Palm Springs: Hot but Cool

By Lisa McLaughlin

Looking for a travel bargain this summer? Like the heat? Follow the trail of the Rat Pack to Palm Springs, Calif. Its posh spas, golf courses, restaurants and casinos are much roomier in the off-season. And starting in June, rates at resorts like the plush Miramonte fall from as much as $350 a night in peak season to just $89 a night. There is a catch: average temperatures hover at 105[degrees] and can go as high as 122[degrees] midday. But locals swear the golf courses are still playable in the morning. Families can spend the heat of the afternoon enjoying one of several deluxe water parks or exploring the Palm Springs Desert Museum, famous for its exhibits on local Native American art and history. A more unexpected way to beat the heat is to hike in the spectacular Tahquitz Canyon, which was recently opened to the public for the first time in more than 30 years. Its terrain is striped with cooling waterfalls, and the many rock overhangs along its granite face provide often daylong shade. Or take the tram up Mount San Jacinto, where the air is usually brisk. And, of course, that apres-hike martini is always cool. --By Lisa McLaughlin