Welcome to the Inland Empire and the Desert Empire
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Country Music Festival–Happening Now!!!
If you happen to be from California, then you probably have heard or know about the Inland Empire. It’s not LA, rather it primarily consists of Riverside County, located just east of Los Angeles and it’s one of the fastest growing counties in California. Its population growth is largely due to its relatively affordable housing options compared to the coastal areas, along with its proximity to job opportunities and desirable amenities that attract new residents.
It is projected the region’s population will increase by over 20% in the coming years, reaching a combined total of 5.7 million residents. The growth rate surpasses the rest of southern California primarily due to the Inland Empire’s capacity for enhanced housing and job creation.
As the map shows, it encompasses a significant portion of southern California geography with a vast diversity of cities and suburbs and attractions and activities. It’s worth mentioning because it’s where I live and I find that it has so much to offer without the trek into LA and dealing with the enormity of those crowds and traffic.
Each month I will be featuring a specific location within the IE. I will share a bit about the richness of the culture and various highlights of things to do.
This is my first edition and I’m featuring the Coachella Valley, better known as the Desert Empire. It just so happens this is the month for the Coachella Music Festival and Stagecoach. Let’s explore each.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, commonly referred to as Coachella, is one of the largest and most famous music fests in the world. In its 25th year, it takes place annually in the Coachella Valley, specifically in Indio, California over two weekends in April. It’s been likened to Woodstock in 1969, but with a more contemporary vibe and a whole lot more expensive to which I can attest.
It features a diverse lineup of musical performances across multiple stages, showcasing a wide range of genres including rock, indie, hip-hop, electronic dance music (EDM), and more. The festival’s lineup often includes some of the biggest names in the music industry, as well as up and coming artists and bands.
Coachella also incorporates various art installations, interactive experiences, and culinary offerings from local vendors and renowned chefs, making it a multi-faceted cultural event.
Coachella has gained a reputation not only for its impressive musical lineup but also for its fashion, celebrity sightings, and vibrant atmosphere. It attracts fans from around the world who come together to celebrate music, art, and culture in the picturesque desert setting of the Coachella Valley and the Indio Polo Club.
On the heels of the two weekend Coachella Festival is Stagecoach. It’s one of the largest country western music festivals in the United States and is known for its stellar lineup of country artists and bands across multiple stages. Similar to Coachella, Stagecoach takes place at the Empire Polo Club and features some of the biggest names in country music showcasing a wide range of music styles including traditional, mainstream, bluegrass, Americana, and more.
Stagecoach has a laid back, country western atmosphere and over the years has welcomed a diverse set of iconic acts such as Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and so many others.
Like Coachella, tickets tend to sell out quickly, and attendees often camp on-site or stay in nearby accommodations to fully experience the festival weekend. During one Stagecoach event, we rented out our condo to several music goers. They were the most gracious and thoughtful people you could ask for.
Just a note on the Empire Polo Club, it is a world-renowned polo facility located in Indio, California. In addition to Coachella and Stagecoach, it hosts polo matches and tournaments several times throughout the year in addition to charity fundraisers, corporate gatherings, weddings, and cultural festivals. A truly recreational destination featuring sports, music and entertainment in a stunning desert setting.
The Coachella Valley, often called the Desert Empire, is approximately 45 miles long and 15 miles wide along most of its length. The cities start with Palm Springs and run through Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Indio, each with their own distinct histories and personalities. The largest and fastest growing city is Indio.
The population of the Coachella Valley is approximately 300,000 during the summer months and swells to 600,000 during the winter months due to the influx of “snow birds.” Having lived there for 13 years I can attest to the surge as being somewhat overwhelming at times.
The name Coachella is derived from the word Conchilla, which in Spanish means little shell, referring to the existence of fossil shells throughout the area. Millions of years ago there was no desert, rather it was filled with water from the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) which contained ancient corals, shellfish, oysters and marine mammals. As the water receded into what is now the Gulf of California, it left behind fossilized memories of all kinds of aquatic and plant life.
