Palm Springs

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Last year, around this time of the summer, I went to a summer collegiate league game in Whittier. If you recall, I very much enjoyed my time and it really was a neat experience. While the name of the game for Baseball Road Trips is professional baseball, it doesn't hurt to wade into the amateur game. Heck, the college games I've been to this year have been really fun and they have added a lot of positives to what has already been an incredible season. On keeping with that vein, I'm heading to east into the desert to the posh city of Palm Springs for a day of bike riding, touring, and baseball.

I've been down here almost ten months, and I still haven't made my way to Palm Springs. Google Maps says it's only a 45-minute drive from here in Highland, and I've passed the exit on the 10 freeway a few times, but I haven't made it a point to go there. Of course, Palm Springs has the aura of exclusivity and luxury about it, but if you know me, I strive to see it for myself. Baseball Road Trips are all about exploring new things, and there is this city that has been piqued my curiosity since the day I moved here. Add to that the baseball aspect, and the temptation to go there just became too much for me.

I'm leaving Highland relatively early so I can get to Palm Springs at a decent hour. I'm doing this because I'm bringing my bike and doing a ride through town. I've planned out a decent loop through the downtown and neighborhoods, and I want to be riding when it isn't super hot out. The weather forecast for Palm Springs tomorrow is highs in the 110-115 degree range, so I'd like to be done with any physical activity before it gets that warm. 

After the ride, and lunch at someplace where the a/c is working, I'm going to head to the Palm Springs Air Museum. While planning this trip, I wanted to find someplace indoors that would be interesting to me and be reflective of the community, and the Air Museum stood out to me. Earlier this morning, I recalled that the last time I incorporated an Air Museum with a Baseball Road Trip was in 2010 when I was in DC and went to Smithsonian. I really enjoyed that visit, and I'm looking forward to going to this new museum.

It wouldn't be a Baseball Road Trip without some sort of visit to a brewery or winery. So, I found two breweries that are just outside of Palm Springs that I will hit up after the Air Museum. Heck, after the bike ride and museum, I think a good, local craft brew would be in order. I'm eager to see what the atmosphere of the breweries are and how they compare with some of the other places I have been to. Also, because I guess I've become a sort of "beer snob", I'm interested to experience how their beer compare to others I have tried.

My final stop will be Palm Springs Stadium and the summer collegiate league Palm Springs Power. I've heard fun things about Palm Spring Stadium, and I know that it used to be the spring training home of the Angels before they moved to Arizona. While it isn't a professional ballpark, I'm really excited to see a different brand of baseball. 

Facebook, Twitter, and FourSquare will be active, as always. This is the only trip I have planned for this weekend, so I'm going to make the best out of it and really try and enjoy myself. It should be a lot of fun!

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)