Palm Springs lies on a geographical area of 96 square miles in the western edge of the Coachella Valley in central Riverside County.  It is approximately 107 miles east of Los Angeles within the Colorado Desert ecological area 487 feet above sea level. Palm Springs is sheltered by the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains to the south, and the San Jacinto Mountains to the west. This geography gives Palm Springs its warm, dry climate, with 354 days of sunshine and less than 6 inches (150 mm) of rain annually. Winter temperatures average in the 70s with nights in the low-to-mid 40s, but the dry desert heat of summer pushes daytime temperatures well above 100, with overnight temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s.

Approximately one million tourists stay in hotels in Palm Springs annually while another 600,000 visitors stay in non-hotel accommodations. The relative short drive from Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, allows for a large number of temporary residents to have a second home in Palm Springs. The permanent population is 43,800 as of 2001, with another 27,000 to 30,000 people living in the City in the winter, bringing the total population to almost 75,000 residents during the winter season.

Palm Springs offers parks and recreational facilities that include a municipal golf course, tennis courts, a public Olympic-size pool, and a baseball stadium in addition to the City’s library and museums. For those who enjoy being active, there are hiking trails, bicycle routes, a water park and horseback riding.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway offers a scenic trip to the top of San Jacinto Mountain climbing 8,500 feet in about 15 minutes.

Tall palm trees mark Palm Springs main street - Palm Canyon Drive. The City’s parades and festivals are staged on Palm Canyon Drive.  You can cruise the one-way strip lined with antique shops, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and night clubs and you’ll soon spot something that will catch your eye. Better yet, enjoy the downtown on foot and see the names of many Hollywood legends that grace the Walk of Stars. Once the trendy playground of Hollywood stars, Palm Springs maintains its chic charm.

Palm Springs is the place to enjoy life. Whether you are visiting for business or leisure, make sure you enjoy a round of golf in the winter or a massage at a first-class spa resort. Palm Springs is often described as a small city with the cultural amenities of an urban area where the shopping, entertainment, dining and recreational opportunities are first-class.

Sources:    http://www.ci.palm-springs.ca.us/ps_profile.html
                 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Springs,_California

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