Art
How to See Light: The First Lesson in Photography
A day at home can teach you to recognize the light you have been walking past. No camera required.
Coachella Valley + surrounding mountain towns
The Coachella Valley, one story at a time.
Fresh reporting, useful guides and the places that make this region worth knowing.
Desert Magazine Building
Explore this place
Palm Desert
The valley, right now
Make a plan. Find a new place. Follow the progress.
Events & outings
Today & This Week
Events, concerts and local discoveries for your next day out.
Find something to do New placesJust Opened & Coming Soon
New restaurants, shops and attractions—with the latest opening details.
Explore new openings DevelopmentWhat’s Being Built
Follow major projects, construction progress and what’s planned next.
Open the development mapRecently Published
The newest stories from across the valley and surrounding mountains.
Art
The More You Understand, the More You See
How birds, pickleball, and a new interest in golf are changing my photography—and my relationship with the Coachella Valley.
Art
What Makes a Great Photograph? My Six-Part Framework
A way to look more closely, explain your judgment, and understand why a photograph matters—with my first-issue portrait of Chiron Burl as the test.
Nature
Why Does the Desert Smell So Good After Rain?
Follow the fragrance from creosote leaves to wet ground—and learn to recognize the shrub behind a familiar desert experience.
Nature
Which Palm Trees Actually Belong in the Coachella Valley?
California fan palms, Mexican fan palms and date palms may share the skyline, but they tell different stories about the desert.
Nature
That Ocotillo Isn’t Necessarily Dead: How It Responds to Rain
Bare canes, sudden leaves and red flower clusters reveal a desert plant with more than one seasonal rhythm.
Nature
Cactus, Agave, or Aloe? Learn to See the Difference
Look past the spines and compare stems, leaves and flowers on your next desert garden walk.
Nature
Why Do Trees Grow in Desert Washes That Look Completely Dry?
Follow runoff, soil moisture and plant roots to understand the green lines crossing an arid landscape.
From the archive
Worth exploring
Desert explained
Why Does It Get Windy In Coachella Valley?
Know your surroundingsWhat Mountains Surround the Coachella Valley? Visual Guide
Desert historySalton Sea History: From Lake Cahuilla to Today
A mountain landmarkThe Complete History of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Living in the desertIID vs. Edison: Why Electricity Rates Differ Across the Coachella Valley
Cahuilla homelandWho Are the Cahuilla? The Indigenous People of the Coachella Valley and Mountains
Go a little deeper
Explore the valley your way.
Find your bearings, plan a visit or get to know a community.
Your next discovery starts here
Explore Coachella Valley on the map.
Find your bearings. Explore cities, communities and places to spend the day—then save your favorites to My DOI.
Explore the mapStart here
Essential guides
Find your way into the places, communities and stories of the desert.
Coachella Valley restaurant guide
Find your next great meal.
Explore restaurants by city, cuisine, meal and occasion. From a casual breakfast to a dinner worth planning around.
Explore restaurants Fine dining & date nightsAI-generated illustration of a fine-dining evening.
Look a little closer
Discover the desert.
Meet its wildlife, explore its landscapes and uncover the stories behind the places.
Ongoing reporting