Residents seeking a close to home destination for their last hurrah of summer should consider Palm Springs. Summer lodging rates are starting as low as $39.99 a night through September 30, 2010.
Five Ways to Celebrate Labor Day

1) Remarkable Hiking: The Indian Canyons and Mt. San Jacinto State Park, via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, feature over 150 miles of hiking trails through pristine wilderness, streams and ancient palm groves.

2) Thrilling Off-Road Tours: Take a guided four-wheel drive along the San Andreas Fault, learn about Palm Springs’ thousands of hillside windmills, or climb among the rocky moonscapes of Joshua Tree National Park. 

3) Vegas-Style Gaming: Skip the holiday traffic and get lucky at The downtown Palm Springs Spa Resort Casino for table games, slots, and poker…plus nightlife and dining. www.sparesortcasino.com

4) Knott’s Soak City: Stay cool when you whoosh down a 7-story waterslide, swim in an 800,000-galloon wave pool or chill on the lazy river at Knott’s Soak City Water Park. http://www.soakcityusa.com/ 

 5) Cool Pool Parties.  Enjoy the views from a cabana while listening to the sounds of the finest DJs at one Palm Springs’ weekend cool pool parties:

Ace Hotel: DJ by the pool with Victor Rodriguez every Sunday from 1 p.m. - 6p.m.
Hotel Zoso: Every weekend, chill by the pool and enjoy DJ and sunshine.
Riviera Resort & Spa: Daily Cocktail Hour Flag Raising at Riviera from 5 - 6 p.m.
Spa Resort Casino: Poolside party every weekend (12 p.m.- 7p.m.) featuring DJs. Free Entry for hotel guests / $10 entry fee for non-hotel guest
Viceroy Palm Springs: Sunday Sessions at the Citron Pool from 12 - 4 p.m featuring London DJ Chris Paul; poolside dining; signature drinks.

For Palm Springs visitor information and travel deals, go to www.VisitPalmSprings.com

The Fall season is right around the corner in Palm Springs. Below are a list of signature events happening in September and October.  For a complete list, go to www.VisitPalmSprings.com

Fiesta Days

Dates: September 18-19, 2010

Location: O’Donnell Golf Course, 301 N Belardo Rd, Palm Springs

Description: 760-702-0448 www.psfiestadays.com

Information: Fiesta Days will feature over 30 vendors and sponsors with traditional Mexican mariachi music, Chicano rock, R&B, Tex-Mex and old fashion rock ‘n roll.

Cinema Diverse Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Dates: September 24-26, 2010

Location: Camelot Theater, 2300 E. Baristo Road in Palm Springs

Information: (760) 325-6565 http://cinemadiverse.ning.com/

Description:  A film festival showcasing the best in LGBT filmmaking.

3rd Annual Palm Springs Body Mind Spirit Weekend

Dates: October 2-3, 2010

Location: Hyatt Regency Suites, 285 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

Information: 760-322-7799 or www.palmspringsbodymindspirit.com

Description: Featuring over 20 classes and workshops and 20 exhibitors including spiritual counselors, healers, wellness professionals astrologers and more.

Wellness and World Music Festival

Dates: October 9-10, 2010

Location: Desert Hot Springs

Information: www.WellnessAndWorldMusicFestival.com  

Description: For two days and nights, the Festival will meld all aspects of Wellness, healthy living and sustainability with World Music.  Featured in this year’s Festival is five-time Grammy winner and reggae Icon David Nesta “Ziggy” Marley.

American Heat Bike Weekend

Date: October 16-17, 2010

Location: Downtown Palm Springs

Information (775) 329-7469  www.road-shows.com

Description: Thousands of motorcycles, entertainment, vendors, etc.

How to Stay Cool During Your Visit to Palm Springs

Palm Springs, CA – July 19, 2010 –Despite the warm dry temperatures in Palm Springs, sunseekers can enjoy an array of activities to stay cool.

Day 1: Explore Momentous Museums

Take a docent tour of the world-class Palm Springs Art Museum to view Modern and Contemporary American works as well as Studio Art Glass and Classic Western American Art. In addition, the Art Museum hosts a free foreign film series every Thursday called Global Lens 2010 through September at the Annenberg Theater.

Stroll through large hangers to view one of the nation’s largest collections of World War II flying aircraft at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Special kid programs are available through out the summer.

Visit the quaint Aqua Caliente Cultural Museum offering exhibitions portraying the history and culture of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and other indigenous people.

Day 2: Outdoor Adventure
Starry desert nights are the perfect setting for evening voyages filled with nocturnal wildlife, moonlight hikes, and off-road adventures. Take a guided four-wheel drive along the San Andreas Fault, get inside one of Palm Springs’ thousands of hillside windmills, spy on hundreds of migrating birds at the nearby Salton Sea, or climb among the eerie rocky moonscapes of Joshua Tree National Park.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is an entertaining way to cool down and watch the world below. Summer passes are available for unlimited rides all summer, which are great for hiking before catching the lights on the return. Temperatures at the top are usually 20-30 degrees cooler from the desert valley.

