Unique Palm Springs History and Celebrity Home Tour

Palm Springs is an international resort destination drawing visiting vacationers from all over the world. In addition to wonderful weather, natural beauty, and opportunity for outdoor adventure, many visitors are captivated with Palm Springs as the former “Playground of the Stars,” eager to learn a bit about our fascinating Palm Springs history, and see where Hollywood celebrities actually lived in Palm Springs.

If this interests you, there are several options. Narrated bus or van tours drive around neighborhoods where celebrities lived. These tours are easy; you sit in air conditioned comfort and are driven around with 8 (van) or 50 (bus) others. You get to see a lot of homes. Narration is usually good but pretty much a generalized overview. The downside is that you’re in a bus or van. There’s no chance to stop and take a closer look. You’re part of a group so the tour is not very personalized.

If you don’t want an organized tour you can pick up a map of celebrity homes from the Palm Springs Visitor’s Center and strike out on your own with a self-guided tour. The big advantage is that you can do this at your own pace, whether by bike, on foot or by car, stopping whenever you want for an up-close look. I think this approach gives a better feel for the neighborhoods than from inside a bus or van. However, you don’t have a guide to provide any history or back-story on the homes you are viewing – so it’s pretty much just a look at houses attached to a celebrity name.

Then there’s my alternative. Since this past April I’ve been providing guided, narrated walking tours of Old Las Palmas (the oldest and most notable Palm Springs celebrity neighborhood). My tours are small (no more than 4-6 guests per tour), casual, and personalized to the interests and desires of my guests. Not only do you have a chance to peek over walls and look through gates, if there’s an open house or estate sale you want to explore, we can do that as well. My tour covers about 1½ miles on flat city streets, and is a leisurely stroll taking 2-2½ hours, winding our way around homes built from 1925-2005.

  

When I begin each tour I ask guests what in particular they want to get from the tour. Often the response is, “How did Palm Springs become the city it is today?”

My tour uses the variety of homes in Old Las Palmas to show how various important events and decisions (from 1884 to present) have impacted the growth of Palm Springs. Our walk is much more than just a look at celebrity homes – it’s part area history, part celebrity background and back-story, and part architectural record, all geared towards explaining just how Palm Springs actually has become the diverse and vibrant city it is today. I tell you:

·         What it was like in early Palm Springs when “hotels” were just canvas tents built on wooden platforms

·         Why Palm Springs has always been a magnet for health and wellness seekers

·         The real reasons Palm Springs became “Hollywood’s Playground” for over 40 years

·         The lasting impact World War 2 had on Palm Springs

·         How two movies changed Palm Springs as a vacation destination

·         Why Palm Springs has such a large gay and lesbian visitor and resident presence

·         What it’s like living full-time in Palm Springs today

Over the years I’ve had opportunities to be invited inside Old Las Palmas homes, so I share my first-hand experiences. Along the way I also show photographs of historic hotels and attractions which no longer exist, as well as current pictures of some home’s interiors and back yards.

Rather than just hear about estates that were residences for over 30 celebrities I tell a story of Palm Springs, exemplified by the homes and people who have lived here, including: Liberace; Barbara Streisand; Mary Pickford; Lena Horne; Sir Lawrence Olivier, Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, Elizabeth Taylor; Dinah Shore; Kirk Douglass; and Sidney Sheldon.

I enjoy sharing my passion for Palm Springs and Old Las Palmas, and am pleased that my guests like my approach. Some of their comments have been:

“We both loved the Old Las Palmas tour and have been talking about it ever since. Before we left Palm Springs we mentioned to the owner of our resort how impressed we were, and that we strongly recommend the tour to other guests. Best of luck, and we'll certainly recommend your tour to others heading to Palm Springs.”

“Scandal, rumors, fact and fiction are mixed with a thorough historic perspective to make your tour a must do while visiting Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. Your passion for the past, present and future make the tour unique, highly entertaining and enjoyable."

“You have no idea how much I enjoyed the tour of Old Las Palmas. I learned so much and got a great sense of history of the Old Hollywood and other Palm Springs eras! It was fantastic.”

I invite both Palm Springs visitors and residents alike to join me for a unique look into the incredibly diverse and exciting past and present of this amazing desert resort city. Send me an email at kirk@ps-research.com or give me a call at 760-668-2176 – I’ll tell you more and we can set up a convenient time to walk through Old Las Palmas.  

Planning a Palm Springs Weekend Getaway

Palm Springs is a great destination for Californians looking for a weekend of rest and relaxation in almost guaranteed sunshine, a change of pace from hectic work or family schedules and a short distraction from everyday stress – in short, a hassle-free break from everyday routine and responsibilities.

Palm Springs is an easy (or at least as easy as it gets in SoCal) 2-3 hour drive from most of southern California and only about a 1½ hour flight from either San Francisco or Sacramento on American or Alaska airlines.

