Weekend Getaway: Palm Springs

**The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes tourist 8,516 feet above sea level.**

By Jason Lewis

Sitting by the pool in Palm Springs never gets old. If that’s the only thing on the agenda during a weekend getaway out to the desert; it’s going to be a great trip.

“People enjoy the sunshine and the warm weather,” said Lisa Luna, marketing manager at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa. “We have around 350 days of sunshine. Where there’s guaranteed sunshine, everybody wants to be out by the pool lounging around.”

While many travel destinations’ selling points are the attractions in those cities, the Palm Springs and Palm Desert area can be considered a resort community. Relaxation is the major selling point, and the resorts supply vacationers with everything that they will need.

“It’s great to enjoy all of the amenities that the resort has to offer,” Luna said. “Whether it’s the spa, golf, tennis, pools, food and beverage outlets. We’ve got it all where you don’t have to leave the resort if you don’t want to.”

Many people simply layout by the pool and take a swim here and there, which is very reinvigorating. Food and beverages will be brought right to your lounge chair. Besides the resort swimming pool, the Omni features Splashtopia, which features two waterslides, a sandy beach, and a lazy river, where people float along a slow moving current on inflatable pool floats.

Attractions like Splashtopia make Palm Spring resorts very family friendly, and that’s where children will end up spending the bulk of their day. For adults who are looking for more quiet settings, many resorts feature an adults only pool.

People who want the ultimate relaxation experience take advantage of the spas that the major resorts have. The spa at the Omni offers massages, body treatments, facial treatments, and salon services. The spa also has a steam room, sauna, hot tub, and pool.

While the resorts provide nearly everything that a tourist needs, the cities of Palm Springs and Palm Desert do have a lot to offer. Many people venture out to take advantage of the shopping and restaurants, which are conveniently close by.

“Everything is in pretty close proximity, which is one of the benefits of coming to Palm Springs,” Luna said. “There is a lot to do, and you don’t have to drive that far to do it.”

There are museums, live music venues, and a zoo. For people who want to get out into nature, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway provides an amazing experience. It is the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world, and it takes people from the floor of the Coachella Valley to the top of the San Jacinto Peak.

“The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the ideal attraction for those travelers interested in soft adventure,” said Greg Purdy, VP of Marketing & Public Affairs for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. “Folks often want a nature experience by day, but they also want to be back in their hotel’s Jacuzzi by night.”

At the top of San Jacinto Peak, there is an observation deck that is 8,516 feet above sea level and overlooks the Palm Springs area. There is also a restaurant and cafe. This is a pretty leisurely activity, but there are hiking trails at the top for people who are looking for more adventure.

Palm Springs has it all, and it’s a relatively short drive from Los Angeles, making it ideal for a quick weekend getaway.

For more information about the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, contact them at (760) 568-2727, or visit their website at www.rancholaspalmas.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

For more information about The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, contact them at (888) 515-8726, or visit their website at www.pstramway.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Visit wwwvisitgreaterpalmsprings.com for travel information, and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.