Why Palm Springs California?
California is the most populated state in America (37+ million people) and is the eighth largest economy in the WORLD. California also has one of the most diverse populations, climates, and geographic landscapes on the planet. Most people know about our beautiful beaches from L.A. to the San Francisco Bay Area, but did you know that California is also the only state where you could go shopping in mega cities, skiing in snow, surfing in the Ocean, hiking through giant redwoods and beautiful mountains, or trecking through the desert all in a few days. Actually some of these things you could do on the same day depending on which part of the state you live in.
California's natural diversity is clearly represented in the beautiful desert oasis appropriately named Palm Springs with thousands of palm trees and scenic mountain views. Palm Springs has served as a playground for California's rich & famous for years and is actually home to some of the nation's largest gay resorts.
Perfectly located, Palm Springs is just 30 minutes away by air or a two hour drive from Los Angeles or an hour and a half (1hr 1/2) flight from the Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area.
Weekend after weekend, men fly from around the world to enjoy the company of other men in this relaxing pleasure paradise that also provides tourist with nightclub or private parties that go all night long.
No need to feel uncomfortable about your sexuality here because Palm Springs boasts a large gay/bi community.
Palms Springs gay resorts are perfect for gay/bi male socializing and for the presentation of male erotica particularly since most of the resorts are clothing optional.
Hell...the Mayor of Palm Springs is a black gay man!
This event is designed to bring men who are of African descent and Latino men and men of Latino descent (and our male friends) together to enjoy each others company in a totally male supportive setting.
Palm Springs is perfect for this kind of gathering because whether you enjoy male bonding through socializing, partying, eating, relaxation & chillin' , shopping, exploring nature, sex or erotica...this is the event for you.
No need to worry about the hotel security kicking you out of the pool or jacuzzi area or other cruising areas while at the Helios resort or the Canyon Club Hotel , or bumping into families and/or children when hanging out at these boutique resort hotels since you will be socializing at two private adult (clothing optional) resorts for men that stay open 24/7.
Palm Springs is not an urban city, it is however, a major California resort town and a beautiful desert resort get-away and one of only a few of the nation's hottest gay/bi resort getaways. It is also seriously under utilized by gay/bi men of color. So when we were asked to produce an event at one of the resorts in 2007, we jumped at the chance to expose the nation to Palm Springs. Hundreds of men from around the country attended our first event so we have decided to do it again May 9-12, 2008.
Palm Springs Temperature & Weather (How should I dress?)
Palm Springs boast a comfortable climate year-round so pack light. Palm Springs is a one bag trip. There really is no need for heavy clothing in this desert oasis. Even during the summer the absence of humidity provides a comfortable dry heat (very light casual clothing, shorts, bathing trunks,is recommended).
You will however, need a sun screen to protect your skin whether you plan to hang out in the sun a lot or not.
The sun protection factor or "SPF" of a sunscreen indicates the time period you can stay in the sun without burning based on your skin complexion.
Recommended SPF |
|||||
| Skin Type | 1 hr | 2 hr | 3 hr | 4 hr | 5+ hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very Fair / Extremely Sensitive |
15 |
30 |
30 |
45 |
45 |
| Fair / Sensitive | 15 |
15 |
30 |
30 |
45 |
| Fair | 15 |
15 |
15 |
30 |
30 |
| Medium | 8 |
8 |
15 |
15 |
30 |
| Dark | 4 |
8 |
8 |
15 |
15 |
Note: Reapply sunscreen often, especially after swimming or sweating.
The year-round average daytime temperature is 87 degrees, and Palm Springs prides itself on having 344 humidity-free days of sunshine annually. Beware though, dry heat can easily dehydrate you, so drink lots of water. Temperatures in May can range from 80 degrees at night to the mid 90's during the day, typical desert weather and very comparable to Las Vegas. The daytime heat is why private clothing optional resorts and spas abound in this desert Oasis.
