This is the time of year in the Coachella Valley when you start to see a blur of cars with license plates from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and other colder climates.

They are driven my motorists escaping ice-packed streets and roads, white-out conditions and blizzards that can often leave them housebound for days. These motorists are lovingly referred to as “snowbirds.” They, like nature’s bird, head to sun-soaked areas of the country where they can shed their parkas and snow boots for bathing suits and flip flops.

There are multiple places in country where snowbirds gather for iced tea and the warmth of the sun playing tennis, golfing or swimming.

Expedia has identified “20 Best Places for Snowbirds this Winter” that have pleasant temperatures and offer a unique allure. Palm Springs stood out on this list for being a desert haven boasting an average high of 71 degrees in January.

Riverside is also highlighted on the list. Expedia says that in Riverside, snowbirds loved to sample fruit straight from the source during a tour of California Citrus State Historic Park (the winter harvest yields the freshest and juiciest crops. Snowbirds can also visit nearby “House of Mouse when the crowds are thinner and lines are shorter.”

Palm Springs is welcoming visitors this winter to a new downtown with stylish hotels, new fashionable restaurants, new chic shops and boutiques, new fun entertainment venues as well as welcoming public spaces for gathering, celebrating and relaxing, according to the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism.

Downtown is a welcoming place for a relaxing stroll without the hectic traffic one encounters in most other city centers. It’s the perfect scale for strolling with multiple attractive public places to relax and numerous inviting outdoor patios for people watching. Our downtown has retained its casual vibe and is still a vibrant place to explore, according to a Tourism Bureau statement.

Known throughout the world as the mecca of modernism, Palm Springs embraces and celebrates the midcentury modern design aesthetic.

Palm Springs is a short, two-hour drive from Los Angeles and San Diego with Non-stop flights from many U.S. and Canadian destinations. You can learn more about your sun-filled getaway HERE.