And in that spirit, the spirit of surprising and unlikely things, there is a chance to ride in a gondola, on or near Valentine's Day, in... the desert. That's the unlikely part, for boats and ...

The gondola ride will include one dozen red roses ... reservations are available between 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. If you go: Palm Desert: 73575 El Paseo, Ste. 2310; (760) 773 2807.

Palm Springs' unofficial welcome sign ... south toward Garnet Road for the low-lying ones. This canyon-hugging gondola ride is well worth the detour. Board a rotating car at the angular 1963 ...