I recently spent a few days at my happy place…Palm Springs. This desert destination truly is magical and my stay at Miramonte Resort a few miles east made it even more so. Daily outings to nearby wilderness preserves and evenings around the hotel fire pit gazing at the stars made my mini-vacay the consummate getaway.
Here’s how to plan your SoCal oasis break!
Getting there
It’s an easy drive from Los Angeles, San Diego, and other Southern California cities. But, if you’re coming from outside the area, fly into Orange County, Los Angeles, or Long Beach Airport and rent a car. It will come in handy as you zoom around the beautiful desert.
When entering super chic Palm Springs, the iconic Albert Frey Visitor’s Center with its kite-shaped roof wow’s tourists. Mid-century architecture is prevalent throughout the area. Parts of the city feel as though you’ve stepped through a seam in the space-time continuum and you’re hanging with the 1950’s rat pack. Years ago, the Hollywood set signed studio contracts stating they would not travel further than 100 miles from LA when in movie production, so celebrities took quick jaunts to the nearby desert for some R&R. It became a hot spot and remains so today.
Palm Springs and its neighboring towns sprawl to create a wonderful desert playground with something for everyone. Indian Wells is one of those communities.
Head East to Miramonte Resort
The Resort in Indian Wells
One look at the stunning Santa Rosa Mountains when entering the 11-acre property and you know why it’s named Miramonte, meaning mountain view. There are winding paths along verdant lawns, citrus groves, and desert foliage, all a treat to the senses. The 215 guest rooms are in numerous freestanding buildings, which adds to the quaintness. Guests are offered complimentary wine or water upon check in.
Outdoor recreation can be found in all corners of the property. Bocci Ball courts with lanes made of crushed Italian shell host Bocci & Beer tournaments. Cornhole — the bean bag toss game — is set up beside the hotel fire pit. Two pools — one for families and another for those 18 years of age and older — are offered, as well.
Dining
The resort’s Mid-century decor fill the Tavern Bar and Citrus & Palm restaurant. The food is scrumptious at both! Eating healthy while traveling can sometimes be a challenge, but not here. The menus focus on locally sourced meats, veggies, fruit, and coffee.
A fave of mine was the grain bowl! Quinoa, buckwheat, roasted squash, and more goodies are drizzled with carrot and ginger dressing; mouth watering good! It tasted minutes from the garden.
While the Tavern Bar had plenty of concoctions to make merry, I loved the virgin lemon-honey, cayenne, and chlorophyll hydrator. Refreshing in the hot desert!
If you’re out-and-about sightseeing, I recommend two area restaurants. First, Eight4Nine in Palm Springs. They not only have great food, but the all white decor with pops of vibrant color is so desert cool! When there, I ate the phenomenal sourdough-crusted Chilean Seabass.
Secondly, Acqua California Bistro at the River in Rancho Mirage is another great choice. Its outdoor patio sits beside a manmade pond with water features. They serve hearty, classic meals and offer gluten-free options, too.
Spa
Surely you’ll want to MAJORLY chillax while visiting Miramonte resort, so book a one-hour massage at The Well Spa. The list of amenities is as long as my arm — indoor/outdoor treatment rooms, nail salon, salt water pools, facials, waxing, table Thai yoga, and lots more. If you’re with a sweetheart, book a couples massage or body wraps.
Activities
While in the area do not miss taking the San Andreas Fault jeep tour with Big Wheel Tours. It’s interesting, educational, and beautiful. A guide drove me along backcountry dirt trails while telling the history of Coachelle Valley Preserve. We hiked through a gorgeous slot canyon and saw where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates meet, creating a sliding boundary capable of bringing down major California cities with one big earthquake. A stop at Oasis Date Garden for a date milkshake was the perfect ending to a great outing.
Another fun activity is Moorten Botanical Garden. They have 3,000 varieties of plants and lay claim to the worlds first cactarium ☺. For this reason alone, I stopped by. It’s been open for 80 years, so you can imagine the extraordinary flora. Clark Moorten and his family take great care of this desert wonderland.
Winter and spring are the perfect times of year to visit Miramonte Resort & Spa; sunny with temperatures in the 70’s to 80’s. So pack your bags, head to the desert and unwind for a few days. Enjoy! ❤
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