The Real Palm Springs
For most people, Palm Springs brings to mind golf courses, perpetual sunshine, spas and retired movie stars. Nestled in a desert surrounded by mountains 111 miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs has always been an oasis in the desert. For the past several decades it’s flourished as an escape from the smog, hustle and hassle of LA.
But few people know the real Palm Springs up in the mountain canyons over looking Palm Springs. This lush paradise of indigenous palm trees and plants in the middle of the desert is fed and nourished by cold spring fed creeks.
The Cahuilla Indians lived in these canyons for hundreds of years. To this day, there are large stones with holes worn into them after hundreds of years of corn being ground on them. Today the Cahuilla tribe manages the Indian Canyons and let the rest of us enjoy this oasis paradise for a fee.
I spent an entire afternoon wandering the streams under the giant palms that ran through the canyons and down into the desert valley. It felt like paradise to soak in the cool pools of water and then dry off lying under the sun on the smooth boulders. The natural beauty soothed my body and soul, while relaxing my mind. To love nature is to love your soul.
The Real Palm Springs
Palm Springs – the City
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May 17th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
you discovered my favorite morning reading spot in that courtyard behind Koffi!
May 24th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Thanks for sharing the photos! A friend keeps trying to get me to go here and Palm Springs has never appealed to me. Maybe if I can get somewhere more tranquil similar to your photos, it would.