Drive 100 miles east of Los Angeles and you'll find warm winter weather, 闪闪发光的游泳池, 摇曳的棕榈树. 但是在 大棕榈泉地区, those highlights are just a warmup—there's much more to explore under the desert's sun-kissed skies.
关于最新消息 California Now播客, three Palm Springs experts discuss the Coachella Valley's vast charms: nature preserves laced with hiking trails, a vibrant cultural scene that includes outdoor art and superb dining, and stunning midcentury modern architecture.
大自然爱好者的天堂
徒步导游杰森·布鲁克斯来自 要走的距离 shares his tips on exploring the region's diverse ecosystem. "The uniqueness of Palm Springs is that it's not only in the low desert, 哪个国家有自己的动植物, but we have this incredible mountain, 圣哈辛托, 上升到10,距离沙漠地面1000英尺,他说.
One of Bruecks' favorite hiking destinations is 约书亚树国家公园, about an hour east of Palm Springs. "It's an extraordinary park—as large as Rhode Island,他说. "There's something amazing about Joshua trees, how they just reach up to the sky. 它们属于Dr. 苏斯的书. Maybe because of that, it draws out a little bit of our childhood interest."
For visitors who don't want to stray far from the hotel pool, Bruecks recommends the 印度的峡谷 in Palm Springs, owned by the Agua Caliente tribe.
"For a minimal fee, you can travel into approximately four different canyons,他说. "One has an extraordinarily beautiful waterfall, and the other three are filled with 华盛顿蒲葵filifera palms, which are these beautiful palm trees. 这是一片真正的绿洲."
文化艺术中心
史蒂文•比勒 棕榈泉生活 magazine's editor-in-chief, says the region's natural beauty pairs well with outdoor art. "The entire Coachella Valley is an art landscape. People say, 'Oh, it's just this blank empty desert.“事实并非如此. 这里充满了令人难以置信的活力，”他说.
One of the region's most famous art events is the biennial 沙漠X, "an invitational exhibition with artists coming from around the world." Biller describes notable works from previous events, including Doug Aitken's Mirage from 2017's 沙漠X. The installation—a ranch house built of mirrors that reflected its boulder-strewn surroundings—became "one of the most Instagrammed artworks ever,他说.
The next 沙漠X will take place at outdoor locations throughout the Coachella Valley from February 6 until April 11, 2021.
At any time of year, Biller recommends that art fans visit the murals in 科切拉市中心. "It's a historical downtown and there are 14 colorful, 大型壁画, all situated within a few short blocks. They honor the life and struggles of the local population there, largely Mexican immigrant farm workers,他说.
Biller says another reason to visit Coachella is to sample the street tacos from 哈利斯科餐厅. Some of his other favorite regional meals include peppers stuffed with shrimp at Indio's El Mexicali咖啡馆，法语crêpes at Palm Springs' 农场, and sushi and whiskey pairings at 沙鱼.
And since Greater Palm Springs' weather is so mild, dining al fresco is the norm. "The outdoor experience is very much part of the culture here," Biller says.
中世纪的现代麦加
播客上也有, tour guide Kurt Cyr discusses the abundance of midcentury modern architecture in the desert. 老年痴呆的公司, 棕榈泉改装队, offers driving tours that show off these smartly styled retro buildings.
"We have a very specific type of midcentury architecture here in Palm Springs, 叫做沙漠现代主义,西尔说。. "There are four elements that really comprise the architectural style, and all of these have to do with sun protection and heat protection."
Desert modern architecture was especially popular among Hollywood celebrities of the 1950s and 1960s, who built winter vacation homes in Palm Springs. "People were more willing to experiment with new technologies and architecture in a place they only lived a few months out of the year,西尔说。. "The idea of merging the indoors and the outdoors was a really important aspect of it."
He says that many visitors are surprised to see how small midcentury modern homes are, even those built for 1950s Hollywood celebrities. "There was a whole different concept of space in the midcentury period,西尔说。. "Dinah Shore's first home was 1,500 square feet or so."
Cyr's "Interior Tour" goes inside three residences that were built by well-known midcentury architects. "These are not museums, they are private homes,他说. "You really get a sense of how relevant the architecture is today for modern life. It's not just this vintage mode—it's very easy to live in these homes."
