Visiting Palm Springs can be a daunting experience if you decide to do more than golf or sit around the pool sipping tropical cocktails. This area, formally called Coachella Valley, is 45 miles long. See how it is structured in my previous blog Plan your Visit to Palm Springs.
On this morning of my birthday, I felt a strong desire to share the developing chapter of my life with you. The saga of my travel writing career began one-and-one-half years ago.
The Beginning
When my friends come to visit, I take them on My Kathy Condon Tour. After doing it a few times, I realized how appreciative they were that I showed them an entirely different Palm Springs than they had expected. After eight years of living here, I am still uncovering things to do here or in our surrounding area.
The mountains looming over the city provide a scenic backdrop to many grand estates built in the early 50 and 60s. These estates remain out-of-sight for many visitors; yet prove to be of great interest to my visitors. Massive Washingtonian and California palm trees stand tall on the landscaped lawns designed with natural boulders, rocks, and native fauna.
Nearer downtown, small boutique hotels line the streets. Each displays its personality by unusual exteriors, signs, and hedges, which assure privacy for your getaway. These small hotels are so unique we have a Candlelight Walk through them one night in December.
In Downtown Palm Springs, you will see some global brand shops such as H&M and Starbucks. However, most stores are small businesses privately owned and operated by people who live here year-round. Do you want to find unusual items? Look no further.
Educating People on the Area
I believe you are starting to sense a trend. Yes, I love and appreciate this community. I cannot help myself from sharing my discoveries with you.
There was a strong pull to write down what I was discovering. A first-time trip to Joshua Tree National Park with my daughter left us ill-prepared to make that journey. While it ended up fine, I was not about to let others experience our same fate, so I wrote Prepare for a Day Trip to Joshua Tree National Park from Palm Springs.
Development of the Palm Springs Insider Guide
So with no previous experience, I set out to build my website. Thankfully, WIX was easy to maneuver. The ability to change and add to my website at any time I choose was a benefit that dangled in front of me to kept pushing me onward.
Today, the site www.PalmSpringsInsiderGuide.com has become one of the go-to-sites for visitors and even residents, for there are many insider tips. I include the tips about things I wish I had known about an area, attraction, or restaurant.
The Next Step
Joining a group called the Great Escape Publishing launched me to a new level of what is referred to as travel writing. Travel writing consists of going to a destination, capturing its essence, and sharing information to entice others to come and experience the location for themselves.
Before I knew it, I had been accepted into some of the premier travel writing groups, TravMedia, including their virtual IMM conference. I passed the test to become a full-fledged member of the International Travel Writers and Photographers Association (ITWPA).
The Future
I am feeling fortunate with the pandemic moving behind us because I have had vaccine shots; I look forward to this summer. As Palm Springs residents know, time away from the harsh summer heat is good for the soul.
So far, if the State of California continues to open up, I am heading to Yosemite, Concord, Mammoth, and Monterey on road trips to learn about the respective areas under the leadership of their various Visitors Bureaus. If plans keep falling into place, I will be heading to Loreto, Mexico, to explore and write about their historic mission, culture, and arts.
Do not worry; I will not abandon the Palm Springs Insider Guide. I cannot even begin to imagine all the new attractions, stores, and restaurants I will have the chance to share with you. We all look forward to being fully open and welcoming all visitors, including ones from around the world.
Kathy Condon is a freelance journalist and travel writer. She is the Founder of the Palm Springs Insider Guide Her book It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask: It’s All About Communication was named Best Book Finalist By USA Book News Kathy@kathycondon.net
760-902-3094 http://www.PalmSpringsInsiderGuide.com
This article is very inspiring and reminds me of how Palm Springs inspired me to create a flourishing art business here in Palm Springs. Even though it is something I tell my art buyer clients, it never occurred to publish a story about it.
Richard Prescott
Mod City Gallery - Palm Springs
Cudos, Kathy!! Glad to see your site again and know you have accomplished SO much. As CA opens up, I/we are looking forward to your future travels and articles. We need your talent and insite when some of us are not able to access this beautiful world of ours. And, you give us that. Thank you Judy Ellis