Unlike the heat wave we’re having here in the East, the heat in Palm Springs is indeed a dry heat.
That however doesn’t mean it’s not hot. It just means it’s exactly as hot as the thermometer says it is.
What on earth could drag me and Isaac to the desert at the end of June? The wedding of one of my dearest friends. I was so happy for her, so blissfully happy for her it brought me to tears. Oh, and it was gorgeous too.
And when we weren’t laughing and reminiscing with friends we were exploring the desert.
I drove the first few miles up the Palms To Pines Highway (74) into the San Bernadino Mountains before the heat became too much for me. It’s a single lane road that winds and winds and climbs into the mountains and you have to turn off the A/C, and every now and then you look back into the rearview mirror and see a very ticked off supercar driver behind you, angry with your pokey, thoughtful driving.
We took the tram–which rules oh so very much–to near the top of San Jacinto Peak where the temperature was hovering around 70°F, there’s water and the trees are a gaudy shade of green.
Sometimes the heat was just too much, so we lazed around the pool at The Ace, swimming occasionally, reading occasionally, but mostly gawping at the ridiculous scene that passes for an everyday occurrence in southern California. If I was a cultural anthropologist, I would find this place fascinating.
And I finally had my first In-N-Out burger (delicious, completely satisfying and far better than anything I’ve had at Shake Shack) and, at Christina‘s insistence we stopped for Date Shakes at Shields’. I think you can see how awesome we found those!
When you combine all these things together you get to the point where I fell in love with Palm Springs and the desert. It’s a surreal, beautiful, trying, gorgeous place and I can’t wait to go back; hopefully when it’s a little less hot. Dry heat or not.
A Chicken In Every Granny Cart 
Beautiful pictures! Making me homesick… I’m glad you got your first shot at In N Out, it is a special experience. My favorite is watching the potatoes can pumped into oblivion, or rather, little french fry shapes. :-)
I haven’t spent much time in Palm Springs, but a lot of Southern California scrub looks very similar (minus the Ace fauna) and so this was a nice mental visit home. Thanks, Ann!
Potatoes “get pumped” rather…
I’ve been living in Ireland long enough that these kinds of temperatures make no sense to me at all! The scenery is absolutely stunning – was that an eagle perching on a tree?
Whew, I’ve got to get out there sometime and take the tram. Amazing. Your photos are fantastic, really wonderful.
I’m glad you enjoyed the date shakes.
Lovely! Since its a fairly short hop for us, we visit most years, its just lovely in the cooler months! I particularly like the indian canyons reserve and Joshua tree national park. Lovely place. My husband has a special place in his heart for the bacon flight at cheeky’s diner…
Margaret — I was so filled with anticipation, I just grabbed a table and sat there like a little kid at Christmas!! I didn’t even realize you could watch them make the french fries. Lol! Next time!
Nathalie — Trust me, these temperatures make no sense to us either ;-) The bird is just a crow, but it was so hot and barren he really felt like a talisman. I know now why the Native Americans held them in such regard.
Christina — You would lovelovelovelovelove that tram! If you need a hiking buddy, I’ll fly out there ;-)
Jenny — Bacon flight? Cheekys Diner?? Why did no one tell us about these things before our trip!? Just kidding, but you guys are lucky to live that close to the desert. What an amazing place.
You take some of the most amazing photographs. That looks beautiful. I’ve never been to California, and never thought I would like Southern California in particular, but wow, just beautiful.