In Palm Springs: Downtown

Downtown is where the old Palm Springs and the old, old Palm Springs meet. Pre-WWII Mediterranean revival buildings jut up against spare, modernist '50s and '60s architecture. One of the landmarks in the latter style is the old Kries Drug Store/Oasis Room at the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way. Interestingly, while architect Paul Williams was busy on this swanky showroon, he was also working on the Palm Springs home of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Even today, with a rather prosäic Starbucks occupying the ground floor, the building exudes atomic-age austerity. Be sure to check out the grand staircase in the back.

Directly south of the Kries Drug building is an interesting hidden treasure - an old bell tower. Not just any bell tower, this one was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright's son, Lloyd Wright. It's the last remaining section of a larger hotel complex. Very strange to find it here, wedged between a travel agency and a cat-themed gift shop. But beautiful nonetheless.