thousand palms oasis.

One of the coolest things we did while out in Palm Springs, was visit the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve. You drive out of the city for a bit, until you literally see an oasis of palms just nestled at the foot of the hills. It was a sight. I've just never seen palm trees like this- so wild. You only ever see neatly manicured palms in front yards or lining the California roads. But, these palms were ruffled to the roots with thick, shaggy branches, creating a beautiful and somewhat prehistoric atmosphere. You walk among them along these wooden boardwalks, while the branches cast this orange-ish dusty light. Eliza sat on Sam's back, reaching up to touch the branches, and sending cheeser smiles back at me whenever I pulled out the camera. (Which is a first, since she usually scowls when I try to take her picture.) We walked over to the oasis and let Eliza run around for a bit. It was a really cool stop, and I wish we had a little more time to explore before we got kicked out at closing. 

The biggest surprise was how cool the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was! It was a bit pricey, and seemed like a tourist trap. But, it was really totally worth it. This massive tram takes you from the floor of the Coachella Valley to the top of San Jacinto Peak, all while rotating (whoa). It was interesting to be down in the heat of the desert, and ten minutes later breathing in that crisp, cold air while throwing a snowball. We didn't have a lot of time before the last tram came back down and I wasn't feeling up for any steep climbs, but Sam took Eliza around to play for a little bit and they explored the area. There is actually a lot to do up there if you make a day of it. Just a winter wonderland in the middle of the desert.

So now I really wish that Palm Spring was just a bit closer to us. Like maybe half the drive time? That would be great. We would be there every other weekend. Palm Springs, you treated us well.