100 miles east of Los Angeles, nestled under the towering 10,000 foot San Jacinto mountain range, lies the iconic desert oasis resort of Palm Springs, gateway to the fascinating Coachella Valley, also known as “The Desert”. Long known as the playground of the stars, Palm Springs is one of the world’s epicenters of both Spanish Revival and mid century modern architecture, design and style, and has many shops that focus on these popular areas of antiques and collectibles than anywhere else. It’s a simple route to find the districts which house these shops, by simply exiting I-10 at the exit marked Highway 111, and following that route through the desert into the outskirts and finally the town center. One divergent route is to make a left turn at Perez Road, and continue for a few minutes to one more cluster of shops, then return to Highway 111 and continue towards Palm Desert’s EL Paseo for more shops , galleries and great restaurants.

Also known for great natural beauty, travelers can take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the mountain peak , see the view and experience the diverse ‘desert to alpine’ ecosystems the area is known for .
Joshua Tree National Park is a short 35 minute drive into the High Desert along California Route 62 just north of the valley. Yucca Valley, along the way , offers many rustic shops and funky restaurants too, and is a complete contrast from the sleek, chic retro-cool Palm Springs scene. Something for everyone.

Submitted by: Matt Burkholz, Fine Bakelite and Vintage Designer Costume Jewelry, www.route66west.com.