Sometimes you just want to get away and relax. One of my favorite places to do that is Palm Springs. Located in the desert about 90 miles west of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is a city built on relaxation. From the many golf courses to the clothing-optional resorts, Palm Springs has a wide variety of options.
One thing I like about Palm Springs is the setting. Sitting in the middle of the desert, the city itself is flat; but rising from the sides of the city are towering mountains. The view is picturesque. Another cool thing about Palm Springs is the drive into the city. Right as you are about to enter the city, you come across a HUGE windmill farm (pictured above). Hundreds of windmills line the valley and mountainside and it is a really cool site to see.
When I visit Palm Springs, I usually stay in one of the many gay clothing-optional resorts. The city has a bunch of them and in my opinion they are the best places to stay. For me, there is nothing better than relaxing naked in a hot tub at midnight before I head to bed. In the past, I have always stayed at Inn Exile. Although this resort is very relaxing, it is also a pretty quiet place.....great if you are visiting with a boyfriend. This past trip I stayed at All Worlds Resort. Since All Worlds sells day and night passes, there are always a new mix of people hanging out at the resort. Since there is not a ton of stuff to do in Palm Springs, this new mix of people keeps it from getting boring. My advice is to choose your resort wisely before going to Palm Springs. Decide what is most important to you and stay at the resort that best fits your needs.
If you decide to hit the gym while in Palm Springs, World Gym is the place to go. The equipment is great and the guys that run the gym are first rate. The crowd is older (much like the city itself) and I have been told the wet area is very cruisy.....but since I have never showered there I can not independently confirm that. I like the gym because the equipment is first rate.
Downtown Palm Springs has a quaint village-like feel to it. The main downtown street is lined with cool local shops and restaurants. On my last trip I found a neat local chocolate shop. Since I am addicted to chocolate I was in heaven!! Probably not the healthiest thing you can eat....but chocolate is my vice (although I guess it is better than most vices).
