Palm Desert, California 92211

Palm Desert has plenty of things to do to keep you occupied. Here are a few of my favorite things to do in town:

1. Pines to Palms Highway. This ride up Highway 74 will take you to the town of Idyllwild, the mountaintop town. The views are worth the ride, and you'll get to cool off a little bit from the desert heat.

2. The Living Desert Zoo. A surprisingly big zoo, they have the benefit of having a hot, dry climate, so creatures like giraffes, desert tortoises, and many other unique creatures can be found here. This zoo takes in abandoned and wounded animals that otherwise would have had a hard time surviving in their natural surroundings.

3. El Paseo. The shopping complex has a lot of unique restaurants like the Tommy Bahama Grill, along with some clothing stores and specialty shops that you can't find anywhere else. There's also a great selection of desert art in the exclusive galleries.

4. Coachella Festival. Every spring, the town of Coachella, just minutes from Palm Desert, hosts a new lineup of bands at Empire Polo Field. Usually held in mid-April, see what bands are playing this year on this page:
Coachella Festival

Mexican Food, a good pick in Coachella Valley.

Being from the east coast, food is a lot different out in California, so you have to expect something very different. Gone are the Italian restaurants (for the most part), the Dunkin' Donuts on every corner, and the small hole in the wall seafood restaurants. Instead, you'll find a plethora of Mexican food, juice bars, and steakhouses. Here are a few of the ones I liked the best in Palm Desert:

Castelli's. The reviews don't treat this place so well, but after craving Italian food, it's the only good place in the desert in my opinion for great Italian. The alfredo is the house specialty, and I remember the bolognese pasta being pretty good too.

LG's Steakhouse. Honestly, the best steak I've ever had. The filet mignon is incredible. The cut is the best imaginable, but expect to pay a little more. Worth every penny.

Tommy Bahama Grill. It's a chain, but it has some interesting salads and drinks, not to mention a great view of the El Paseo area below.