Summer is Here! Make it a Cool, Fun One!
Here’s a few ways to spend your summer outdoors.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Summer Pass
The Palm Springs Aerial rotates slowly over two-and-one-half miles along the cliffs of Chino Canyon, offering passengers breathtaking vistas of the valley below. Once at Mountain Station, 8,516 feet up, there are two restaurants, observation decks, natural history museum, two documentary theaters, gift shop, and over 50 miles of hiking trails.
A Summer Pass is the best way to play in the cool alpine mountains all summer long. Passes are valid through August 31, and includes unlimited Tram admissions, a 10% discount on additional Tram admissions (up to 6 in party), a 10% discount at Peaks Restaurant or Pines Café, and unlimited free parking. A Summer Pass costs $80 for adults and $40 for children ages 3-10. To purchase passes and vie summer Tram schedules visit online at www.pstramway.com.
Big Bear Lake – Clear Skies, Fresh Water and Cool Temps
Big Bear Lake is a mountain resort community with a fresh water lake seven miles long with over 22 miles of shoreline. The popular resort offers non-stop recreational opportunities such as fishing, water sports, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, tours, and winter sports. It also features a public zoo, a nine-hole golf course, seven public campgrounds, great restaurants, entertainment and lots of shopping.
Hollywood’s Natural Back Lot
Big Bear was once a popular escape for movie stars and other Hollywood elite, today this area is still a top-notch filming location. Charming streetscapes, rustic cabins and elegant lakefront properties and alpine forests make it a first-rate backdrop for top productions like, When a Stranger Calls, Next, Dr. Doolittle II, Gone with the Wind, The Insider, Frankenstein, Magnolia, Beethoven’s 3rd, and War Games. Television productions include, “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The King of Queens,” “The Average Joe,” “Next Great Champ,” “Jimmy Kimmel,” and “Extreme Dating.”
A one-hour and forty-minute drive from Palm Springs takes you up to altitude ranges of 6,750 to 9,000 feet. With over 300 days of sunshine, summer daytime temps average around 80 degrees with nighttime lows about 45 degrees. Big Bear’s airport is open 24 hours every day and is equipped for night landings. AirTaxi/Charter service is available. https://www.bigbear.com/
Idyllwild–Old Western Charm, Local Stores and Tasty Treats
Nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains among tall pines and sweet smelling cedars, the small-town charm, shops and restaurants make for a perfect weekend getaway. Art and Jazz Festivals are favorite summertime events. Daytime temp’s average low to mid 80’s and 50’s in the evening. A 45-minute to 1-hour drive from Palm Springs. http://www.idyllwild.com
How Cool is It! Locally Grown, Farm Fresh Foods, in the Westfield Mall
Westfield Mall, Palm Desert-Indoor Certified Farmers Market, thru Sep. 16
What could be better! Get your food and clothes shopping done inside, and all in one stop! Every summer the Westfied Mall offers shoppers fresh off the farm, certified organic produce, gourmet foods, flowers, and entertainment. A great way to stay cool and keep summer meals healthy! For quick easy access to the Farmers Market, enter Macy’s from covered parking behind the store and head to level 1, near the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf store. July Schedule: Sunday’s 1, 8, 15, 22, from 9:00 am – 1:30 pm. www.WestfieldMarket.com
Summer Restaurant and Entertainment Picks
J’s on the Green & Splash! Bar/Lounge: Sunday Jazz Brunch, Live Entertainment
This classic Palm Springs lounge is considered a hidden gem by the locals. Located in a lovely park-like setting, it is known for generous pours and long day/night happy hours. The SPLASH! Bar & Lounge features creative bar bites—Patrick Evans’ Fulvio Sausage Pizza Bombs, Fish and Shrimp Tacos, Moroccan Spiced Lamb Meatballs, Popcorn and Coconut Shrimp, and award-winning Haystack and Steakknife Angus Burgers.
Dining Room favorites include: Seasonal Prime Rib, Salmon, Bourbon Glazed Double Cut Pork Chops, Duck Breast, Red Wine Braised Short Ribs, Angus Rib Eye Steak, Chicken Marsala, Berryaki Glazed grilled Mahi Mahi. www.ajsonthegreen.com AJ’s on the Green, 36200 Date Palm Dr., Cathedral City.
