Palm Springs to Whitewater Preserve

On our last full day together, my folks and I decided to make quick visits to a couple of our favorite destinations. We started in Palm Springs, and ended up in Whitewater Preserve – town and country in one day! The weather had started to change after several cool, damp days, so we were prepared for Palm Springs heat.

Our first stop was the Palm Springs Art Museum, located near North Palm Canyon Drive, close to the downtown area with its galleries, eateries, and unique shops. We enjoyed the Contemporary Glass exhibit, which includes End of Day #2, by Dale Chihuly, and a curtain of glass teardrops, each holding a separate secret message.

Dale Chihuly - End of Day #2 (1996), and the Contemporary Glass exhibit.

We saw photographs of Indians of North America by Edward S. Curtis (1868 – 1952). We saw a collection of Western scenes, by painters such as Paul Grimm (we’ve seen his work in the Irvine Art Museum, see California Impressionist Paintings); Sidney Laurence (who also painted landscapes in Alaska); and William Keith (his collection is at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art, see California Landscapes).

Paul Grimm - San Gorgonio Pass (1962). Looking west,
with Mt. San Jacinto on the left, and Mt. San Gorgonio on the right.

The Sculpture Garden is artfully placed outside the café on the lower level. The garden has plenty of shade, a reflecting pool, and many interesting plants and sculptures. It is an oasis from the heat!

Sculpture Garden at Palm Springs Art Museum (shady retreat in the Palm Springs heat).

Next, we replaced our town shoes with sturdy walking shoes, and headed for Whitewater Preserve via the Whitewater Cutoff. We made a quick hike out onto the desert floor, and were delighted to see quite a bit of water in the river, and some interesting plants and flowers. The Brittle Bush had already put on its show, but we saw a few stragglers. The Bladder Pod and willow looked lush.

Intrepid hikers at Whitewater Preserve

Whitewater River

The air was clean from recent rains, and the sky spectacular. Mom and I headed up the hill toward the Pacific Crest Trail, and found some beautiful Beavertail Cactus. A fellow hiker warned us of a snake sleeping by the side of the trail. Unfortunately, we were in a hurry to get back to the Preserve parking lot before closing, so missed seeing it!

Beetle feast on beavertail cactus

On the way home, we stopped at the new Hadley’s Fruit Orchard in Cabazon. I miss the charming fruit stand of many years, but change is inevitable. The new facility is beautiful, and is still a great place to stock up on staples like almonds and dates, and munchables like trail mix and caramel corn. Finally, we headed for Los Vaqueros Cantina and Grill for delicious Mexican food and warm conversation about our adventures. It was a great day – encompassing both art and wilderness in one afternoon!