By Roy Heale
Basking in the heat of the California desert lies one of America’s most magical gay and lesbian vacation destinations. Nestled in a vast fertile valley surrounded by lush and ancient palm groves, banked by steep ravines and mountain peaks, the village of Palm Springs is no mirage as it proves to be a really gay desert oasis.
Some of the original residents included Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, President Gerald Ford, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry just to name a few. This resident ancestry plus the subsequent Mayor and later Congressman Sonny Bono led to the development of a vibrant community which evolved to provide an escape from the frenetic pace of life in Hollywood.
Times have changed and today the community includes an estimated thirty-thousand gay and lesbian residents who work tirelessly to ensure you receive the most gay-friendly welcome and escape from daily stress when you arrive in this desert playground. Almost one hundred GLBT accommodations, bars, restaurants and shops are ready to welcome you for the ideal gay playtime.
Many vacation destinations claim to be gay-friendly but in this case Palm Springs demonstrates a commitment to gay travellers in several ways. The City’s major Visitor Centre boasts a separate GLBT information section of brochures and information for the gay tourist upon arrival. While you are browsing in this area it is only a short time before a cheerful staff member joins you to make sure you have everything you require. They will probably ensure that you have a copy of the impressive sixty-six page Official Gay and Lesbian Visitor’s Guide plus the GLBT fold-out map of Palm Springs. If that isn’t proof enough of their gay-friendly welcome then they will give you the web address to visit the GLBT website dedicated to community businesses or a copy of the DVD information video about gay Palm Springs. Phew! That’s a genuine welcome to start your trip on the right footing and you will soon notice even though it seldom rains here there’s a rainbow (flag that is) visible everywhere in town.
All of this information is readily accessible from the Tourism Bureau before you leave home and on their GLBT website in order to assist with your trip planning. This is very important because there are over fourty gay and lesbian accommodations for you to select from to choose your holiday home. They range from small bed and breakfasts to large resorts and somewhere there exists a price which is perfect for every budget.
The most temperate time of the year is October to March but the summer months are ideal for the sun gods amongst us! Almost every day the hot sun shines down and each accommodation offers at least one swimming pool, so be sure to pack plenty of suntan lotion as it’s a desert holiday requisite. Cool and inviting pools are the Palm Springs’ signature which will become obvious to you from the air as your plane is landing. These pools are as different as the speedos that surround them and the shapes and sizes vary as much as do the poolside bodies. This fact should not be overlooked in your accommodation selection process as you are sure to find yourself cooling off in a sparkling pool from early morning to late afternoon. A pre-dinner swim or enjoying a midnight dip before retiring, will rapidly become a part of your daily routine in the welcoming desert heat.
Where to stay is a smorgasbord of choices and a difficult decision but pre-travel surfing on the web will become fun and assist in making your selection a little easier. You can be sure that wherever you end up staying will prove to be a positive gay experience and a great vacation to remember in the cold winter months.
We selected the All Worlds Resort on Warm Sands Drive in the heart of the gay community and close to all the action. With three different pools to choose from there was plenty of variety in the daily occupation of sun-tanning and swimming. The spacious air-conditioned rooms, daily buffet breakfast and Saturday pool-side barbecue are just a few of the reasons why this resort is so popular with locals and tourists alike. You may also recognise this resort from the adult movies produced here by the video production company of the same name. Who knows they might even be filming whilst you are a guest! This resort’s biggest asset proved to be the very friendly and helpful staff who are there twenty-four hours a day to look after anything you might need for a perfect get-away.
Whatever your final accommodation choice may be, you will also have the option to visit other places during your stay as most of the resorts offer day passes which allow you to enjoy their facilities for a very nominal fee as a day guest.
Whether you spend the day poolside or exploring the surrounding neighbourhood, your evening dining in Palm Springs is an adventure in grand tastes and gracious touches. Fine foods and fantastic flavours await the discerning palate with atmosphere and ambiance to suit any mood.