As a Palm Springs Vacation Visitor Concierge I have helped plan stress free weekend “break-ations” not only for first time visitors to this desert paradise, but also for those who escape to Palm Springs on a regular basis. Based on my experience here are some hints and tips for making your getaway most enjoyable.  

Consider what will make your Palm Springs weekend “special.” For example, do you want:

o      To simply sit by the pool soaking up the sun and maybe catching up on some reading

o      To explore a Palm Springs you’ve never known before

o      A singular romantic adventure or perhaps more inclusive family/friends fun

o      Solitude, or a chance meet and socialize with others you may encounter

What do you want?

Think about “vacation time” as a valuable resource. Take into account the total time involved with your getaway weekend:

Time planning your weekend getaway – To avoid disappointment keep in mind:

o      Choose your hotel/resort carefully – There are over 120 different accommodations in Palm Springs, ranging from large hotels to very small boutique resorts. Each is distinct in terms of size, clientele, price, ambiance, amenities and overall style. How much time will you be spending lounging around the pool at your hotel/resort? Chances are for a weekend getaway it‘s a pretty fair amount. If you make the wrong choice, that will impact the overall success of your entire weekend.

o    For first time visitors – Recommendations from friends can be helpful, but those recommendations are often based on the friend’s personal preferences and experiences, not yours. I’ve had several occasions where clients booked hotels and activities based on a friend’s recommendations only to arrive and find out it was exactly what they did not want.

o       For repeat visitors – Although you may have had a great experience in the past at a certain hotel/resort or restaurant, it may be different this time. We all like certain familiarity and routine, but keep your Palm Springs getaways fresh and enjoyable by considering something new and different for a change. Don’t fall into the “same old, same old” trap where this weekend visit was not as great as the last visit.

o       Vacation research, hotel/resort availability checking, making reservations, etc. can all take a lot of time.

How much time do you have or want to invest in pre-arrival vacation planning?

Travel time to and from Palm Springs – It’s all part of your vacation; the goal is to reduce travel time and eliminate hassle so you can enjoy Palm Springs.

o       If you’re driving from southern California – Remember that the freeways to and from Palm Springs get really clogged on Friday and Sunday afternoons. Is it possible for you travel earlier on Friday afternoon (or even Thursday evening) and return late Sunday evening?

o       If you’re flying – book as soon as possible for best times and seat selection. Flights fill up quickly, and are usually full. Check on arriving Thursday and/or departing Monday. You may get a better deal.

o       Many smaller hotels/resorts will waive fees for late check-out on Sunday since they don’t have reservations booked on Monday.

Do you have any flexibility in your getaway arrival and departure so that you can minimize travel hassle?

Actual time in Palm Springs – It’s been my experience that most weekend visitors want as much R & R as possible during their limited time in Palm Springs, so consider:

o       Having your room fridge and pantry stocked from your shopping list prior to arrival – a trip to a Palm Springs grocery store is not R & R time

o       Do you want some lunches or dinners delivered to your hotel/resort – make those plans ahead of time and the meals will magically arrive on schedule

o       You will have limited opportunity to explore the restaurant scene in Palm Springs. There’s everything from budget bistros to break-the-bank fine dining. Avoid disappointment with last minute choices that really don’t match your budget or preferences – get local advice early on what’s currently great and what’s not so hot

o       Even if your goal is to spend your weekend lounging by the pool, consider leaving the resort, if only for several hours, to do something new and different. Advance planning can ensure the you experience something that will be personally memorable.

If you’re a first time visitor, how about choosing one of the unique Palm Springs attractions: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the world’s largest rotating tram, rising 8500 feet above the desert floor up Mt. San Jacinto; Tahquitz Canyon is a 2 mile loop hike to Tahquitz Falls, exploring local Native American history; The Living Desert is a one-of-a-kind desert oriented zoo and botanical garden.

If you’re a returning visitor and have previously explored some of the major attractions consider something new: visit Cabot’s Old Indian Pueblo, a unique Hopi inspired Pueblo hand crafted by an eccentric over a period of 24 years using only found materials; learn how Palm Springs become the city it is today on a casual walking tour through the former neighborhood of Hollywood Stars; take the waters in the hot mineral springs that was the original winter home of the Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

How can you spend quality vacation time and reduce time spent on routine tasks?

Get local assistance in creating your “perfect” Palm Springs weekend getaway. You deserve the best Palm Springs has to offer.

o       Don’t depend solely on Palm Springs portal websites – remember that some are based just on paid advertising, and most only provide information provided by the hotel/resort, restaurant, activity or attraction. It’s usually targeted to a general visitor and not to you specifically. You’ll spend a lot of time clicking.

o      Don’t rely just on the recommendations of friends, even if they live in the Palm Springs area. Their suggestions, though well meaning, are based on their own experience, and are usually limited to what they have personally explored and enjoyed.

o       DO seek assistance from a local professional who takes time to get to know your specific preferences, provides unbiased and independent recommendations and will follow through both before and during your Palm Springs getaway with an ongoing goal of making sure you have a wonderful weekend. In the end, it will save you time, hassle and money.