Las Vegas to Palm Springs Road Trip By Troy Petenbrink Las Vegas and Palm Springs are very different destinations but since the days of Hollywood’s Rat Pack, travelers – gay and straight alike – have discovered that a combined visit offers a perfect blend of fun and relaxation. Roadtrip Through the Desert A good way to experience these two desert cities is to begin by spending a few days partaking in the seemingly never-ending action of Vegas, journey across the open desert and end with a respite in Palm Springs. For those arriving by air, another advantage of beginning in Vegas is the consistently inexpensive flights available to McCarran International Airport from nearly every part of the country. With just a little research it is easy to find deeply discounted air and hotel packages. Las Vegas Las Vegas attracts 37 million annual visitors, and a 2004 survey by Community Marketing found the city ranked second among gay travelers, behind New York and ahead of San Francisco. There is no secret to Sin City’s attraction – grand casino resorts (such as the gay-friendly MGM properties), amazing entertainment, world-class dining and abundant shopping. Vegas is a town that doesn’t care if you are straight, gay or from Mars; as long as your money is green and you desire to have fun, you will be welcome. Gay-specific nightlife has been lacking in Vegas for many years but that is changing. Krave, the first gay nightclub on The Strip, opened in 2004, and has quickly made its presence known. In addition to hosting some of the world’s best DJs, the space is also home to Fashionistas, an erotic dance review. Just a few month’s ago, the vintage downtown area of Vegas (home to the dazzling Fremont Street light show) celebrated the opening of Celebrity, a fun drag-themed lounge and dance club. Made famous by the likes of Liberace and Siegfried & Roy, Vegas’ more “mainstream” entertainment offerings are beyond compare. Among the current must-see shows are Zumanity, a thrilling Cirque du Soleil production exploring love and eroticism; La Cage, a twenty-year old classic where female impersonators have the audience doing double takes; and American Storm, the hot male strippers from the VH1 reality series “Strip Search.” Elton John performs, through 2008, at Caesars Palace when Celine Dion is on hiatus; and Harvey Fierstein will reprise the role of Edna Turnblad for the opening 12-weeks of the Vegas’ production of Hairspray, opening February 2006 at the Luxor. If the casinos don’t liberate your cash, there are plenty of opportunities to share your money at Vegas’ many shopping venues. Near the center of The Strip is The Fashion Show Mall, boasting seven anchor stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, and hundreds of specialty stores. Many of the resorts also include shopping galleries, such as Aladdin’s Desert Passage with more than 140 stores and restaurants. Vegas knows that gambling and shopping can take a lot of energy, so it likes to keep you well fed with dining options for every taste. Gone are the days of $3.99 buffets. Las Vegas now has an amazing wide variety of upscale restaurants. For more information about visiting Las Vegas, visit www.visitlasvegas.com. Desert Trek The drive time from Las Vegas to Palm Springs is approximately four hours, and provides stimulating natural and man-made attractions. It is best to leave early in the day to avoid the heavy afternoon traffic that is common in the area, even on weekends. After picking up a rental car, take I-15 south towards Los Angeles. A few miles outside of Vegas you will see signs for Hoover Dam. A detour to this world-renowned landmark is easy to take and adds approximately one-hour to your trip. You will follow I-15 for 215 miles, along the scenic Mojave National Preserve, and pass through the towns of Baker, Barstow and Victorville. Baker, billing itself as the Gateway to Death Valley, is approximately 80 miles outside of Vegas and home to The Mad Greek (offering the best gyros outside of Mykonos), as well as the world’s largest thermometer. South of Victorville, take I-215 south toward San Bernardino and follow it for 13 miles until you merge on to I-10 east toward Indio for another 40 miles. Shortly before your exit to Palm Springs is the upscale Desert Hills Premium Outlets, which consistently ranks among the nation’s best discount shopping malls. Shortly past the Outlet is the exit for CA Route 111, which takes you the last few miles to Palm Springs. Just prior to entering downtown Palm Springs is the Aerial Tramway, where you can ascends 2.5 miles up the San Jacinto Mountains to a pristine wilderness and amazing views of the valley aboard the rotating tramcars. If you wish to experience a true Thelma and Louise moment, there is an alternative way to reach Palm Springs that will take about an hour off your drive but is much more rural. When you arrive in Barstow, take route 247 south toward Lucerne Valley (make sure you get plenty of gas in Barstow). Route 247 will intersect with route 62 leading to Palm Springs. You will miss the Desert Hills Premium Outlets by taking this route and in exchange will pass near Joshua Tree National Park, which is well worth a quick visit. Palm Springs At the heart of the Palm Springs attraction as a top gay travel destination, besides the magnificent vista, quality dining and diverse activities, is the wealth of gay accommodations. There are nearly 40 quaint gay hotels (mostly catering to men) for visitors to choose from, each with its own personality and unique selling points. The Warm Springs neighborhood is home to many of the gay hotels. And gay and lesbian guest houses are also scattered around the downtown region. For information about all the different properties in Palm Springs, visit www.palmspringsgayinfo.com. For travelers that prefer the amenities and services of larger hotels, Hotel Zoso (opening November 2005) is a three-story, richly appointed 163-room boutique hotel that offers onsite dining, luxury spa services and tennis courts. The property is the former Marquis Resort and is currently undergoing a $25 million renovation. When it comes to eating, there are plenty of places in Palm Springs to please the palate. You will not go wrong with the Asian fare at Wang’s in the Desert, the gourmet brick oven pizzas at Matchbox or the great atmosphere at Blame it on Midnight. For your evening outings, there’s Hunters Video Bar, a popular happy hour destination, with its trendy West Hollywood décor and boys; Toucans, a tiki-themed bar with a number of weekly events including karaoke and go-go dancers; and Tool Shed, a happening spot for the Levi and leather crowd. And if you have the energy, check out Heaven, a favorite late night dance spot. Palm Springs is host to a number of annual gay-specific events. Among the largest gathering is the White Party, a multi-day festival held during Easter Weekend. For the past 15 years, it has attracted tens of thousands of men to the desert and become one of the most popular events on the circuit. And don’t think that it is just the men that party in Palm Springs. The LPGA’s Kraft Nabisco Championship Golf Tournament (aka Dinah Shore Weekend) is a yearly pilgrimage for countless lesbians. For many participants the tournament is just backdrop for the dozens of parties and special events that take place across the city. For more information about visiting Palm Springs, visit www.palm-springs.org. For more information check out this website: http://www.visitlasvegas.com/