Palm Springs Air Museum

The Palm Springs Air Museum is very cool; lots of vintage planes, vintage combat photos, art including fantastic murals and a nice gift shop.  It is the Home of One of the Nation's Largest Collection of World War II Flying Aircraft, the planes are in huge airconditioned hangars adjacent to the Palm Springs Airport.  It only takes around and hour or so to see the whole thing and well worth the trip. The day I was there they were having a Carnation Drop to honor fallen soldiers.  The crowd was filled with lots of Veterans and families, so there was lots of energy; definitely a great thing to do in the desert.

Discounts are offered at their website:
http://palmspringsairmuseum.org/
745 North Gene Autry Trail
Palm Springs, California 92262
760-778-6262

Celebrity Tours

Celebrity Homes

                                                                   Elvis Honeymoon House
There are always celebrity spottings in the desert, personally I have seen Goldie Hawn, George Lopez, Suzanne Sommers, Jessica Simpson, Lily Tomlin, Jack Jones, also many minor and old time celebs.  As a realtor I go into many homes that have a celebrity past which is always a bit exciting.   I hear the celebrity tour that passes all the homes is alot of fun.  While my mother was out visiting I decided to take her on the Celebrity Tour.  Our guide Anne, who doubled as the bus driver is an 18 year veteran on the job.  Her tour was full of fun facts including geography, history, and climate points.  It was so much more than local celebrity lore, my mother loved it. 
The 2 1/2 hour trip was entertaining and even included a date shake from a crazy little market in north Palm Springs that was nestled amongst the windmills.  According to Anne, each of those windmills cost $4 million dollars each; can that be possible?
It was a very interesting city tour, at $44 per person it was well worth it.

For more information: 760.770.2700        http://www.thecelebritytour.com/

Mid Century Modern Architecture

The beautiful sleek lines of mid-century modern architecture is quite prevalent throughout Palm Springs and a few of the other desert cities. 

If you come into town via Highway 10 you will pass right by one of our modern landmarks which also happens to be the Palm Springs Official Visitor Center, it was once the Tramway Gas Station designed by Albert Frey and Robson Chambers. Be sure to stop in and pick up a map of mid-century homes and businesses. Also, The company I work with Greater Palm Springs Realty has a great Mid-century modern website.  The link below will take you to a self-guided tour of some of the deserts best examples of Mid-century modern architecture.
http://www.midcenturypalmsprings.com/palm-springs-tour-of-midcentury-architecture.php

The Kaufmann House, in Palm Springs was designed by Richard Neutra in 1946. It was one of

the last domestic projects conducted by the architect, but it is also arguably one of his most famous homes

This Butterfly roof home is one of the most sought after styles of the Alexander Construction Company

Alexander Homes

Bob and George Alexander were builders of approximately 2,500 homes in the desert.  They worked with William Krisel a talented young architect. The homes ranged in size from 1,200 square foot tract homes to large custom homes.  There are several noted neighborhoods such as Twin Palms, Racquet Club Estates, Las Palmas that are host to many of the homes.

Great article on Alexander Homes: http://www.eichlernetwork.com/article/alexander-homes

Palm Springs Visitors Center

2901 North Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs 760-778-8418



Modernism Week

Each year Palm Springs hosts an amazing week of tours, lectures, and show of mid-century modern architecture, products and services.  The convention itself has all kinds of great things to see and buy; furniture, art, jewelry, clothing, pottery, etc.

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

Looking to Buy a home or condo?

If you are interested in buying a home or condo, I would be happy to assist you.  There are many fabulous condos and homes available throughout Palm Springs.  Whether you are looking for 400 or 4,000 square feet of living space, I can help you.

For more information (760) 880-5888 or my website: http://deserthousesales.com/

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.

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

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

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

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.