Summer golf course specials in Palm Springs are swinging into action. Master the game of golf while taking advantage of reduced rates at Palm Springs golf courses including the legendary Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort.

Day 3: Cool Pools and Fun in the Sun

Spend the day riding waterslides and soaking up the sunshine at Knott’s Soak City. Enjoy the views from a cabana while listening to the sounds of the finest DJs at one Palm Springs’ weekend cool pool parties at the Spa Resort Casino, Riviera Resort & Spa, Hotel Zoso, Ace Hotel & Swim Club and Viceroy. 

Enjoy a poolside cabana massage at one of Palm Springs’ signature spa resorts or immerse in a hot natural mineral baths at downtown Indian-owned spa, a wellness refuge for generations.

Try your luck at the 24-hour downtown Spa Resort Casino, and then kick into high gear at one of the local dance clubs. After your evening on the town, consider a midnight swim under the stars…

Palm Springs has cool pools and hot deals starting as low as $39.99 a night through September 30, 2010. More than 30 hotels, vacation home rentals and attractions are offering mid-week free room nights or deep discounts. For additional summer vacation trip ideas, in Palm Springs, go to www.VisitPalmSprings.com.

1. Palm Springs Art Museum has new exhibits including Modern Masters Celebrate Line and Form.   Included are drawings, prints, sculptures and paintings drawn from the museum’s permanent collection and extended loans by such renowned artists as Alexander Calder, Willem de Kooning, Edouard Manet, Henri Matisse, Joan Miro, Joan Mitchell, Henry Moore, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Auguste Rodin, Mark Rothko, and Vincent Van Gogh.. www.psmuseum.org

2. Palm Springs Air Museum has an amazing collection of WWII aircraft and the hangers stay very cool, which allows time to spend the entire day exploring aviation history. On July 15, twwo navy helicopters from two different squadrons on NAS North Island will fly in. Meet the crew and look at these great birds currently serving in our defense. www.palmspringsairmuseum.com

3. Scratch n’ Sniff a Pine Tree at the top of the Aerial Tramway. Visitors are recommended to “Jeffrey the Pine Tree” to smell amazing aromas. Share your stories by commenting on this post.  Escape the warm desert climate to a cool wildnerness where you can pack a lunch along a trail, or dine above it all at the Pines Restaurant. www.pstramway.com

4. Take an evening tour of Joshua Tree National Park via the Nocturnal Treasures Expedition. Climb into a Hummer H2 to access remote areas of Joshua Tree National Park. The seasonal four-hour tour includes night vision equipment to peek into the secret world of nocturnal desert wildlife. Contact Elite Land Tours at www.elitelandtours.com.

5. Stop by the Palm Springs Fudge & Chocolates Company located in the heart of downtown. Grab a date shake…Super good!

For more activities and events, go to www.VisitPalmSprings.com

Starting as low as $39.99 a night through September 30, 2010, Palm Springs’ boutique hotels and inns offer great value, luxe amenities and sophisticated style – many of them located within a casual stroll of Palm Springs’ charming downtown. Read a recent article about Palm Springs’ chic boutiques.

Palm Springs Summer Boutique Hotels and Inns Specials:

• 7 Springs Inn and Suites: Stay four Nights and get 20% off
• A Place in the Sun Garden Hotel: Stay two nights and get the third night free
• Alexander Inn: Stay four nights and get $50 off
• Andreas Hotel & Spa: 25% off regular summer rates
• Cambridge Inn: $39.99 weekday nights / $49.99 weekend nights
• Del Marcos Hotel: 20% off standard rates with a two-night stay
• Desert Vacation Villas: 25% off regular summer rates
• Horizon Hotel: Book two nights and get the third night free
• Ingleside Inn: Stay four nights for the price of three nights
• Movie Colony Hotel: 20% off weekday rates
• Old Ranch Inn: Stay four nights and the fourth night is free
• Palm Springs Rendezvous: Book two nights and save $20.00
• Pepper Tree Inn: Stay three nights and get third night 50% off
• Tuscany Manor Resort: Stay three nights and fourth night free

The Pool House Makes a Splash

Located in the uptown district, the intimate six-room hotel opened in May 2010, along with its full-service restaurant, The Blue Pear. Each guest room is situated around a sparkling pool featuring a white, black and electric blue color scheme that sets the stage for a retro getaway to Palm Springs. Room rates start at $99.00. http://thepoolhouseps.com/

POSH Palm Springs Inn Lives Up to Its Name

The 1930s Art Deco Architectural gem opened up a few months ago offering an all-inclusive vacation experience. Guests who stay at the eleven-room property will receive complimentary three-course gourmet breakfast, light poolside lunches and evening happy hours with appetizer. Room rates start at $164.00. http://poshpalmsprings.com/

Find Hot Deals for Palm Springs Hotel, Vacation Home and Travel Deals at www.VisitPalmSprings.com