Palm Springs, just 12 miles away from Los Angeles, is a favored destination, especially for Hollywood celebrities. Located in the Colorado or Low Desert, Palm Springs is at the center of the Coachella Valley, famous for its fruits. Extremely well developed, Palm Springs has plenty to offer to the visitor -- grand resorts, great shopping, interesting views of the nearby desert and canyons, excellent golfing and tennis facilities and of course, clean fresh air.

Spend a couple of hours admiring the exhibits of Native American art and natural sciences at the Palm Springs Desert Museum. For the best view of the city and the surrounding areas, take a ride on the Palm Springs Ariel Tramway to the top of nearby Mount San Jacinto.

Palm Canyon Drive is the major shopping district of town -- the shops here range from trendy boutiques and designer stores to souvenir and book stores. For a closer look at the natural attractions around town, visit the Indian Canyons, a couple of miles outside town.

A definite must-see is the near by Joshua Tree National Park, with its ancient gnarled trees and strange rock formations. Once a major gold mining region, the eerie landscape of the park is best seen at dawn or dusk. You can also camp overnight here -- there are plenty of campgrounds in the park. In town, visit the Living Deserts Wildlife and Botanical Park with its collection of plants from the Colorado, Mojave and Sonoran deserts.

Originally a Cahuilla settlement, Palm Springs was born as a holiday town when Hollywood stars attracted by its clean air and warm sunshine began arriving here in the 1930s. By the 1940s, several hotels and resorts had come up and Palm Springs became a popular destination. During the Spring Break, thousands of students would come to party for days here, giving the town a raucous image. The authorities soon put an end to that and since then, have built up the image of the city as a premier resort town.

You can fly into Palm Springs Regional Airport on most major domestic airlines. Palm Springs is a two-hour drive from Los Angeles -- take the I-10 east and get on to Highway 111. From San Diego, which is three hours away, take the I-15 to Highway 60 and then on to I-10 and Highway 111. Greyhound Services buses are available as are train services from Los Angeles.

Winter is the best time to visit Palm Springs, as the weather is pleasant. Summer can be very hot here -- temperatures may go up to 110ºF and it can get very stifling.

There are plenty of resorts, hotels and motels in Palm Springs. Most of the resorts are grand and expensive, the ultimate in luxury. For cheaper lodgings, check out the inns and motels towards the northern end of town, along Highway 111. Prices come down drastically during the summer when there are hardly any visitors to the city.

Palm Springs has some excellent, expensive restaurants frequented by Hollywood stars, where you can sample the finest food and drink the town has to offer. For those on a budget, there are diners and bistros serving reasonably priced fare. Always bring warm clothing as temperatures drop rapidly at night and it can get cold.

Entertainment in this desert oasis is easy to come by -- the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies shows are instant sell-outs and feature showgirls, dancers and singers. The Annenberg Theater at the Desert Museum hosts plays, concerts and shows regularly.