Small Event Coordination

From an informal gathering of 4-8 friends who all want to spend time together to more formal small events like executive or special interests retreats, friends or family reunions, and weddings or commitment ceremonies, Palm Springs is the perfect place. Whether it’s finding a resort with 3 or 4 available rooms during the time of your visit, or booking an entire resort including catering, ground transportation, and special events, I know how to make your next Palm Springs event a success.

Some resorts offer small meeting rooms, great for retreats or mini-conferences. Others have private outdoor areas ideal for weddings and commitment ceremonies. Many of the smaller resorts do not have staff available to help fully plan and execute your event, and that’s where I step in.

For more formal events I can help you choose the right resort, book rooms and space, provide ongoing coordination with the resort, purchase supplies, make available bar-tenders, arrange for catering, ground transportation, special activities. I can give you ideas for promoting your event, and be on-site for the entire event to make sure everything runs smoothly. I have loads of contacts in the Palm Springs area and can put together a winning team for a successful event.

For informal get-togethers of friends and family just tell me what you want, and I’ll work in the background to make it all happen.

Rent-A-Guide Services

The best way to experience the REAL Palm Springs area is through the eyes of a local guide.  When you hire me, it’s like spending a few hours with a knowledgeable friend who has a real passion for the desert.

Together, some visitors and I have:

·         Spent a day in the Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country

·         Stepped back in time to reflect on our Native American ancestors at the Indian Canyons

·         Ridden the Palm Springs Aerial Tram from palms to pines

·         Explored The Living Desert Wildlife and Botanical Park

·         Taken a day-trip to Joshua Tree National Park

·         Hiked some easy trails in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument

·         Picnicked in the Whitewater River Canyon at the Whitewater Preserve

Here's how it works:

Let me know what you are interested in and I will make some suggestions and be happy to design a custom itinerary for you.

The length of your adventure will depend on what attractions you choose to include in your itinerary. For tours over 6 hours in length I suggest you include a lunch or dinner stop. I will be happy to suggest a restaurant or picnic location. 

Once you decide on an itinerary I will confirm a set price based on the length of time for your selected itinerary (plus additional costs, if any). If you find once we are out and about that you want to extend your tour you are welcome to do so subject to my availability at the following hourly rates: 1 person = $40 per hour - 2-4 people = $20 per person per hour (additional costs include my attraction admission fees, any special event fees or cost of picnic lunch if you wish me to provide).

If you select an attraction that has an admission fee you will need to pay the gate/admission fee directly to the attraction.

I will meet you at your resort (or location of your choosing) and join you in your personal vehicle (you drive, I narrate). If you do not have a car, I can help make arrangements for you to rent one.

What would you like to do?

Special Celebrations in Palm Springs

Often, a birthday, anniversary or other occasion prompts a vacation in Palm Springs. From providing cake and ice cream, to dinner out for 4 friends, a massage or spa visit, to something more elaborate, it’s your vacation too, so why spend time planning when you could be out by the pool.

I know where to get a birthday cake on Sunday and will pick it up and deliver it to your resort. I can provide a small catered dinner at your resort, complete with party favors. I can make recommendations and reservations at restaurants geared for larger groups.

How about a moonlight couples massage, a sunrise hike, a full day of spa pampering, or a picnic lunch sitting next to the Whitewater River?

I can arrange for an evening “bar-crawl,” casino tour, or other activities, complete with transportation so you don’t need to worry about a designated driver.

What would make your celebration special?

Everyone’s Got To Eat

Everyone’s got to eat at some point in time, even though your first priority may be rest, relaxation, sun and “chillin” by the pool. From fridge and pantry stocking to last minute restaurant reservations I can help.

Fridge and Pantry Stocking

Many Palm Springs visitors just want to spend time at their resort, out in the sun by the pool, maybe catching up on some long overdue reading, escaping a hectic work schedule – basically “doing nothing.” Most resorts have room refrigerators; some have suites with full kitchens. Based on your shopping list I’ll make sure your fridge is stocked before your arrival and re-stocked during your visit. No need to make that trip to the grocery store – spend your time doing what you really want to do.