Transportation & Travel
For west and west coast travelers, your travel time from L.A., San Diego or Long Beach is about 30 minutes by air and driving is just as easy. Palm Springs is 140 miles from San Diego & 107 miles from Los Angeles, so by car, travel times range from 1 to 3 hours. Travel time from the Bay Area and all points north is anywhere from one hour to an hour and a half by air or about 7 hours by car. No matter when you leave your home city...you will be in Palm Springs on time. Those of you coming to us from across the country, your flight's end will be rewarded with the peaceful beautiful greeting that is Palm Springs. Just entering this desert resort city will put you at ease (Discount Travel Info).
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is the local airport serving Palm Springs. The Helios VIP Resort & Canyon Club Host Hotel are only a 7-10 minute drive from PSP Airport. More than 10 carriers serve Palm Springs Regional International Airport. It's the only airport in the world with a putting green for passengers waiting for their flights. Ten national car rental chains have Palm Springs locations. Public transport is limited to the Sun Bus service but it goes to all areas where our events are located, including the airport . Ground Travel is available and Amtrak provides rail service to and from Palm Springs.
Getting around - Is Palm Springs easy to navigate?
Palm Springs’ downtown is condensed and easy to walk. The resorts are all located about 7 minutes away from downtown which has shopping, dining and entertainment on historic Palm Canyon Drive.
Parking & Gas- YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT BUT PARKING IS FREE!
You will be glad to know that parking at the Helios & Canyon Club is completely FREE! And if that isn't enough to floor you, there is also a huge garage in downtown that offers FREE parking as well. Parking on the streets on the weekends is FREE and you can find lots of FREE parking behind the numerous restaurants along Palm Canyon Drive. The bottom line is that you won't have to worry about spending money on parking.
Who knows what the gas rate will be at that time, but we can tell you that when we were in Palm Springs, we drove around for 3 days and only used a 1/4 tank of gas. Everything is just that close and convenient.
Cost & Affordability
While Palm Springs is the playground of the rich and famous, you'll find outlets of IHOP, Denny's and other reasonably priced restaurants to balance out the big-ticket spending you can do in the city's gourmet eateries. Simply put: Palm Springs is a place where you can spend as much or as little as you like on dining. You can also find every type of lodging under the sun in Palm Springs --- from budget rooms in the $70 range to sky's-the-limit priced suites at well over $300. Palm Springs has a number of specialty clothing-optional resorts, luxury resorts, and resorts catering specifically to the gay traveler.
A little bit of history
Years ago, Palm Spring was the weekend refuge for many famous Hollywood film stars and movie moguls. As far back as the silent picture era, it was the place where the rich and famous sought relief from the Los Angeles smog, and the crowds of city dwellers. Many Hollywood personalities built their lavish vacation homes in the desert surrounding Palm Springs. Some of those magnificent villas still stand as testament to the glamorous days when Palm Springs was the vacation retreat for Hollywood legends. Many streets, boulevards and civic centers still bear the names of its famous inhabitants like Frank Sinatra Drive, Dinah Shore Drive, Gene Autry Trail and the Bob Hope Cultural Center.
Palm Springs has grown from a small desert spa to a conglomeration of intertwined towns that spread along the Coachella Valley for many miles. Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and Indio are a few of the many communities that form this fashionable metropolitan area. As you cruise along highway 111 through these connected villages, you pass endless developments of expensive homes, lush green golf courses, upscale shopping malls featuring designer boutiques and trendy restaurants interspersed with thousands of palm trees.
Who are the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians?
This Agua Caliente have occupied the Palm Springs area for centuries. Today, it boasts over 400 members and a community base that includes families, businesses and civic organizations. As a Sovereign Tribal Government, the Tribe stewards more than 31,500 acres of ancestral land that includes cities, county and a protected Bighorn sheep habitat. For more information about the tribe and its customs, visit the
AguaCalienteMuseum online or contact the tribe directly at tribalgovernment@aguacaliente.net or (760) 325-3400.
