I’ve heard it said many, many times that because the heat in California is a “dry heat,” it’s easier to bear than heat with high humidity. That may be true, but it’s little consolation once the thermometer hits the 100-degree-plus range! I don’t live anywhere near a desert, but plenty of people in Southern California do, and it turns out that back before air conditioning and cheap swimming pools, folks found some pretty amazing ways of beating the hot weather. I’ve been waiting for awhile to share this episode of California’s Gold — and I think the middle of July is a perfect time. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Huell keeps cool on this adventure. Californians have done everything imaginable to keep cool in their blistering deserts. Huell looks at two ways of cooling off: first, in the amazing old “desert submarines” of Indio County, then at an honest-to-goodness oasis near Palm Springs.

(Click on the linked image below to see the video.)