SperlingViews - Palm_Desert, California

"It's A Dry Heat Except in August!"????? What are you talking about? The summer here is longer than your three months that you claim Brian. I have lived in this valley since Nov. 85' and Now it's 09'. It gets Hot in May and doesn't start cooling off untill the second week in Oct., that's at least 5 good solid month's of Heat. And as far as humidity goes... Maybe back in the late 80's to early 90's the summer's were dry, but with all the growth in population and all the golf courses in the desert and all the grass watering it can be Humid for all of June July Aug. and even Sept. Now you may be one of those who live in a air conditioned house that runs 24 hrs 7 days per week, but It's uncomfortable here for 5 to 6 months out of the year, I know for a fact, I've lived in this Coachella Valley for 24 years. As far as the people here, they pretty much stay to themselves; and are pretty much vain and shallow... too much into their materialism and looks to the point that it is not a great desireing place to get to meet quality people. I am looking to move out of here for good in spring of 2010; I moved to Tulsa, Ok. in 98' for a year to go to a welding school, but I moved back to this valley when I graduated from the school. I thinking about moving back to Tulsa; Nice family city, conservitve friendly community, get more bang for your buck as far as cost of living and housing. It's about one quarter the price for a house there, than it is in Palm desert. Too many southern folk (illegels)moveing into the average job market in California, and tooo many people and expensive in Cal. anymore. I didn't even mention the High winds that blow for a couple months a year that pick up that fine sand that the Coachella valley has and blows it in everything and on everything. Na...I'm done with this desert community, too superficial, too expensive for what you get, to fake and foney people. Oh, but besides all this.... it's a great place to live...It used to be in the 80's and early 90's but not anymore.[read more...]

I agree with C in Indio. I have lived in Palm Desert (next community over) and now West Indio, right next to La Quinta and Rancho Mirage. If you like golf, we have more than anywhere. It is hot from April to November... there are no seasons except hot and warm. they don't tell you that in the brochures, but the A/c is on for all those months. I read a review of Palm Desert and how snobby locals are... I agree overall. Many are self centered, to themselves, vain and looking to 'look good' and there is no friendly neighborhood communities. Garage goes up and down with not much conversations-there is the occasional kind neighbor, but rare. You won't find old fashioned kids lemonade stands in the summer because it's too dang hot.. the kids are stuck inside unless you have a pool which ends up being a warm bath mid-summer. My utilities were between 700-1,000 in the summer (EACH MONTH!) and even the "winter" it was in the $400's approx. (2,800 sq ft house ) If you move EAST of WAshington street (La Quinta, INdio) then utilities are a little cheaper. We seriously want to move- there is awful schools, overcrowded and largely hispanic which is fine except the teachers have to take a lot of time to help the non english speaking students. Recent Ca. budget cuts hit the already deprived education system. MY high school son had 50 in his algebra class and this one "the best" high school (Palm Desert High) in the whole area. Local people are crazy to think it is so great. We've had to pull our kids out to go to private school which is killing our finances. This is a negative, but honest, review from someone who's lived in this area for 20 years. (Scottsdale beat this for snobby rich people however). The only beauty is the man made golf courses and nicely landscaped streets or gated communities (tons of those here), but otherwise very ugly sandy desert. Yes, our winters are nice if you hate snow, but our streets are crowded with 'snow birds' who like that too. seriously think hard if you want to move here.[read more...]

Just returned from Palm Desert California. Wow the health services are amazing. The Eisenhower hospital, Betty Ford Clinic, Cancer research center. The dry desert air cleared my head.[read more...]

We have been living, full-time, in Palm Desert for 4 years. There is an abundance of quality health services, especially highly rated hospitals and physicans, within easy 10 minute drive from our home. Even though these medical facilities are outside the city limits, since the cities here in Coachella Valley are so small (avg. 40,000), then everything seems so close. Weather of course is excellent, but very hot in the summer months. Public roads are very well maintained (Palm Desert has won several awards for traffic flow) and elaborately landscapped mediums beautify the roads. Parks are outstanding in Palm Desert, and a new multi-million dollar public park just opened recently within easy walking distance of our home. Since the Valley is a tourist attraction and mecca for snow birds from Canada, then Palm Desert has outstanding restaurants and shopping venues (i.e., El Paseo Drive). If you like casinos, there are no less than 5 Indian casinos within a maxium 30 minute driving time from Palm Desert. Palm Desert residents also can pariticpate in the Valley wide Sun Bird public bus system, which provides assistance to seniors who no longer drive.[read more...]

Have visited the Palm Desert area on three different occasions during three different years. The experience is always the same. The people are some of the most selfish, rude, self-absorbed people that I have ever met. Because of their extreme wealth, they feel they are entitled. Their botox treatments and plastic surgery can't hid their wrinkled and leather skin; signs of too much time in the sun,and likely heavy endulgence with drugs, cigs, and spirits. Palm Desert is a beautiful area and a wonderful place to live for six or seven months a year, if you can put up with the, "locals," and I don't mean the Hispanics or the Indians. They are the most friendly and helpful people that one could hope to meet. The people with wealth who sneer at the those who do not live in their gated communities can be a real hoot, especially if you refuse to take their "sh . . and give it back to them," as the occasion arises. I love Palm Desert, but gotta watch those, "critters." [read more...]

