The Mod Resort

Watch World Class Polo at no charge

by nyc10025

This is one of the two areas in the US that has world class polo (the other is Palm Beach, Florida). You can go to the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio and see a polo match on most days with the better contests on weekends. On Sunday, if you want to sit in the clubhouse of the main field, there is a $20 charge. All other fields and none clubhouse seating is free. We sat right next to the field on a small seating area for a match on Sunday. It is a very exciting and fast sport. Unbelievable riders and horses. Just ask someone about the rules (the basics are simple). They also have announcers, even on the secondary fields. Call before you go to find out schedule of matches. Comfortable clothes and hat because you may be sitting in sun.

The Living Desert Botanical Gardens

by atufft

Much of the effort of The Living Desert is to impress upon visitors the value of desert habitat. Along the walk that visits the zoo, there are a number of garden spots with desert botanicals, some of these are irrigated as the Coachella Valley is drier than some other deserts in North America, at least, but many are also excellent native specimens. The world's largest "G" size model railroad is also located here.

“Ba’al & Yizbaq"

by Yaqui

This whole boulevard is art and that is not all of it. You will find it all over Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, and Palms Springs. It is amazing and I had wished I had much more time to seek it all out. I wish more communities would indulge in this public display of artistry.

This sculpture is by Boaz Vaadia

“Salute to the Sun”

by Yaqui

This whole boulevard is art and that is not all of it. You will find it all over Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, and Palms Springs. It is amazing and I had wished I had much more time to seek it all out. I wish more communities would indulge in this public display of artistry.

I’d pay this one up if I had the money My favorite! This sculpture is by Dixie Jewett

Above the Desert

by Agraichen

I always thought thea ballooning would be something like flying, gliding or parasailing. I was not expecting the lack of "feeling" on lift-off...(duh...we were a few hundred feet up when I realized we were in the air).

But...let's start at the begining....

First you have to walk on the ground and make certain the balloon is ok...

Next, if you're a good ground crew, you have to check "under the hood" to make certain every thing is going well.

And....if you have a "good" pilot, he/she will wander around inside of the balloon just making certain ther are no problems that will drop back on you when you begin the ascent.(lol)

The ground crew has give approval. The pilot has done the "walk around" so it's time to get this thing in the air.

The first "light" is a bit of a jolt, but after that, you just think there "must be a bit of a bump to get over" coming up. (hmmmm, wish I had landing photos....)

So floating above the world is quite fun. There is no "flight" feeling (in the stomach) or even the least bit of feel of "flying."

Other than the fact that you can fall 500-1000 feet in a heartbeat, it's almost quite "normal."

But...then you have to be brought back to reality by the pilot who's philosophy is "the worst day flying is better than the best day in a corporation."