Kenn,
I'm familiar with that area, I spent a while living in Green Valley, just south of there. You're definitely right about things with thorns. You've got all these retirement communities there, tons of people who need walkers and canes, and the whole place is filled with cacti!!
Not too long before I left the storms were really wreaking havok on the palms... that and the late cold snaps had killed many and there were head-less palms all over the place. What a mess!