Distances in astronomy are vast, but three orbital alignments this month bring us unusually close to the moon, the sun, and Jupiter. On Jan. 2, the full moon occurs as the moon reaches its closest point to Earth, making it appear slightly larger and brighter than it typically does. The next morning, Jan. 3, Earth arrives at perihelion, the point in orbit when we’re nearest the sun.
A mulligan in golf is the chance to right the wrong of a poorly hit shot. An immediate do-over. You don’t want one, but sometimes it’s necessary. John Fought took a mulligan recently at Indian Wells Golf Resort, but he had to wait almost two decades for the chance to...
The Mission Creek Preserve Trail follows the creek past old stone structures, now used as picnic spots, and into a natural oasis. The easy 1.6-mile route gains only about 325 feet. Along the way, the landscape shifts into a surprisingly lush corridor, where willows...
Pairing the latest technology with one of the country’s most respected instruction teams, the new Performance Lab at the PGA WEST Golf Academy is a singular setting for golfers looking to improve their game. The 1,800-square-foot facility, located on the first level...
In March 1975, approximately 2,000 people from California to Canada descended upon Palm Springs to celebrate their recreation of choice — square dancing. Local resident and 20-year veteran square-dance caller Osa Mathews was on hand to command the couples to do-si-do...
Beside the Tournament Clubhouse at PGA WEST, the new Performance Lab may look modest from the outside, but inside, it’s a full immersion into the cutting edge of golf. The Lab integrates high-speed imaging, motion capture, force-plate analysis, and professional club...
Each morning, Palm Springs Life curates good reads and insider recommendations of the best things to do across Greater Palm Springs. Get The Daily Guide for fresh ideas, local flavor, and a daily dose of inspiration that’s actually worth reading.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Coachella Valley, Indian Wells Golf Resort offers more than just exceptional golf — it’s a destination where sophisticated design, elevated leisure, and thoughtfully curated experiences converge. Located just 20 minutes from...
The full moon on Dec. 4 will appear closer and brighter than usual — a so-called “supermoon.” Yet through binoculars or a telescope, the view can look surprisingly flat. With sunlight hitting the lunar surface head-on, shadows disappear and craters lose definition....
Each year, Palm Springs Life invites readers to vote for their favorite businesses, experiences, and attractions across Greater Palm Springs in our city-by-city Best of the Best competition. Below, you’ll find this year’s winners for Best Public Golf Course. Explore...
Named for the preservationist and longtime trail boss of the Desert Riders Equestrian Club, the Art Smith Trail winds through magnificent rock formations and lush palm oases, with few signs of development. The strenuous, 16.2-mile trail gains 3,700 feet in elevation,...
The best time to view the outer planets is usually around midnight when they’re directly opposite the sun — but you don’t have to stay up that late to catch a good show. Right now, Saturn and Neptune are close together in the night sky. Both reached their “opposition”...
Is the Coachella Valley Prepared for a Major Earthquake?
There are a few things on which every seismologist agrees. First, there’s almost certainly a “Big One” in our future — a super shake-up destined to deliver disaster-movie perils. With local seismic activity running some 300 years behind schedule, it’s safe to say...
The early hours of Oct. 21 may have you seeking a dark site with open sky to witness a comet and the Orionid meteor shower. After midnight heading into the 21st is the best time viewing window for the Orionids, when you might spot 10 to 20 meteors per hour under...
What begins as a deceptively dull first five minutes quickly transforms into a rewarding and moderately challenging 4.4-mile trek in South Palm Springs. The well-maintained path steadily climbs 1,276 feet, offering a great workout for hikers of all levels. As you...
A short drive from downtown Palm Springs, a beautiful oasis rises from the San Jacinto foothills. The Indian Canyons, the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, contains more than 60 miles of hiking and walking trails through pristine scenery....
How Conservationists Are Fighting to Keep the Desert Wild
Some people experience the desert only through a windshield, cruising past windmills along Interstate 10. It’s OK to pity them. They miss the crunch of ancient dirt beneath their feet, the sound of coyote howls echoing in the distance, and the earthy scent of creosote...
The Indian Canyons Golf Resort, located on the ancestral land of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, features two golf courses, North and South, each with a distinct personality and history. More than 500 native California fan palms (Washingtonia filifera),...
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has stewarded the beautiful and serene Tahquitz Canyon since time immemorial. Today, the canyon’s 1.8-mile loop trail near downtown Palm Springs is a popular hiking spot, steering adventurers from its entrance to a majestic...
Timing is everything in golf, including a made-for-TV, match-play event like the 2000 Battle at BIGHORN. Only a year earlier, Tiger Woods edged Sergio Garcia by one stroke to win the PGA Championship, igniting a vivid if short-lived rivalry between the young stars....
We Took the 2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster for a Test Drive
The first time I took an Aston Martin on a road trip out of the Coachella Valley, my co-driver — on assignment for Car and Driver — insisted we stop along the way for time-consuming photos. We missed lunch. I wouldn’t let that happen twice. Not in the 2026 Vantage...
