Set against the striking San Jacinto Mountain range, this desert oasis with
year-round blue skies is a mecca for first-class golf, shopping and dining. And
with more than 100 courses in the area, the problem isn’t getting tee times;
it’s deciding which courses to play.Golf
The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic utilizes four courses. Of those,
only Arnold Palmer’s SilverRock Resort in La Quinta is open to the public. Watch
for bighorn sheep. The Celebrity course at Indian Wells Golf Resort is the
latest host of the Skins Game. Palm Desert’s Classic Club is one of the best new
courses in California, while Pete Dye’s PGA West Stadium in La Quinta is one of
the toughest tests anywhere.
Accommodations
Outdoor spas, massive
suites and cozy casitas provide every reason to call La Quinta Resort your
second home. Renovated in 2007, the Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa
has two Ted Robinson designs with so much water you’ll forget you’re in the
desert. The swanky digs at the Viceroy in Palm Springs cascade from the rooms to
the poolside cabanas. For the ultimate posh stay, the Ritz-Carlton in Rancho
Mirage re-opens in early 2009.
Dining
Since he dines there quite
often, Arnold Palmer’s in La Quinta is fit for a king. Featuring the best steaks
in the area, Chop House has two locations: Palm Springs and Palm Desert. At
Johannes in Palm Springs the martini menu ignites the unique Austrian dishes.
Copley’s not only serves innovative American cuisine but offers cooking
classes.
Activities
The ritzy shopping on El Paseo in Palm Desert
easily rivals Rodeo Drive. For a citywide view, Palm Springs Trams ascend 8,000
feet in the world’s largest rotating tramcars. With intimacy resembling a
European opera house, the McCallum Theater in Palm Desert showcases headline
talent. Living Desert is a spectacular preserve, with animals like bobcats,
mountain lions and warthogs flourishing in their natural terrain.
