Desert-Dwellers: What do You LOVE and HATE about the High Desert/LowDesert?

[BunkieFam]

Originally Posted by Brandon Graves

To some, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells (if you can somehow actually afford it), La Quinta, and maybe even Cathedral City may all be more desirable than Indio. But, plenty of Indio is also pretty beautiful and nice. And then, there's Coachella and Desert Hot Springs (for more affordability).

The nine main cities of the sunny Coachella Valley. So, take your pick. Which one would you choose to live in (if money wasn't an object)?

But, yes LuvSouthOC, I agree that I'd also rather live Indio than in Barstow any day, which I already do. Not exactly in the best part, though. I will admit that.

Have you ever seen the whole city of Barstow? Barstow Heights would put Indio to shame. Indio is bigger and closer to nice cities, but that's about it. Indio is chili central. Barstow is just a welfare haven...usually quiet

[BunkieFam]

Originally Posted by forzalugano

Barstow is the Beverly Hills of the High Desert,

Barstow is largely misunderstood,but I wouldn't go THAT far...it's better than Baker by a long shot

[BunkieFam]

Originally Posted by Brandon Graves

Most of the area north of the 10 and the areas that are near/bordering La Quinta are the best/most desirable areas of Indio.

Only because the tourist trap casino is there.

[Brandon Graves]

Originally Posted by BunkieFam

Have you ever seen the whole city of Barstow? Barstow Heights would put Indio to shame. Indio is bigger and closer to nice cities, but that's about it. Indio is chili central. Barstow is just a welfare haven...usually quiet

Indio "chilli central?" What are you talking about?

[BunkieFam]

Originally Posted by Brandon Graves

Indio "chilli central?" What are you talking about?

I meant "cholo." My autocorrect must have changed it to chilli. lol Barrio=Indio. The only thing nice about it is the proximity to the gorgeous date farms

[Brandon Graves]

Originally Posted by BunkieFam

I meant "cholo." My autocorrect must have changed it to chilli. lol Barrio=Indio. The only thing nice about it is the proximity to the gorgeous date farms

So, you're saying that Indio is "cholo central?"

I wouldn't exactly say so. Yes, Indio certainly does have street gangs and barrios. But, most other cities and towns in CA and the nation do as well. So, Indio isn't that much different.

As someone who was born and raised here in the Coachella Valley (and mostly lived here in Indio, so my hometown) for almost all of my life, and as a 2016 graduate of Indio High School, I can tell you upfront that certainly not all of Indio is "cholo central." Indio, like just about anywhere in the nation, has its good areas and bad areas. And, I can also tell you what bad areas that have cholos living in them in Indio are.

IMO, you could do worse than Indio, such as Desert Hot Springs, Coachella, Thousand Palms, Mecca, etc..

If you would like a change in perspective, look at the areas bordering La Quinta in west Indio, or north Indio where the newer housing tracts/shopping centers are. Those are examples of good areas of Indio. There are still plenty of wonderful areas of Indio to raise a family. I can believe that.

Yes, Indio may be on the lower end of the economic scale when it comes to other cities and towns in CA, and it may also not be the most beautiful nor most desirable, but it's definitely not the worst IMO.

Maybe you should take another drive around Indio, and make another visit. And, also perhaps stay awhile, and appreciate for what the city is and what it has to offer (e.g., some of THE best authentic Mexican food in the Coachella Valley, and perhaps the entire CA desert region, etc.).

[AFtrEFkt]

Thousand Palms isn't "cholo central," either, lol.

Either way, describing Indio as such is inaccurate, considering Coachella is right next door.

[AFtrEFkt]

Originally Posted by BunkieFam

I meant "cholo." My autocorrect must have changed it to chilli. lol Barrio=Indio. The only thing nice about it is the proximity to the gorgeous date farms

I can't tell you don't live in or near Indio and haven't been to the CV for a while.

[Brandon Graves]

Originally Posted by AFtrEFkt

I can't tell you don't live in or near Indio and haven't been to the CV for a while.

See? Someone gets it, and lives here.

[Brandon Graves]

Originally Posted by AFtrEFkt

Thousand Palms isn't "cholo central," either, lol.

Either way, describing Indio as such is inaccurate, considering Coachella is right next door.

I fully realize that TP isn't "cholo central" at all. I was just naming several other CV cities/towns that some locals consider to be worse than Indio, in terms of desirability, and so on.

The way that I described Indio, or the way that BunkieFam described Indio?...