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Palm Desert Living

Palm Desert, CA is the acknowledged heart of Coachella Valley, both geographically and culturally. Surrounded by picturesque mountains, scenic desert, and wide open spaces, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another world.

Palm Desert has a distinctly cosmopolitan vibe, reflecting the sophistication of its discriminating residents and visitors. Home to upscale shops, fine restaurants, and exclusive golf clubs, Palm Desert is a popular recreation destination for the world’s rich and famous.

Home to around 48,500 residents that include celebrities, business movers, artists, and more, Palm Desert has always been a popular choice for retirees. In recent years, however, events such as the Coachella Music Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival have been attracting a younger crowd who been coming to the city more often and staying longer than before.

History of Palm Desert

In the early 1900s, Palm Desert was known as Old MacDonald Ranch. It was renamed Palm Village in the 1920s when date palms became a staple crop in the valley. During World War II, the area served as a training ground for General George Patton’s Third Army troops and tank battalions.

The city was again renamed to Palm Desert when it incorporated in 1973. At that time, it had a population of only 1,500. Over the years, the community grew at a rapid pace, doubling its population every 10 years from 1980 to 2000.

Real Estate in Palm Desert

Luxury is the norm in Palm Desert, with spectacular estates, spacious single-family homes, and luxurious lofts and condos making up most of the local housing stock. Seamless outdoor-indoor living is a standard feature here, allowing you to enjoy the year-round sunshine and fabulous views from the comfort of your own home.

Stunning custom architecture is everywhere, as well as chic villa residences in the city’s many golf communities. Prevalent styles include the Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial, but you’ll also find treasured mid-century modern homes and classic New American architecture as well.

Explore your real estate options in Palm Desert by checking out our Community Listings pages.

Palm Desert Schools

Palm Desert is served by the highly-acclaimed Desert Sands Unified School District, which includes numerous, top-rated elementary, middle, and high schools. There are also a number of private schools, including Montessori schools, to choose from.

For higher education, the city is home to the main campus of College of the Desert, Coachella Valley’s community college, as well as Brandman University, California State University San Bernardino, and the University of California Riverside.

Palm Desert Golf Clubs

Golf is a way of life and one of the top things to do in Palm Desert. With more than 30 golf courses in the city alone, and over 100 public, semi-private, and private facilities scattered across the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert has earned the distinction of being one of the world’s golf capitals.

The spectacular, open-to-the-public Desert Willow Golf Resort is Palm Desert’s centerpiece, featuring two highly-rated championship courses, a gorgeous clubhouse with two restaurants, and other facilities. Check out more information on the top golf clubs in Palm Desert.

Palm Desert Resorts and Spas

People come to Palm Desert to rejuvenate, relax, and get pampered in one of the many luxurious spas and wellness centers located here. Top destinations include:

JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
Palm Valley Country Club
Venus de Fido
All About Massage

Palm Desert Shopping

Considered to be the retail hub of Coachella Valley, the wide array of shops in Palm Desert offers numerous choices from top luxury brands and local independent retailers. You’ll find everything from fresh-off-the-runway fashion picks to exquisite handcrafted jewelry to unique art pieces, and more.

El Paseo, the top retail destination in the city, is Palm Desert’s very own mile-long shopping district – housing more than 300 shops and over two dozen restaurants. Every year in March, El Paseo hosts Fashion Week El Paseo, which features the creations of up-and-coming designers in the country.

Other popular shopping destinations in Palm Desert include Westfield Palm Desert, Desert Hills Premium Outlets and more.

The Arts in Palm Desert

The Palm Desert community is fascinated with the arts. The city’s Art in Public Places program requires developers to either include art in their projects or pay a fee to the program. As a result, over 150 artworks are found in public places around Palm Desert today, ranging from awe-inspiring sculptures to colorful street murals.

The newly-opened Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert showcases significant paintings, sculptures, photographs, art glass, and other art pieces from around the globe. Outdoors, the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden dazzles visitors with its water features, winding walkways, sculptures, and desert plants.

In addition, there are more than 30 art galleries in the city featuring a diverse array of artworks from local and international artists.

Explore fabulous desert living in Palm Desert, CA with Elaine Stewart. Offering over 25 years of local experience, Elaine is your best guide for real estate in Palm Desert and the Greater Palm Springs area. Call her today at (760) 668-2399 or get in touch here.

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