From: fod@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov (Frank O'Donnell)
Subject: Re: GET ME OUT OF LOS ANGELES (at least for 2 days!)
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Distribution: ca
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 19:31:03 GMT

srt@aero.org (Scott R. Turner) writes:

>fod@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov (Frank O'Donnell) writes:
>>Well, everything depends on your taste, naturally.  Palm
>>Springs is certainly a possibility, although my friends
>>seem to prefer Desert Hot Springs and other spa towns.
>
>Frank, can you or your friends recommend a reasonably-priced place to
>stay in Desert Hot Springs?  And/or give any other info?  DHS gets
>recommended by LA Weekly, etc., but usually w/o any specific info.

My desert-loving friends like to stay at the Desert Hot
Springs Spa (619 329-6495), which they describe as being
older/funky, 1950s style, with rooms around an open area
with seven Jacuzzis and a pool.  They think it's in the
general neighborhood of $70 a night.  Also in Desert
Hot Springs is the Two Bunch Palms, which is tonier but
markedly more expensive.  They note that Desert Hot Springs
is close to Joshua Tree, which is an interesting and almost
surreal place to hike (and camp).

Otherwise east of the big L.A., they like to go to Glen
Ivy Hot Springs, near Corona on the way to Elsinore, as
a day trip.  There the thing to do is to pack clay on
yourself and lie out in the sun.  The number is 714
277-3529.  There apparently is no lodging right at Glen
Ivy, but there are campgrounds not too far away, I'm
told, and also hotels at Elsinore.

When I asked "Yeah, but what about those goopy mud
baths they were lounging in in `The Player'?," my
friends mentioned Murietta Hot Springs near Temecula.
Originally this was apparently operated according to
strict rules (all-vegetarian, and you had to sign a
form promising not to drink alcohol, smoke or have
sex with a non-spouse), but evidently the place was
sold and is somewhat more lax (there are now meat
dishes on the menu).  However, my friends aren't as
keen on this place because the countryside isn't
as interesting to wander around in.

On Big Bear and Arrowhead (you didn't ask, but a
couple of people did by email), my friends like to
stay in Little Green Valley, which is down the hill
from Big Bear proper.  It's more secluded and quiet
than Big Bear, and the countryside is better for
cross-country skiing.  They recommend calling the
Running Springs Chamber of Commerce for lodging/
rentals, or the Big Bear/Arrowhead Chamber of
Commerce for those areas.

Speaking of chambers of commerce, the Avalon one
is probably the best contact for lodging if you 
want to stay there on an overnight trip to Catalina.
Personally I'm a little burnt out on Catalina right
now so I didn't recommend it, but that's probably
just because I've been there a lot over the past
years.  Avalon itself gets a little old for me
after a day (the botanical gardens near the
Wrigley Memorial being probably the most interesting
thing); but you can also rent various sorts of
transportation including bikes and hike in the
rest of the island with a permit (there's also 
some camping).  As an avid hiker, though, I found
the terrain not as interesting as what we have
closer to home in the San Gabriels.  The Two
Harbors area up by the isthmus is interesting;
if I had to get some serious writing done I suppose
I'd check in to the Banning House, an old hotel up
there, to get away from it all.  The Avalon C of C is
to the Banning House, an old hotel up there,
to get away from it all.  The Avalon C of C is
at 310 510-1520, and Two Harbors info is at
310 510-0303.  One of the boat companies (Catalina
Express?) has a daily boat to Two Harbors from the
mainland if you want to avoid Avalon altogether.

Frank
frank@jplpost.jpl.nasa.gov
Xref: sparky la.general:791 ca.general:1407