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Avoiding Old Man Winter

Plenty of activities to keep snowbird couple busy in Hemet, California
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Enjoying a little pool time at GVP.

When Old Man Winter makes his annual appearance, my husband and I snowbird south to Hemet, California and The Golden Village Palms (GVP) RV park becomes our home away from home. Although there are more than enough summer-camp-type activities to keep us content, this year we ventured outside this lush playground and discovered there's even more just beyond our RV door.

To Market: Tasty produce and pastries line up next to beaded jewellery and souvenirs. Outdoor markets are big in this region and the prices are downright cheap. On Saturdays, check out the artisans and farmers who congregate in downtown Hemet, then head southeast to Winchester Flea Market where you'll find everything from flowering trees to tweeting cockatiels.

If you're into driving a little further, veer into Old Town Temecula. Or do an about face to the College of the Desert (Palm Desert). With over 300 vendors, you're bound to find that one-of-a-kind treasure.

And when it comes to markets, there's nothing quite like the Palm Springs Villagefest. Every Thursday night, the swanky Palm Canyon Drive transforms into a happening heyday. Veggies, flowers and gems unite with snacks, sweets and socializing. It's a huge crowd-pleaser.

If you don't want to stray very far from GVP, no worries. A farmer's market comes every Tuesday, so goodness is guaranteed for your entire stay.

Glorious Golf: There are lots of courses within a short drive and most are one-third the price that we pay here in Canada. Echo Hills, a recentlyreconstructed

nine-hole par 3 charges less than $10 a round. On Thursdays, Golden Era rolls out the verdant carpet - $30/couple gets GVP guests circling its regulation-length nine holes in a cart.

Seven Hills is another steal. In the afternoons, its 18-hole, par 72 is a mere $22. Even higher-end courses, like our favourite, Diamond Valley Golf Club, are dirt cheap.

This gorgeous gem, backed by the San Jacinto peaks, sprawls over 450 lush Hemet Valley acres. GVP also offers an organized golf program and by signing up, all guests get a deal on green fees and assurance of tee times.

Hiking the Hills: The San Jacinto, Santa Rosa and San Bernardino mountains spring up from Riverside County and are home to countless hiking trails. The well-marked routes through Simpson Park and around Diamond Valley Lake can be done at a leisurely pace.

Or bump the exertion up a notch on steeper routes like Whitewater and Ladder Canyons or the pine-canopied trails just beyond the mountain town of Idyllwild. Devil's Slide is one of these popular pathways that'll kick your heart rate into overdrive.

A weekly group hike is organized through GVP. And if you'd rather stick close to the homestead, the boulder-studded hills behind the resort provide a great workout and valley panoramas.

Additional Must-Do's: For hiking without all the hoofing, hop aboard the Palm Springs aerial tram (world's largest of its kind). You'll be whisked to the 8,500-foot ridge top in just 10 minutes where there's a network of trails ranging from casual rambles to challenging ascents.

And before making the descent, re-fuel at either the casual Pines Café or savvy Peaks Restaurant where delicious options are accompanied by Coachella Valley vistas.

If staying grounded is more your thing, Desert Adventures provides the thrill without the uphill. Take a jeep ride through narrow canyons or an echo tour into Joshua National Park.

You want more history? Estudillo Mansion, a stately brick residence built in 1884, zeros in on San Jacinto Valley's more recent happenings and Hemet's state-of-the-art Western Science Centre goes right back to the area's ice age roots when giant mammoths roamed these lands.

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