An absolute must-dine destination is Blame It On Midnight, with its multi-level dining room, large circular cocktail bar and cabaret-style entertainment lounge. The food is simple, inexpensive and casual (featuring an extensive American menu) perfectly cooked and the decor is irresistibly gay including Dorothy’s red slippers. The atmosphere is so Palm Springs you can practically hear Frank Sinatra singing in the lounge! This establishment is “visual” (to say the least!) and the staff is trés gay and friendly. The majority of the clientele is gay and you will immediately feel right at home when you are seated at your table. If you enjoy this experience then be sure to take a short drive to the neighbouring community of Cathedral City and check out their sister restaurant Shame On The Moon. We have it on good local advice you won’t be disappointed.
Also, close to the bars and nightlife is the very simple Fishermen’s Market Grill where your meal will almost make you forget you’re in the desert and located quite a distance from the ocean. Their list of daily catch selections could not be more extensive, and diners are invited to choose the accompaniments for their fruits de mer, as well as how their selection is cooked.
Back in the heart of town a variety of sidewalk cafes, Hamburger Mary’s and the Rainbow Café afford a selection of reasonable prices and varied menus to choose from each being within walking distance of one another and the gay bars.
After dinner the perfect ending for a hot, dry day will prove to be the air-conditioned refuge, libations and social gatherings at one of the many gay bars and clubs. The choices are varied ranging from dancing at Hunter’s Video Bar, a dazzling light show and dancing at Heaven Nightclub or the rainforest setting complimented by festive drinks at Toucan’s Tiki Lounge. Badlands neighbourhood bar claims to have the best pool tables in town and the Levi and Leather dress code at the Tool Shed will reward many travellers who packed more than shorts and T-shirts. These are just a few of the options for late night fun and as you travel from one venue to another you are bound to learn about where the party is happening on any given night.
In addition Palm Springs and the surrounding desert region has much to offer in unique and tempting attractions for every gay tourist.
A visit to Pioneer Town created by Roy Rogers as the set for his television show is a step back in time and on the drive there you will see one of the most impressive applications of windmill powered electricity generators in North America. This is an example of an historic way of life and new technology existing together in one region, both impressive in their own right.
The aerial tram ride ascending 8,400 feet to a cafe perched on the mountain’s crest and extending to hiking trails can only be compared to a visit at an Alpine glen. Atop this summit the temperature drops several degrees making you forget you’re on a desert vacation. Be sure to bring a jacket here.
From downtown it’s a worthwhile ten minute drive to the The Indian Canyons on the edge of town, which are fifteen miles long with indigenous palm trees, flora and fauna and foot paths winding down to a stream affording a perfect picnic location.
Shopping is a great pastime in Palm Springs and throughout the region. Be sure to check out the shops on El Paseo in Palm Desert nicknamed “The Rodeo Drive” of the desert. Or stop in at The Gardens for a unique shopping experience in a tropical setting. And the Old Town of La Quinta is the most relaxed shopping anywhere in the valley.
Every Thursday night Palm Canyon Drive (the town’s main street) is closed to traffic and is transformed into a vibrant pedestrian street fair called VillageFest. Shopping in Palm Springs is more than just a tradition-it’s a well respected art form-making this the ideal day of the week for a spending spree with your pink dollars.
For any athletic enthusiasts some of the best golf courses in the world can be found here and tennis courts are easily booked for a good racquet workout. Gyms and spas are everywhere for those important muscle tone-ups or an equally important personal pampering with a massage or therapeutic body treatment. You’re on holiday so allow yourself a special treat!
A celebrity home tour will take you back to the days when the likes of Elvis Presley and Bob Hope called this their home. Such extravagant homes are rare and worthy of a look see. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a twelve-hundred acre wildlife and botanical park, featuring the current home for rare and endangered desert animals in a natural setting.
The glitzy casinos are more akin to Monte Carlo than the Las Vegas strip providing some frivolous spending in search of lady luck and unique entertainment. The Palm Springs Follies are a must see Vaudeville style of entertainment with a special twistas the performers are all older than fifty-five and still kicking in the chorus line!
Whatever your vacation pleasure it’s all available here in this desert oasis recently recognised as the newest gay vacation mecca. Whether you are looking for a quick weekend getaway, a retreat from winter’s snowy onslaught or a honeymoon full of memories, Palm Springs has everything for the discriminating GLBT traveller and this get-away will help to sustain you through the trying winter months ahead.
So pack your shorts and T-shirts along with a water bottle plus a sun hat, then head to this hot gay destination!