Palm Springs, CA receives plenty of attention for its wide variety of recreational activities. From world famous golf courses to breathtaking hikes through the nearby Mt San Jacinto wilderness, Palm Springs has it all for anyone that wants to live a highly active lifestyle. Yet, Palm Springs also offers a top-rated school district and a large number of cultural amenities that bend the educational curve higher for residents of all ages.
The question is not whether Palm Springs is a great place to live, the question is which of the numerous thriving neighborhoods should you and your family call home.
The property management specialists at Utopia Management know Palm Springs inside and out, and share this list of five of the best Palm Springs, California neighborhoods.
Ruth Hardy Park
Location, location, location is the mantra for successful businesses, and it is a mantra that works well for residents of a rapidly growing city such as Palm Springs. Situated less than a mile from the downtown central business district, Ruth Hardy Park provides residents of the neighborhood with one of the most pedestrian friendly street layouts in Southern California. In fact, you can walk to the entertainment hub of Palm Springs at any time of day living in this low crime neighborhood.
On the way to a Sunday matinee or a Friday night dinner reservation, you pass by Ruth Hardy Park, which is home to tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts. Family-friendly amenities like playgrounds and picnic tables attract residents from all over Palm Springs, CA. Operating on the western side of the neighborhood, Katherine Finchy Elementary School draws rave reviews from parents, as well as educators teaching at area high schools and institutions of higher learning. Nearby Desert Regional Medical Center employs hundreds of healthcare workers, many of which live in the Ruth Hardy Park neighborhood.
Deepwell Estates
The search for water in the low desert of California led to the development of the one of the first neighborhoods to call Palm Springs home. Noted scientist Henry Parson drilled for water where the neighborhood now sits. Although Deepwell is a strange name for a neighborhood in a city that receives little annual precipitation, Parson’s drilling went as deep as 630 feet to establish the literal foundation for the city’s water supply. In the Deepwell Estates neighborhood, residents live in a wide variety of structures, from early 20th century homes to eco-friendly houses that espouse the basic tenets of green living principles.
Cycling is a huge outdoor recreational activity in a neighborhood that boasts one of the most bike-friendly systems in Southern California. The rich history of Deepwell Estates is embedded in the homes lived in by famous Hollywood stars such as Tippi Hendren, Elizabeth Taylor, and William Holden. Several community events bring the neighborhood together, from the annual celebration of summer at the August Evening Cocktail Party to the Garden Walk that showcases the spectacular floral arrangements presented by neighborhood residents.
El Mirador
Bordering Ruth Hardy Park, the El Mirador neighborhood give residents many of the same features offered by its next door neighbor. However, the main difference is El Mirador is around one-third the size of Ruth Hardy Park. Luxury estates dominate the real estate landscape, with vintage Southern California bungalows and Spanish-inspired multi-level homes leading the way for creating architectural genius. A vast array of different design styles and floorplan sizes makes this neighborhood one of the most diverse neighborhoods in terms of housing styles.
Although downtown Palm Springs is a short walk away, El Mirador is another social and cultural magnet that offers fine dining and upscale shopping opportunities. The neighborhood benefits from a diverse offering of entertainment options as well. As the property management professionals at Utopia Management can confirm, El Mirador provides property owners and real estate investors with a rich selection of homes that appreciate in value.
Vista Las Palmas
As a relative newcomer to the Palm Springs neighborhood scene, Vista Las Palmas features homes built on elevated ground to give residents spectacular views of the sprawling low desert. It is also a neighborhood known for providing residents with stunning nightly presentations of the fiery orange sun setting behind Mt San Jacinto. Swiss Miss A-Frames and world renowned butterfly roof houses make this neighborhood popular among residents that prefer older style living structures. Architects like William Kissel and Charles Dubois had a hand in building many of the 330 homes located in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood.
Residents of the neighborhood have formed an organization that donates money to local charities. Members of a home preservation society make sure the neighborhood maintains its rich and colorful history. If you want to live in a classic home that exudes warmth, then Vista Las Palmas is the neighborhood for you.
The Mesa
Nestled against the majestic mountains that dot the Riverside County Landscape, The Mesa neighborhood provides residents with the unique combination of historic architecture and contemporary living amenities. Charming structures sit behind tree-lined streets in a neighborhood that is surrounded by rugged terrain and serene natural streams. Narrow winding streets reminiscent of the roadways that climb the hills within San Francisco create a secluded feel, without residents feeling secluded from the outside world. Nature lovers flock to the neighborhood to get up close looks at some of the floral and fauna that thrive in the adjacent mountainside.
If you are in the market for home located in Palm Springs, CA, reach out to a local property management company like Utopia Management to get the inside scoop on the top neighborhoods in the area.