Lunch and Dinner Delivery

You don’t need leave your resort for meals if you don’t want to. I can arrange to have meals provided for you at your resort. From sandwiches, salads or pizza, to full entrée dinners, just let me know what you want. I’ll even serve them and clean up afterwards if that’s the kind of special vacation pampering you’re looking for.

Last Minute Restaurant Recommendations

OK, so it’s 6:00 pm on a Saturday and you want a Palm Springs restaurant experience. Maybe you have a craving for sea bass, or a good steak that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, or a place that offers live entertainment, or maybe a super romantic place. Just let me know and I’ll give you my personal recommendations and even make reservations if you wish.

San Andreas Fault Desert Oasis Hiking Tour

Our Native American ancestors referred to the area surrounding what is now called Palm Springs as “the magic valley.” What continues to make it magic is a unique combination of three major geologic features:

The valley is surrounded by 4 mountain ranges including the 2 highest mountain peaks in southern California.

Under the desert floor is the 2^nd largest underground aquifer in the United States, providing water to the entire valley.

Running up the valley is the San Andreas Fault, probably the most famous and visible earthquake fault in the world, stretching 700 miles from the Mexican border to just north of San Francisco.

There is no better place to explore the impact of these geologic features than at the Coachella Valley Preserve, located 15 miles east of Palm Springs.

There are other oasis tours, but I don’t think any other hike provides the opportunity, in 2-2½ hours, to explore the rich diversity of 2 different desert oases, a close-up look at the San Andreas Fault, the unique eco-environment of a desert wash and a walk up a “living” sand dune to an impressive scenic overlook. And would you believe that this amazing area was purchased in 1905 by a cattle rancher seeking water for his animals for 2 mules and a wagon.

My tours are small (limited to no more than 6 people), personalized, and reflect my personal interests and passion. Honestly, I’m not big on plant life, but I know a lot about earthquake faults and oases.

Tour Highlights:

Thousand Palms Oasis – One of the largest groves of desert fan palms in California. Some of the trees may be over 150 years old.

San Andreas Fault – Walk on the fault, see the impact of the fault, and learn why earthquakes are necessary.

Desert Wash – A unique desert environment created by rain run-off from the surrounding mountains and home for many plants that require more water than those on the typical desert floor.

McCallum Pond and Oasis – Created by water seeping up through the San Andreas Fault from the underground aquifer. This pond is home to the endangered Desert Pupfish.

Living Sand Dunes – Wind creates these amazing sand dunes which will eventually cover over the McCallum Pond and Oasis. Home to the endangered Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard.

Vista Point – One can see the 4 mountain ranges surrounding and protecting “the magic valley,” a unique environment and home to over 500 species of native plants, 200 species of birds, 25 different species of reptiles and over 30 species of mammals.

This easy hike is mostly on sand packed established trails. A portion of the hike is on a board walk over Thousand Palms Oasis, and also includes a short climb up a “living” sand dune (kind of like walking uphill on a beach). The hike is geared for active adults who are comfortable hiking an easy, mostly flat, 2 miles. Wear comfortable walking shoes that may get a bit wet in the oasis areas, and I suggest you bring a hat, water, a camera and maybe sunscreen.

Contact me for more information and to schedule a convenient tour time.

Old Las Palmas Celebrity Home Walking Tour

Old Las Palmas isn’t meant to be seen from behind a bus or car window. Sense the incredible Palm Springs story on foot.  Walk the city streets. Absorb everything up close and personal. My tours are fun, casual, fully guided and narrated and an opportunity to get some great exercise out in our healthy Palm Springs sunshine.

Unlike van or bus tours with 15-50 people, my tours are small (limited to no more than 6 people), personalized, and improvisational (you never know what we may encounter; open gates, maybe an open house, perhaps even an estate sale. Additionally, my tours are scheduled at your convenience, not the convenience of the tour company.

Tours last 2-2½ hours, and yes, we will walk past over 30 celebrity homes where you can peak over walls and look through gates and fences. Some of the homes you may see include those of: Elizabeth Taylor; Liberace; Barbara Streisand; Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy; Ronald and Nancy Regan; Kirk Douglas; Dinah Shore; Clark Gable and Carole Lombard; as well as many others.