There are numerous stables where you can rent horses for the day and go horseback riding throughout the many hillside and mountain retreats and find fossils along your route. During the hey-day of Hollywood westerns, Indio was a favorite place to shoot movies with the likes of John Wayne and others. Your ride can take you back to those “days of yesteryear” as you enjoy the various locations where the movies were filmed.
My blog would be incomplete if I did not give you a few interesting ideas to keep you busy in addition to the music festivals. A couple of my favorites:
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK. This park was declared a national monument in 1936, then a protected national park in 1994. The rock formations are other worldly, called Pinto Gneiss which are 1.7 billion years old. The Joshua trees have been growing for over 2.5 million years, and only in the southwest. Joshua trees are really not a tree, but rather a derivative of the yucca plant and some have up to a 500-year lifespan. Definitely a hike worth enjoying.
PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. Nicknamed PSIFF (and don’t ask me to pronounce it), was originally promoted by then mayor, Sonny Bono in 1989. It is held during the month of January, and in 2023 featured 134 films from 64 different countries including 27 premiers. It’s not Cannes, but it can certainly hold its own.
EL PASEO SHOPPING DISTRICT. This is the “Rodeo Drive of the Desert.” It is the premier shopping destination in the IE and is located in Palm Desert, featuring upscale boutiques, art galleries and gourmet restaurants. This renowned boulevard is home to the likes of Gucci, Baccarat, Saks Fifth Avenue, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Tiffany & Co., and many more. Saddle up and be sure to bring your credit cards.
GOLF COURSES. The last count was 124 and is said to be the greatest concentration of golf courses in the world. About half are public/municipal and the remainder private. My BoomerGuy and I have played quite a few during our time in the desert, and you will never find more manicured and impeccable course conditions, year-round.
INDIAN WELLS TENNIS GARDEN. It hosts the PNP Paribus Open, one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. Enthusiasts can watch top-ranked players compete against each other in a stunning desert setting. In 2024, Carlos Alcaraz from Spain and Iga Swiatek from Poland won the men’s and women’s championships, respectively. We were lucky enough to attend several tournaments, make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water as it can get a bit toasty even in March. IWTG is open to the tennis public and also hosts various live music performances and sporting events.
PALM SPRING AERIAL TRAMWAY. Built in 1963, this is the world’s largest rotating tramcar and offers breathtaking views as it ascends from the desert floor to the pristine wilderness of the San Jacinto Mountains, over 10,000 feet in elevation where the temps are definitely cooler so bring a jacket. At the mountain station, visitors can enjoy hiking trails, dining options and panoramic vistas including a view of the San Andreas Fault.
LIVING DESERT ZOO AND GARDENS. This is absolutely one of my favorite places on the planet. Located in Palm Desert the Zoo is a unique wildlife park dedicated to desert conservation and education. Visitors can observe desert animals, African wildlife, botanical gardens and learn about desert ecosystems through interactive exhibits. It is especially well-known for its Wild Lights Exhibit during the holiday season where it is decorated with millions of tiny, twinkling lights all the while offering a full tour of the animal exhibits at night.
When my BoomerGuy and I lived in Palm Desert, the summer heat drove us to purchase a second home in a cooler location, or as many of our friends did, they traveled during the summer months. Regardless, it is truly an oasis like no other—a great place to play, dine and shop. We loved the colors of the desert vegetation, they are brilliant and mesmerizing, in addition, the soaring mountain ranges are right at your fingertips. A photographer’s delight.
Over the past decade, the Coachella Valley has become “the cool place” for those from LA wanting a retreat. Consequently, real estate prices have soared, and building has proliferated with new and exquisite developments, as evidenced by Cotino, a Storyliving by Disney master planned community of over 2000 homes located in Rancho Mirage.
We’re still “desert rats” as we absolutely love everything about it. Yeah, sometimes even in the peak of summer. We visit frequently and have our favorite haunts, not to mention that I continue to operate my interior design business with a few clients in Palm Desert and La Quinta.
I encourage you to find YOUR ULTIMATE LIFESTYLE in the Coachella Valley whenever the opportunity presents itself. All my best from BoomerGal.
