Well known for a certain springtime music festival, the Coachella Valley is home to nearly a dozen desert cities. Palm Springs, located in the afternoon shadows of towering Mount San Jacinto, has long been the most popular draw. While the city itself features standout lodging, dining, and architecture, its surrounding environs are also well worth deeper exploration, even when midsummer temps surge well into the triple digits.
A week before my family and I arrived in Palm Springs for a midweek three-nighter, a record-breaking high of 121 degrees was still making the conversational rounds throughout the bustling downtown area. We were welcomed by a comparatively feeble 111 degrees, with forecasts of 115 for the days to come. That’s hot. But it’s not out-of-hand hot. You just need to do what we did — concentrate outdoor activities to early mornings and post-twilight, and in between, partake in pool time, shade, air conditioning, and plenty of hydration.