This walk stops often as I tell you about the celebrities, share some of my personal stories of being in some of these homes, and tell you a bit about how Palm Springs became the city it is today, share my passion for this unique community, as well as some fun facts and rumors you probably won’t hear anywhere else. I also have pictures to show, including some of the long gone resorts as well as interior photos of some of the homes we will see.

We begin at The Corridor Plaza on the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Alejo Road and finish 5 blocks north on Palm Canyon Drive for an easy shopping walk back through the Palm Springs Uptown Design Boutique District.

This easy walk is totally on flat city streets and is geared for active adults who are comfortable walking about 1½ miles. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and I suggest you bring a hat, water, a camera and maybe sunscreen.

Contact me for more information and to schedule a convenient tour time.

Palm Springs – A Four Season Vacation Paradise

Palm Springs offers unique vacation experiences year round. It all depends on what you are looking for.

Summer – (early June-late September) – Yes it is hot, with average high temperatures around 105°F (41°C), but if you are looking for a weekend getaway of rest and relaxation in the sun and around the pool, Palm Springs has lots to offer. Most resorts have misters to keep you cool when not in the pool, and cooling towers to keep pool temperature below 85°F (29°C). Over the past few years, Palm Springs has become an increasingly popular weekend get-away for southern California residents who want to escape Los Angeles.

Summer in the desert is laid back and quiet. There are also incredible discount deals on everything from restaurants to resorts. You can often get a room that normally goes for between $175-$200 per night during the spring, for under $100 per night. If you want to golf, bike or walk, it’s best in the early morning hours, but there is discount golf on courses that are normally outrageously expensive.

You can also take the Palm Springs Aerial Tram up to the San Jacinto National Park, or a short drive to Idyllwild, both of which are set among tall pines, sweet smelling cedars and legendary rocks. Here you can hike at temperatures 30°F less than on the desert floor, and return to your resort for a cooing midnight swim.

Fall – (October-November) – Average high fall temperatures are around 85°F (29°C), seasonal residents begin to return to the area, it has been my experience that fall is very popular with European visitors, and much of town takes on a very international flair.

As the temperatures cool, the 150 area hiking trails (from easy to strenuous) are filled with walkers and hikers. Although fall has pretty much the same weather as spring, the town is still less crowded and many resorts offer fall discount rates. Fall is a great time to mix with the seasonal and full-time residents, on the golf courses, in the restaurants, and at the weekly Thursday night Palm Springs VillageFest, which takes over Palm Canyon Drive.

Winter – (December-early January) – With high temperatures around 70°F (21°C) this may not seem like winter to most people, but it is as cold as we desert residents want it to get. Take the Palm Springs Aerial Tram for a day of cross-country skiing, shoeshoeing, or just family fun in the snow – then return to your resort for an evening swim in a pool maintained at around 88°F as you look up at the snow capped mountains. The Palm Springs area takes on a holiday feel with a Festival of Lights Parade, Holiday lights at the Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and the famous Indio International Tamale Festival.

As with summer, winter has a lot of weekend visitors from the Los Angeles area, but in recent years there has been a dramatic increase in visitors from all over the U.S. and Canada who want a holiday break. You may get some rain, but you won’t have to deal with snow, except what is on the mountains.

Spring – (Mid January-Early June) – This is our primary visitor season (with average high temperatures around 85°F (29°C). You should expect prices to reflect demand. Visitors come from all over the world, but mostly from northwest U.S. and Canada as well as the Midwest U.S. and the Canadian province of Ontario. During spring there are direct air flights from over a dozen U.S. and Canadian cities, and many resorts are booked a year in advance.

People come for the sun, the wealth of outdoor activities, but also the great event and social action including the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Bob Hope Desert Classic Golf Tournament, HITS Desert Circuit Horse Show, Palm Springs Modernism Week, Modern Pentathlon World Cup, BNP Paribas Tennis Open, Kraft Nabisco LPGA Golf Championship, Dinah Shore Weekend, White Party, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival.

Palm Springs is at its most vibrant, lively and fun during the spring. Diners are outdoors on patios, and many restaurants feature nightly live entertainment. There is a distinct feel in the air as you realize that most of the people you see are, like you, escaping from a harsh winter back home for a week, or perhaps, two, of rest and rejuvenation in this desert paradise.