Ingleside Inn—Romantic Boutique Hotel, Fine Dining & Entertainment
Totally secluded at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, the historic Ingleside Inn is steps from the very heart of downtown Palm Springs and adjacent to Melvyn’s Restaurant & Lounge, famous for its food and entertainment. Serving Brunch, Lunch and Dinner, the menu is a combination of simple and sumptuous meals, and a variety too great to mention all. A few of my favorites are Steak Diane, Veal Oscar, Seared Scallops, Chilean Sea Bass, New York Steak a la Frank Sinatra (a 10oz steak with truffle Bordelaise) Yum! It’s a wonderful place to celebrate special occasions.
The Casablanca Lounge at Melvyn’s is best known for its nightly entertainment featuring performances by Mikael Healy and Ron Greenip at 8 p.m., and it’s very popular Sunday Night Jam sessions. www.inglesideinn.com Ingleside Inn, 200 West Ramon Road, Palm Springs.
The Nest—Great Food, People Watching and Dancing
The Nest offers an eclectic menu of exquisite and tasty dining experiences, from appetizers to entrees, you will have a hard time picking just one thing to eat. The menu includes items such as, Escargot, Australian Rack of Lamb, Weiner Schnitzel, Filet Mignon, Fettuccini Alfredo, Blackened Scottish Salmon, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and sampler plates of various Greek and other ethnic foods.
They are best known for their entertainment. Crowds of people descend on The Nest every evening for the fine food and festive atmosphere. People of every age and inclination arrive with only one thing in mind—to have fun and dance the night away. www.gotothenest.com The Nest, 75-188 Highway 111, Indian Wells.
Coachella Valley Local Real Estate Market Statistics
According to TrendVisions™ May housing statistics, the Coachella Valley real estate market is still going strong. Ten of the eleven cities experienced gains in Average Sale Price. And, once more, Days on Market decreased for nine of the eleven cities.
- Cities with the highest percentage increases in Average Sale Price: Bermuda Dunes (25%); Thousand Palms (24%); Rancho Mirage (16.5%); La Quinta (13.5%); Indio (13%); Palm Springs (10%); Cathedral City (7.6%).
- Cities with the greatest percentage increases in the Number of Homes Sold: La Quinta (10%); Bermuda Dunes (5.3%); Cathedral City (5%); Indio (3%).
- Cities with the greatest percentage decreases in Days on Market: Palm Desert (-16.8%); Cathedral City (-13.8); La Quinta (13.8%); Rancho Mirage (-10.4%); Palm Springs (-7%); Desert Hot Springs (-7%).
The Days May be Hot, But the Nightlife is Sizzling!
July Entertainment Schedule
- Counting Crows | July 13
- Pitbull | July 21
- Korean Concert-One Summer Night | July 28
- The Ultimate Queen Celebration Starring Marc Martel | July 12
- Village People | July 14
- Donny & Marie Osmond | July 27
- Hotel California: Salute to The Eagles | July 29
- Bronco | July 14
- Los Chicos De 512: The Selena Experience | July 28
“Women Behind Bars” at the Desert Rose Playhouse, June 22 – July 29, Fri/Sat at 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Desert Rose Playhouse, 69-620 Hwy 111, Rancho Mirage. www.desertroseplayhouse.org
Journey through the Desert-The Road Less Traveled at Palm Springs Art Museum, The Galen, Palm Desert. Summer Hours through Sept. 2, Fri – Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed Mon. through Thurs. & Holidays. Features work by American photographers who captured the spiritual beauty of the desert. www.psmuseum.org
VillageFest, downtown Palm Springs, every Thursday through July. Artists, artisans, entertainers, and purveyors of fresh fruits and veggies, flowers, jewelry, snacks. 6-10 p.m. Palm Canyon Drive. www.villagefest.org
College of the Desert Street Fair, Every Sat. & Sun. Street Fair offers more than 300 merchants, artists, a Farmer’s Market. Time/Place: 7 a.m.- 2 p.m. 43500 Monterey Ave., Palm Desert, 760-636-7957. www.codaastreetfair.com