I am wondering what some of the best places for older singles (especially older women) are?[read more...]

I have never read such a bunch of negative and unfair comments about this beautiful desert community. Although there's no doubt that the summer temperatures can be quite high, the weather here for eight months of the year is stupendous. This area of the US has the most days of sun than anywhere else - with the possible exception of Phoenix - and does not suffer from Phoenix' summer monsoon season, which makes their comparably high summer temperatures much more humid. I have owned a second home in this area (Indian Wells) for the past 16 years and have lived here full time for five years. It is like a small town, where restaurant servers and supermarket clerks know you by name. As for the schools, although I have no children who have attended schools in Palm Desert's Desert Sands Unified School District, it is a published fact that Washington Charter School is a California distinguished school and Palm Desert High School was recently placed amongst the top 500 secondary schools in the US. I don't disagree that this area is booming in population, but that is indicative of a desire to live here, not a desire not to live here. If you don't like it here that's your choice and you're welcome to leave, but your derisive comments are obviously not shared by the thousands of people moving to the Coachella Valley each year.[read more...]

We moved here in the middle of last August ONLY because my husband was having to commute here and it was a huge drain on his time and gas money. The drive to or from this area is ugly and depressing. The cities within are nicely landscaped but I couldn't care less if I never see another palm tree!! The people here are very definitely concerned with brand names and plastic surgery. A good majority are use to being catered to and are rude. This area is NOT family friendly at all. The children's museum leaves a lot to be desired, there's ONE nice park, the Living Desert (a "zoo-like" place) is laughable. The only good thing is that there's a water park within about 20 minutes. Crime is low, UV index is incredibly high. From mid-August, when we arrived, through sometime around November, we ran the air conditioning 24 HOURS A DAY!! It doesn't cool off enough at night to open the windows during the summer. None of us ever had allergies and now because of the dust and crap in the air, we all have symptoms. I had to homeschool one of my children until an opening for a transfer became available to a decent school. Private schools are too expensive as is almost everything here. Just waiting on hubbie's company to finally complete our relocation and we're never coming back here! Can't wait!!! [read more...]

I lived in Palm Desert from 1988 to 1998. It was not the right place for me for climatic reasons, but I got stuck there for other reasons. So I assume anyone moving there is aware of the severity of the summer heat. The summer low are 83 degrees or more. The highs from June thru Sept will range from the tolerable 102-to-108, up to the frequent 108-to-116, and the 116-to-124 heat waves that occur every summer. In 1995 there were 15 separate days that hit between 121 to 125, with one day at 126! Now that there are over 120 golf courses in the Coachella Valley, there is also humidity with that heat. The scenery is attractive (the mountains and the sunsets and sunrises). The architecture is attractive too. The worst aspect of the area is the population. The people in general are the nastiest I've ever lived amongst. The well off in the country clubs as well as the service personnel who work for them are all the most unpleasant, hostile population I've ever lived in. There's also a lot of alcoholics and meth addicts in that population.[read more...]

We have 360 days of sunshine a year and for 9 months the weather is perfect. In June and July we have hot and dry conditions. In August we have monsoons that come up from the Gulf of Mexico. For example today, June 20th, we will have a high of 106 with humidity at 4%. So you have wonderful 80 temps until noon and then you go in and take a siesta and then when the sunsets you head to the pool. The nice thing about living here is you never have to leave Palm Desert for anything, they have every service, store, or restaurant you can think of. Also the city always runs a surplus and ends up putting millions away for a reserve. This is due to the fact that all the shopping for the valley is here in Palm Desert, plus the large hotels, and we get a share of the sales tax.[read more...]

After our experimental year in the desert here, we have decided to leave to return to the east coast. having a year off from snow, rain, was nice, however we discovered that there are other weather conditions here that we never expected. The number one offender for us was the high winds season--- which seems to be more than just April- May. We live and work near open spaces and everything (including us) is covered with sand by the end of the day. There is soemthing called PM10 which is about the high level of particlulate in the air from all of the offenders: sand, dust, fertilizers, pesticides--- much of these are greatly increased when the entire area out here "scalps" the grass two times a year. They force the grass to die then force new grass to grow back very quickly-- allthis because, well, lush green grass isnt meant to grow onthe desert! and people just refuse to let that be the way it is. They demand green grass and lush flowers. For the past 9 months here I have encountered MANY people from here and the visiting "snowbirds" who have never had such BAD allergies as they do when they are here. If you are thinking of moving here to be out in nature-- the desert-- the West. Forget it! This is essentially an extension of LA county-- it is growing very very quickly and the city infrastructure is just trying to keep up with the high growth rate out here. The hottest area around here for new development is already further out East in the city of Coachella. Also: re SCHOOLS-- we have had a child in PUBLIC and one in PRIVATE. Each school has had its prs & Cons, but if I had to do it again, I would have had both in PUBLIC. The private school atmosphere seemed to encourage the materialistic goals of the more affluent families out here-- also, being so close to LA, there is alot fo emphasis even for the young kids, on FAME! being FAMOUS, and FASHION! HOUSE SIZE, MAIDS, etc rather than solid values.[read more...]