The Palm Springs Tramway takes visitors from the middle of the California desert to the top of Mount Jacinto, where it snows in the winter. Even during the summer, it offers relief from the heat, with temperatures as much as 20 degrees cooler.
The Tramway lies right outside Palm Springs, close to Indian Springs, where we were staying. We had to drive partway up the mountain, where there were large parking areas. Because the first snow had just fallen that week, it was crowded and we had to park far away and catch a bus to reach the tram terminal.
Once we got to the terminal, we had to wait in long lines to get tickets. Tickets cost $20.80 for adults and $13.80 for children. The tickets are good for a particular time -- about a 45-minute wait at the terminal.
The tram rotates as it goes up the mountain, so there's no use angling for a specific side of the tram -- you make a full revolution before you reach the top. The experience was very interesting, as you could see the Palm Springs development -- a weird patch of green in the middle of a vast brown desert surrounded by mountains. The ride can be a little scary if you are afraid of heights, but our kids took it all in stride.
When we got to the top, we were buffeted by 35-degree temperatures and cold, icy winds. But our kids made a beeline to the snow and started an impromptu snowball fight. The tramway was a great way to get to the snow without having to drive up the mountains and worry about ice and chains.
The area has play equipment for rental (snow tubes, etc.). There are also restaurants and snack bars where you can eat and warm up. The biggest drawback is that the trails are not very well marked. We had trouble finding where the various activities were.
Because it is not a built-up ski resort and there are plenty of trees, it's a great place for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. But it seemed like most of the folks up here were going sledding or snow-tubing.
Our kids soon found out that snow gets you wet, and wet shoes and socks are no fun in the snow. Within an hour, they were ready to rest, and we walked back to the terminal, got some hot chocolate, and headed back down to the warmth of the desert.