I was fortunate to live in Palm Springs, California for 30 plus years. I was in the backyard of major golf tournaments like the Dinah Shore and the Humana Challenge — formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic. Tennis tournaments, too. (I don’t follow tennis, so I can’t elaborate much except to say they bring in crowds.) I wrote about my favorite things to do in Palm Springs in April 2018:

We are in the midst of three major weekends: two consecutive weekends of Coachella followed by Stagecoach. So now what?

Here’s my top 5 locals’ list of what to do in Palm Springs.

1. Hike
2. Swim
3. Eat
4. Read
5. Golf

My two favorite hiking trails in Palm Springs are the South Lykken Trail off of South Palm Canyon and Murray Canyon in the Indian Canyons. The Tram is my hot-season favorite, with temperatures in the perfect 70s in the summertime when it’s 110 plus degrees in town.

The Palm Springs Swim Center boasts one of the most gorgeous public pools on the planet. Go for lap swim, or drop in on a Masters session with the Piranha Swim Team — the team my kids swam with for 13 plus years. There’s nothing like swimming across the pool and looking up at the majestic San Jacinto Mountain view!

We have serious food! My favorite restaurants in Palm Springs include — but are not limited to — Spencer’s, Jake’s and Johnny Costa’s.

Relax! Sit out by the pool with a good book. The resorts around town are gorgeous, from private luxury suites at the Ingleside Inn to larger trendy hotels like Riviera Palm Springs or Hard Rock Hotel. Soak up the sunshine, wearing suncreen of 50 SPF or better, and take a quick dip in the pool between chapters of your book.

Golf. Yes, we have lots of it! My favorites in Palm Springs are the muni courses at Tahquitz Creek. The Legends Course is an older, more traditional course with a great price. The Resort Course is a little pricier, but more challenging. The Indian Canyons Golf Resort is spectacular, too!

Enjoy our blue skies, mountain views, and wide open spaces. It’s all here in Palm Springs. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it!

What I miss most about living in Palm Springs are my friends. Of course this past year, I wasn’t able to spend time with them in person. But I also miss my hairdresser, the checkers at the grocery store, the postal workers, the lifeguards, my fellow walkers in the park — all the people who made up the fabric of my life.