What the First Winter in La Quinta Is Really Like If You Just Left Orange County

If you are leaving Orange County, LA or San Diego for the desert, the question under all the others is simple: what will I actually do here in the winter?

Summer gets the headlines. Winter is why a lot of people move. Here is what a first winter in La Quinta looks like, and where I want you to hear from me instead of a brochure.

The weather: mild days, cool evenings, and some rain

Winter is the gentle season here. The heat that defines July is gone, and you can eat outside, walk, hike and play golf in the middle of the day. Evenings cool off, so plan on a layer. January is actually the wettest month of the year in La Quinta, though the desert still only gets about three inches of rain across a whole year, so a wet day feels like an event.

The weekend calendar picks up

November through April is when the valley's calendar fills in. A few things worth knowing about:

El Paseo Cruise Night. The Palm Desert Area Chamber lists El Paseo Cruise Night on Friday, November 6. Car owners arrive at 2:00pm and cruising starts at 4:00pm. It is free and open to everyone, and you do not need a classic car. It takes place at the Chamber parking lot at El Paseo and Highway 111. The event page lists a single date, so check the Chamber's calendar for the next one.

First Friday on El Paseo. This runs in the cooler months, and the usual hours are 4 to 7pm at The Gardens on El Paseo. 

Hiking. The cooler months are when the trails around the Cove make sense. Go early, bring water, and check conditions the day you go.

The part nobody warns you about: you will be busy

Winter is also when the desert is at its most social. More events, more friends and family visiting, and more people in town for the season. That is good, and it also means popular restaurants fill up, so booking ahead becomes a habit.

🗣️ MY TAKE: If you can, spend a few weeks here in January or February before you buy. A weekend visit in the shoulder season will not show you what a winter feels like.

If you are thinking about it

No pressure from me. If you want to look at neighborhoods, start with how you want a winter week to feel and work backward. I keep my guides open, no form and no email needed, at https://desertrealestatepartners.com/guide-resources. Take what is useful.

Laura Lake | Your Desert Real Estate Partner | DRE #01455311