One of our days in Palm Springs we heeded the advice of all the locals and checked out the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. For $23 per person, we were loaded cattle-style onto a circular car. Once babies started crying, the floor started rotating and we took off to ascend two-and-a-half miles: from desert basin to... 8,000+ feet (aka, home, for us). Seriously, I'm not afraid of heights, nor do I suffer from motion sickness very often, but I was about to vomit the whole ride up. Not only was the floor rotating, but every time the car came to a tower, we swung back and forth as well. Whoa.
The tramway has some really interesting history, and Clif and I enjoyed watching their California State Park video about the politics involved in building the tramway (and the 'splosions!).
Once we stepped out of the Visitor's Center (with a fancy restaurant and a non-fancy food court), we laughed because we were basically back at home in June Lake or Yosemite high country. Every plant and animal was the same, the air felt cooler, and both of us relaxed a bit.
We enjoyed a back-office tour of the ranger station as I pummeled the poor State Park Rangers regarding land use, drainages (because, comeON, how does Palm Springs survive with 4in of rain a year?!) and the like. They were super sweet and answered as much as they could.
Conclusion: The San Jacinto State Park is EXACTLY where I would go if I was stuck living in Palm Springs in the summer!
Other conclusion: Not a destination if you already live in the mountains and you don't like public puking.
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