Golf, Fantastic Weather, and Shopping Galore: PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA BY KATRINA ROBINSON

Palm Desert, California, is a 26-square-mile region located about 14 miles from Palm Springs and was one of the fastest growing cities in California in the 1980s and 1990s. This quick population growth can be attributed to the area’s great weather, dining opportunities, shopping spots, outdoor activities, cultural events, and intense love of golfing—the latter being just one reason that golf carts are so prevalent in the community.

Palm Desert has over 30 golf courses; this is over one golf course per square mile of the city! And if you’re willing to travel outside of Palm Desert to get your golf fix, then you’ll have access to over 100 private, semi-private, and public courses in Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, and throughout the Coachella Valley.

Desert Willow is one of these courses; it has won awards and attracts visitors from across the nation. In fact, it was named one of Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play.” The golf course offers two of the region’s best plays: the challenging Firecliff Course and the Mountain View Course, which is more suitable for beginners. The clubhouse offers terrific amenities to players, and new golfers can participate in the Palm Desert Golf Academy to learn more about the game and how to best play it. The course’s scenic outdoor dining provides golfers with the chance to soak in the region’s views of the surrounding Santa Rosa Mountains while enjoying some delicious cuisine. The environmentally sensitive design and construction are sure to please those of you who are eco-conscious; the entire experience is like no other you will be able to find at a golf course.

Other golf courses in Palm Desert include the Avondale Golf Club, the Chaparral Country Club, the Indian Ridge Country Club, the Ironwood Country Club, the Marrakesh Country Club, the Oasis Country Club, and the Shadow Mountain Golf Club. We would list them all, but that would

take up the entire article! There are just that many.

Palm Desert has encouraged golf cart transportation on city streets since the early 1990s, so residents and visitors alike can be found putting along in their golf carts not only on the courses themselves but also in the city proper.

Another reason that golf carts are found roaming the streets of Palm Desert is the weather. The city enjoys an average of 360 days of sunshine each year, making it the ideal place for open-air transportation.

The Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce also holds an annual golf cart parade so cart enthusiasts who live in the area can decorate their golf carts and parade them down the streets for all to see. This yearly parade typically takes place in the fall.

Lori Carney, the Director of Administrative Services of the City of Palm Desert, stated that “[Golf carts] are a regular part of the community, and we continue to extend safe routes for golf carts, bicycles, and NEVs throughout our community.” If you’re a golf cart enthusiast, this is likely music to your ears!

Golf and golf carts aren’t the only reasons to enjoy living in or visiting Palm Desert. The area is home to the Coachella and Stagecoach Music Festivals, the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Concerts in the Park, Fashion Week, large fitness events, and the BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament. And these are just a few of the events that occur yearly in the region! So if golf isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other reasons to book a stay in Palm Desert.

The area’s dining opportunities cannot go without being mentioned. Palm Desert has over 150 restaurants within its city limits, so you’re sure to find a cuisine that speaks to your taste buds. If you don’t feel like getting decked out in your finest duds, then that’s okay—there are plenty of restaurants that are “desert casual.” However, if you’re looking for more of a fine dining opportunity, those abound. Enjoy ethnic dining, a classic steak and potato entrée, a light lunch at a nearby café—the world is your oyster…speaking of, are you in the mood for oysters? Those can be found in Palm Desert, too!

Some people just get a kick out of purchasing unique items while visiting other locales, and Palm Desert recognizes that by offering some of the best shopping in the state. The city is home to locally owned boutiques with one-of-a-kind wares, luxury couture shops where you can buy items that will be the envy of your friends, jewelry stores carrying the shiniest and most dazzling gems and stones, and art galleries featuring local artists so you can bring a piece of Palm Desert home with you. We recommend that you check out El Paseo and Westfield Palm Desert. Whatever your retail preferences, you’re sure to find something to fit your tastes.

Be sure to check the calendar and coordinate your vacation with the street fair, which operates on Saturdays and Sundays year-round. The fair has taken place for over 36 years and is considered by many to be one of the top things to do in the region. Residents and visitors alike enjoy spending the weekend shopping in a shaded, open-air environment that is incomparable. Looking for a unique souvenir to bring home to family or friends? You’re guaranteed to find something among the thousand items for sale at the street fair, ranging from home goods, furniture, and items from artisans, to vintage cars and fashion items.

Looking for something tasty to enjoy at your AirBnB at the end of the day? The farmers market has what you’re looking for! Be sure to check the calendar and stop by the market to purchase some fresh local produce, meat, cheeses, and more from local vendors. You won’t regret it!

What more can be said? As Carney stated, “Palm Desert is a unique, beautiful, welcoming community with something for everyone.” If you’re a golf cart enthusiast, look no further than Palm Desert for your next vacation.