San Juan Capistrano or Palm Desert

I have an opportunity to spend a week in Palm Desert or San Juan Capistrano in January. I have been to SJC before and enjoyed the beauty of the area, but it was not winter. My husband and I enjoy lovely scenery, good restaurants, exploring towns. I am not sure what there is to do in Palm Desert, what the weather wil be in January etc. Also, will the fires be a factor? (I don%26#39;t think so, but just checking) Can anyone help ...pros, cons of each area...things to do etc?

San Juan Capistrano or Palm Desert

I live in a city adjacent to SJC. Although it is a great town, I don%26#39;t think it compares to the amount of things you can do in Palm Springs (what the greater area around Palm Desert is called). In Palm Springs you have tons of hiking trails, my favorite being the Indian Canyon Trails. There are a ridiculous amount of golf courses (I think the most in the world), a beautiful zoo called the ';Living Desert,'; tours out to Joshua Tree National Park and the San Andreas Fault, really great dinning, nice shopping, a good aviation museum, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tram that takes you to the top of Mount San Jacinto. Really fun ride and nice views. It will be cold in the winter up there, but just come right down. Palm Springs is really great in the winter and is the best time to go in my opinion.

Here is a link to the Palm Springs Tourist Website:

http://www.palm-springs.org/

San Juan Capistrano or Palm Desert

As much as I like SJC, if you have a week in January, spend it in Palm Desert. We love it there at that time of year. So much to do, and great restaurants to try!

We like the Aerial Tramway, the Living Desert, the Follies, museums, etc.

Since you have been to San Juan Capistrano, a plus would be to explore a new area. Some of the things you can do while in Palm Desert/Palm Springs area ares:

1) Living Desert Museum

2) Day Trip to Joshua Tree

3) Enjoy some of the best sunny January weather in California

4) Arial Tram to top of Mt. San Jacinto

5) Day Trip to Salton Seae

6) Enjoy a Data Malt

7) Shop in Downtown Las Vegas

8) Shop at the Outlet Malls

9) Go hiking in Indian Canyons

http://www.palmsprings.com/points/canyon/

10) Enjoy eating out at many of the wonderful Palm Springs restaurants

11) Day trip to Temecula for wine tasting (a bit of a drive but doable in a day)

Its late - sorry meant shop in Downtown Palm Springs (not sure how Las Vegas got in there.) My apologies.)