Luxe PLACES
OASIS IN THE DESERT
Greater Palm Springs is an escape from the ordinary for nature lovers, foodies and wellness seekers alike
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ PHOTO COURTESY OF GREATER PALM SPRINGS CVB
Just a four-hour drive from the Valley, Greater Palm Springs – which includes Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella – offers a vivid tapestry of diverse experiences from hot springs and healing spas to foodie adventures and animal encounters.
Where to Stay Greater Pam Springs happens to be the locale of choice for the current season of The Bachelorette, which was filmed almost entirely at La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort over the summer. With filming complete, the resort is now welcoming back guests, and it is the perfect home base to discover all the region has to offer. The 45-acre desert hideaway first opened in 1926 as a health retreat for the Hollywood elite including Greta Garbo and Clark Gable, and has since evolved into an escape from the ordinary for travelers worldwide. Dotted with citrus trees and cacti, the 796-room mission-style resort boasts hundreds of spacious casitas, suites and villas, with almost all accommodations showcasing ample mountain views. Of particular note are the Eisenhower Suite, where President Dwight D. Eisenhower frequented after he left office, and the Capra Junior Suite, where Frank Capra wrote It’s a Wonderful Life, both equipped with one king bed. In terms of entertainment, there are 41 pools on property as well as 23 tennis courts (which can double for pickle ball courts); ample gardens; hiking and biking trails; a state-of-the-art fitness center; five championship golf courses, one of which was designed by Greg Norman and another by Jack Nicklaus; and the ultra-lux Spa La Quinta. There, expect a combination of traditional treatments and more adventurous offerings, including the wine down massage, which starts with a flight of wine followed by a 50-minute massage incorporating essential oils that match the wines’ aromatics and is concluded with a full glass of your favorite varietal from the flight.
Wine and Dine Speaking of wine, hundreds of bottles are paired for guests dining at the resort’s eateries, especially at the exceptional Morgan’s in the Desert, which is one of the most romantic restaurants in Southern California. Among the other top haunts to experience the area’s gourmet greatness: Copley’s on Palm Canyon, which is located in the actual city of Palm Springs at the former Cary Grant estate and features upscale American cuisine with European influences; Le Vallauris Restaurant, also in Palm Springs and offering a lavish fixedprice, French menu and dreamy patio setting; and Jillian’s in Palm
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So Scottsdale! November ‘20