Snow trip!
I've been spending a lot of time with work. Which has resulted in a successful product, yes, but doesn't leave me with a lot of time to do touristey things.
So yesterday I went to a curiosity of Southern California: the Palm Springs Tramway.
Located in the desert -- oddly enough just outside of Palm Springs -- it's a 10-minute carriage ride upwards just over a mile. You start out surrounded by cactus, and you end up in glorious crunchy snow, 8,500 feet up.
There are basically two classes of people who take the tram: tourists, who are frequently underdressed, sometimes have sleds, and speak all sorts of languages, and sports people, who bring gear to roam around the mountaintop or ski or snowshoe or whatever. I fell into the first category. Fortunately, it was above freezing, so aside from the soggy shoes, it wasn't too bad.
But oh the tourists! I heard French, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese, as well as one person speaking with a British accent. And the joyous shrieks of children as they slide down a hill on a saucer or a sled are something I haven't heard in a very long time. And best of all, everyone knew that when they got tired of the cold and the damp, they could return back down the mountain and head home. It's currently 73° in my room, and I don't have a heater.
Overall it was an enjoyable place. At $22/ticket, it's definitely on the pricier side of the entertainment spectrum. Even so, the views from up top, the wilderness, and the people all make it a good daytrip. And it's nice to have one of those every once in a while.
So yesterday I went to a curiosity of Southern California: the Palm Springs Tramway.
Located in the desert -- oddly enough just outside of Palm Springs -- it's a 10-minute carriage ride upwards just over a mile. You start out surrounded by cactus, and you end up in glorious crunchy snow, 8,500 feet up.
There are basically two classes of people who take the tram: tourists, who are frequently underdressed, sometimes have sleds, and speak all sorts of languages, and sports people, who bring gear to roam around the mountaintop or ski or snowshoe or whatever. I fell into the first category. Fortunately, it was above freezing, so aside from the soggy shoes, it wasn't too bad.
But oh the tourists! I heard French, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese, as well as one person speaking with a British accent. And the joyous shrieks of children as they slide down a hill on a saucer or a sled are something I haven't heard in a very long time. And best of all, everyone knew that when they got tired of the cold and the damp, they could return back down the mountain and head home. It's currently 73° in my room, and I don't have a heater.
Overall it was an enjoyable place. At $22/ticket, it's definitely on the pricier side of the entertainment spectrum. Even so, the views from up top, the wilderness, and the people all make it a good daytrip. And it's nice to have one of those every once in a while.