The city of Palm Desert has transformed itself from a retirement community to the valley´s retail, education and cultural epicenter and is a major destination resort with some of the world's finest golf courses. The city is home to over 47,000 full-time residents and an additional 21,000 visitors and part-time residents in the winter months.
Firecliff and Mountain View, two separate golf courses, make up Desert Willow, the city´s public golf course, which has been featured on the cover of Smithsonian, for its water efficiency and environmentally correct landscaping. Golf Digest recently named Firecliff one of "the" places to play, one of only three mentioned in California.
Residents here enjoy a high standard of living and reside within short driving distance to the Valley´s widest selection of stores, its only college campus and its premier center for the performing arts.
Palm Desert residents live conveniently in the valley´s retail hub. Shopping venues include everything from upscale boutiques on El Paseo (nicknamed the Rodeo Drive of the Desert) to superstores, such as Best Buy, Target, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. The Gardens on El Paseo, an up-scale mall that opened in 1998, features Saks Fifth Avenue, Anne Taylor, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Banana Republic and more.
Palm Desert also boasts the valley´s only center for higher education-College of the Desert, part of the California state community college system. It offers academic, vocational and technical training. The campus also is home to the Coachella Valley Campus of California State University, San Bernardino, which offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
The unique, unincorporated community of Thousand Palms, which is adjacent to Palm Desert, is a growing part of the Coachella Valley. This area attracts young families with its abundant, affordable housing, nearby shopping and great mountain views. |
