a block or more from Route 62 and has a bigger selection.   My friend found a 1940's Indian Squash Blossom necklace for $200 that she swears is worth $1,200 (in a good market!). As you continue down the road you will see shops on the left that are fun to take a look in. 
                                                    Joshua Tree
Travel further and you will hit Joshua Tree, there are a few thrift stores and what I could only best describe as junk stores, which is like a treasure hunt.  Reoyne's Corral is Phil and Roeoyne's home with a old west facade on the front.  They have lots and lots of stuff for sale, and you never know what you will find.   If  you take a good look at Enchanted Book store photo, you can see it is crammed with lots of stuff. I did not even attempt to step inside.  61142 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree 9760) 366-8927



Bargain Alley is very clean and offers a variety of things.  I found a great 1950's magazine rack marked $10 that they sold to me for $8.   Later that week I saw the exact same rack for $85 in a vintage store.  Right across the street from Bargain Alley are several interesting places, that always seem to be closed on the days I am there. 61716 Twentynine Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree 760 272-4025

                                             The Integratron

The Integratron is the highlight of the day, you must make an appointment for a Sound Bath; the acoustics in this place are amazing.  You will love the sisters and a husband that run it, they are fabulous. 

The website description is as follows "The Integratron is the creation of George Van Tassel, and is based on the design of Moses’ Tabernacle, the writings of Nikola Tesla and telepathic directions from extraterrestrials. This one-of-a-kind building is a 38-foot high, 55-foot diameter, non-metallic structure originally designed by Van Tassel as a rejuvenation and time machine.  Today, it is the only all-wood, acoustically perfect sound chamber in the U.S".
George Van Tassel worked as an engineer for Howard Hughes during the time frame that the Roswell incidents were happening.  Check out the website for the fascinating story of this very unique structure.  http://integratron.com/

PLEASE NOTE!!  No matter what your GPS unit tells you, do NOT drive on dirt roads en route to the Integratron! Please follow directions listed below:

Directions from Palm Springs: Take I-10 west to the CA Hwy 62 exit (Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, 29 Palms) past the highway 111/Palm Springs exit. If you have been antiquing and gone to Joshua Tree then you must turn back and follow the directions from here: Drive northeast about 25 minutes to the town of Yucca Valley.   At the main intersection in town just past Carl's Jr., turn left at Old Woman Springs Road/Hwy 247. Drive 10 miles to Reche Road, where there is a large "Landers" sign on the right. Turn right, and drive 2.2 miles to Belfield Blvd. Turn left and drive about 1 mile. The Integratron is at the end of Belfield Blvd, just before the intersection of Linn Road.

                                                           Gubler's Orchids

As you travel to the Integratron you must stop at the Orchid factory across the street.  1000's of plants are sent out yearly to worldwide destinations.  It is a fun place to see all varieties of orchids.http://www.gublers.com/Pages/Home.html

After this if you have the energy you can go to Pioneertown and Pappy & Harrietts for some wonderful food and great people watching.   That information will be in another blog.