Welcome to the first edition of Ask Lindsay, my new monthly series where I answer your burning questions about life in the Coachella Valley! Having resided here for nearly 15 years now, I’ve learned a thing or two about desert living — from practical hacks and historical anecdotes to the best hidden gems — and I’m excited to share that knowledge with you!
This first installment is made up of the most common questions I’ve been asked over the years by friends, neighbors, and Valley newcomers. But future editions will be powered by your queries, so please reach out via DM or email with anything and everything you’ve ever wondered about this special desert we call home.
Do you ever get used to the heat?
In short, no — at least I haven’t! I’ve always LOVED being outside and was fortunate enough to grow up in places where weather was never a second thought, so Palm Springs summers were a complete shock to my system. Nearly 15 years later, I still find myself sinking into a mild depression every May, knowing the scorching temps are right around the corner.
That said, I’ve definitely learned to cope better over time. My best advice is to stay active with as many indoor activities as possible – classes, workshops, social groups, etc. Our Valley certainly has plenty to choose from! Some of my favorites include Creative Classes with Elaine’smandala dot painting sessions (her Christmas in July class is a gem!), paint-your-own-pottery at Old Town Artisan Studios, candle-making with Mijo Co., Paint & Sip nights with Brushour, and Emerge Palm Springs networking events.
I also invested in a home treadmill and have some fantastic podcasts on rotation so I can keep up with my daily walks without braving triple digits. For me, the key has been to keep moving and engaging! It makes the summer fly by faster and the heat a touch easier to bear.
Is it true you can fry an egg on the sidewalk here?
This question came from my neighbors during their first summer in the desert. I’d never tried it myself, so one 120+ degree day, we all ventured outside and cracked an egg right in the middle of our street. (Photographic evidence above!)
The result? The egg did cook . . . but slooooowly – think 15-20 minutes, with most of that time spent waiting inside in the air conditioning. I’ve since heard that a metal pan can speed things up, though I have yet to test that theory. Maybe next summer? The finished product wasn’t exactly appetizing, but the experience itself is a true desert rite of passage!
Favorite desert day trip?
There’s pretty much nothing I love more than abandoned places, so a trip to the Salton Sea always tops my list. Once a luxury vacation destination, the area (about 45 miles southeast of Palm Springs) is now a post-apocalyptic dreamland. Agricultural runoff turned the local waters toxic and subsequent floods forced residents out, leaving behind a hauntingly beautiful, half-deserted/half-populated, thoroughly unique slice of Americana.
Our typical trips consist of full-day ventures down the eastern shoreline, with stops at the North Shore Yacht Club, Bombay Beach (lunch at the Ski Inn is a must!), Salvation Mountain, Slab City, and East Jesus(pictured). Each spot offers its own distinct landscape and flavor – from abandoned homesteads to large-scale installation art. It’s become one of my favorite adventures to share with friends and visitors, and no two trips are ever remotely the same. (For more on each of these places, scroll to the bottom of the Attractions section of Everything Palm Springs.)
Who makes the Valley’s best nachos
This question was posed by Amy Bonaduce (one of my favorite locals to follow) on Instagram last year. I didn’t have an answer at the time (hey, I don’t know everything! 😉) but made a note of it. So when I came across a post from The Unemployed Eater just a few weeks later praising the nachos at Blackbook, I forwarded it to Amy, who promptly ran out to order the dish and reported back that they are indeed the best in town!
I finally sampled them myself and have to agree – they’re phenomenal! Served “Palm Springs style,” crisped to perfection on individual baking sheets with the freshest of fixings, Blackbook’s nachos set the gold standard in the desert.
What’s your favorite local restaurant?
This is easily the question I get asked most often — and my answer hasn’t changed since I moved to the Valley: Adobe Grill at La Quinta Resort! The sprawling, tiered patio is nothing short of magical, with pristine mountain views, palm trees stretching as far as the eye can see, and a succession of red-tiled rooflines, all capped by a romantic canopy of twinkle lights. It’s desert ambiance at its finest!
And the food is just as remarkable. The Enchiladas Verdes are hands-down my favorite meal anywhere, let alone in the Coachella Valley. I crave them regularly and have to pop in at least a couple of times a year to get my fix!
Thanks for Reading!
That’s it for this month’s edition of Ask Lindsay! I hope you enjoyed this Q&A session and maybe even discovered a new spot or tip to try.
Now it’s your turn — I want to hear from you! What have you been curious about in the Coachella Valley? Send your queries my way via DMor email.
And if your questions happen to involve who to contact about a new home, as always, I’m your girl!