Palm Springs

Palm Springs needs 2 days: riding the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the rotating tramcar that climbs 2,500 meters to Mount San Jacinto State Park in just over 10 minutes, on one, and touring the mid-century modern architecture hotels of Palm Springs Modernism Weekend on the other. November-April avoids the extreme desert heat, which tops 40°C in summer. It's mid-to-upper priced, with peak season in winter when the rest of the country is cold. It's been Hollywood's winter retreat since the 1930s -Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley had houses here-, and its tramway climbs from desert climate to snow-capped pine forests at the summit, a full ecosystem change on a single ride.