On Dec. 12, the world will memorialize the skinny kid from Hoboken, N.J., whose extraordinary voice made him one of the most influential singers in the nation's history, with TV tributes, concerts, museum exhibits and endless lounge shows.

And, according to this Los Angeles Times article by Rosemary McClure, nowhere is the celebratory clamor louder than in the Palm Springs area, Sinatra’s home for more than 50 years. The Chairman of the Board and his Rat Pack buddies lived, loved and partied hard here and left imprints on the community that are still visible today.

You can chart your own Sinatra tour, dining at the star's favorite restaurants, cruising down a street named after him, dropping by his homes and paying respects at his grave at Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, where you might find his headstone decorated with love notes, empty bottles of Jack Daniel's whiskey, Sinatra's drink of choice, a Camel cigarette and odds and ends.

The singer's real legacy, many Palm Springs residents say, can be seen in the institutions he helped fund; a church, a synagogue and a medical center, among others, and in the generosity he showed to down-at-the-heel Palm Springs residents.  An exhibit at the Palm Springs Historical Society tells it all: "Sinatra lived like a local. Even though Ol' Blue Eyes has been gone for nearly 20 years, Palm Springs remembers him fondly as an old friend."

A Little Bit About Frank Sinatra And His Accomplishments.  Frank Sinatra did it all, did it all well and did it his way. He made more than 1,800 recordings, had over 60 film credits, won 11 Grammys and one Academy Award, plus two honorary Oscars.

As a singer, he is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide.  Over a 40-year period, he became a champion of the Billboard charts, with songs on the chart weekly from 1955 to 1995.

As an actor, among his top films were "From Here to Eternity" (for which he won a supporting actor Oscar), "The Man With the Golden Arm" and "The Manchurian Candidate." Later films with his Rat Pack buddies (Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop) included "Ocean's 11," "Sergeants 3" and "Robin and the 7 Hoods" (Bing Crosby replaced Lawford in the final film).

Frank Sinatra visited Palm Springs on vacation in the 1940s and liked it so well that he hung around for half a century. You can follow in his footsteps yourself or join an organized tour.

The Palm Springs Historical Society (www.palmspringshistoricalsociety.net), [760] 323-8297) offers various walking tours in the city, including Frank Sinatra's Neighborhood: The Movie Colony. You probably won't be able to get inside the grounds of Sinatra's house, but you'll see the outside and learn about his celebrity neighbors. Advance registration is necessary. 9:30 a.m. Fridays. $20 per person. You'll get a broader look at Sinatra's environs with Celebrity Tours (www.palmspringsalive.com, [760] 770-2701), which offers a 100th-birthday version that focuses on Sinatra's homes, grave, church and hangouts. 9:30 a.m. Saturdays. $59 per person.

Sinatra House, 1148 E. Alejo Road, Palm Springs. Twin Palms, Sinatra's original Palm Springs home, was built in 1947 and rents for $2,600 for one night. It has four bedrooms and is great for entertaining. You can peek over the back fence to get a look. For info www.sinatrahouse.com, (877) 318-2090.

The Compound, 70-588 Frank Sinatra Drive, Rancho Mirage. In 1954 Sinatra moved east to Rancho Mirage and his new compound on 2 1/2 acres. It has five guesthouses, a movie theater, tennis courts and two pools. It's privately owned by another family, and there's no nearby parking so you'll have to take a quick look as you drive by on Frank Sinatra Street, named for Ol' Blue Eyes.

Michael S. Wolfson Park, corner of Frank Sinatra and Da Vall drives, Rancho Mirage. This is one of my favorites. It's a small pocket park with a Braille trail. Press the large red button and you'll hear the voice of Frank Sinatra coming out of a faux rock. "Welcome to Rancho Mirage," he says, "playground of the presidents." He says he hopes the park brings "peace and happiness, if only for a brief interlude."

Lord Fletcher Inn, 70385 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage. Check out Sinatra's favorite table, by the fireplace, then try the pot roast, his favorite meal.

Desert Memorial Park, 31705 Da Vall Drive, Cathedral City. Stop at the office to get a map that tells where celebs such as Sonny Bono and William Powell are buried. Sinatra is at space B-8-151, surrounded by his mother, father and uncle. Notes from fans and bottles of Jack Daniel's whiskey often can be found on the grave.

Melvyn's Restaurant & Lounge, 200 W. Ramon Road, Palm Springs. You'll see plenty of pictures of Sinatra on the walls at this downtown restaurant. He was a regular customer, and owner Mel Haber likes to talk about it. 

To read the article and view the pictures, courtesy of the Los Angeles Times, please use the following link:  http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-d-frank-sinatra-main-20151129-story.html