Travel time Cali-style

A recent trip to celebrate Florida's USTA Ladies Tennis 3.0 bid for National Championship led me to Palm Springs, California. It was one of those trips like a movie that you've never seen the trailer for, but you think you know what it's all about.

But then, you get to the theater and your mind is opened by how different it really is. Let me share... Palm Springs is the desert. Daytime temperature is 108 degrees in October and nighttime temperature is what I'll describe as bundle-up cold to a Floridian. The area is as undeniably beautiful as it is stark and dry. Everything is the color sandstone-- the sand, the architecture, the mountains. Tennis spectating was sweltering, but could never contend with what it must have been like to play several hour, or longer, matches each day.

A tourist highlight for any brave souls who dare travel to the desert is unquestionably the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Some fellow tram riders were return visitors. Others were new like me and reflected my mix of fear and awe at the experience.

Look out the window and follow
the cable up.

The scenic window view offers a sense of the what dramatic 10-minute ride up the mountain has in store.


On the aerial tram the floor spins slowly for a 360 degree view. Feels accurately like a loooong way down.

At the top around 9k feet above sea level.
On clear days, you can see Mexico.

Windmills at the base!

Travel to this part of the United States of America offers many unexpected delights.