Enjoy this once in a lifetime experience!
Did you know, The Salton Sea is a lake that was born by accident when flooding on the Colorado River smashed the canal gates that lead into the Imperial Valley? The Salton Sea is California’s largest lake. It is the third largest saline lake in the nation.
At 45 miles long and 20 miles wide in one of the lowest spots on earth, this inland sea became a booming tourist attraction. Pollution and increasing salinity made the water too hostile to sustain much life, and when the fish died off, the real estate market did too. A recreation area now covers 14 miles of the northeastern shore. That’s where people can camp, fish for tilapia, and go boating or kayaking, as long as you don’t mind walking over a beach made of fish bones and barnacles. Actually, quite beautiful, the placid sea reflects the intense, unbroken blue of the desert sky — and it’s a popular stopover for migratory birds.
The Salton Sea Bird Festival is held annually in January. Call the Visitor Center for more information at 760-393-3810.
Experience the most highly acclaimed local craft beer in the desert!
Palm Springs is now home to great craft beer since La Quinta Brewing Company opened in the fall of 2013. It quickly became known as a local favorite in the area, with an authentic desert feel, as the company was founded by a true desert native and former home brewer.
La Quinta Brewing Company now holds two additional locations in Old Town La Quinta and the Palm Springs Taproom. The original location is 4,500 square feet and can produce over 5,000 barrels annually. Food is not served at this brewery, but guests may pick up food and bring it in to enjoy with a delicious craft beer.
You won’t regret coming in to this wonderful place to spend an afternoon while sipping on a local draft beer. A few of the beers have even won themselves recognition! The Old Town Honey Wheat is a perfect beer for a hot day and won gold in the 2017 US Open Beer Championship. For a more tropical flavor try the Even Par 7.2 IPA, a gold winner in the 2016 World Beer Championships. All the beers, including the ones that may not have an award behind their names are all worth a try!
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Have an afternoon with the grandkids and looking for something interesting to do - start with the Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert.
The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert is a hands-on, intergenerational museum offering messy play, problem solving, and interactive exhibitions. With over 80 hands on opportunities to learn and grow. With programming available for toddlers and up, everyone will be entertained at the museum. Camps are also available and after school programs.
Up next: the Palm Springs Air Museum, consistently ranked among the top air museums in the country. It showcases World War II combat aircraft and the museum’s location adjacent to the Palm Springs International Airport offers access to flight demonstrations and plane-based activities.
Make everyone happy at The Slice, a New York-style pizzeria in Rancho Mirage.
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Don't miss this once in a lifetime experience.
The resort is built around the healing powers of the mineral-rich hot springs, which many people find rejuvenating. We offer a variety of rooms and suites and can’t wait for you to experience our world reknown spa. Come by to unwind, relax and enjoy the healing vibe. Enjoy lunch in one of our relaxation areas or on the patio of our Essence restaurant.
During your stay, visit Cabot Pueblo Museum in Desert Hot Springs. Its art and artifacts tell the story of Native American cultures. You can’t miss the Waokiye, a 43-foot sculpture of a Native American head carved from a section of a 45-ton giant sequoia.
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Enjoy an afternoon of food and wine in one of California's best.
Swirl, sniff, and sip your way through Temecula’s wine country courtesy of limo, Jeep, cable-car, or self-guided tour, on horseback, or get high on wine in a hot-air balloon wafting above the vineyards where more than 30 wineries have you over a barrel.
Get grounded in a private wine cave at Oak Mountain, where you learn how wine evolved into the snooty, uh, sophisticated elixir we love, learn about different grapes and how they’re cultivated, then tunnel 100 feet underground for the tasting.
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Friendly, walkable, and vibrant - a town center everybody wants to visit.
Old Town La Quinta – folks talk about the good ol’ days, when mornings were lazy, afternoons were unhurried, and neighbors made eye contact. Those were the days of small, quaint towns, when everything you needed could be found within walking distance. You know, like Old Town La Quinta today?
Start your motor at Old Town Coffee Company, then mosey through the shops and boutiques, picking up some artisan olive oil, handmade jewelry, or a bottle of fine wine at La Rue Café. Enjoy live music and delicious, local fare, or sample locally crafted beers.
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Creating a transformative global experience, the Palm Springs Art Museum creates an understanding of art through its collection, exhibits and programs, connecting people and art.
Art is civilizing, so continue evolving as a human here amid an eclectic blend of works from photography (Ansel Adams) to exhibits uniquely Palm Springs; we can’t wait for the Women Working in Glass exhibit in the fall. The art is contemporary, and covering a variety of media – sculpture, studio art glass, and of course archival architectural renderings. The museum sits at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains in downtown Palm Springs.
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A classy museum excursion deserves a fitting encore. Splurge at nearby Le Vallauris for fine French cuisine in a truly lovely setting.
Take in vistas of rugged rock formations and desert landscapes.
Hit the park highlights on an easy loop by entering via the North Entrance in Twentynine Palms. From the entrance, drive to Jumbo Rocks, then on to Ryan Mountain. Detour to Keys View, a 20-minute drive from Park Boulevard down Keys View Road. Proceed to Barker Dam Nature Trail for a relaxed walk, then to Hidden Valley to gawk at the rock climbers. Finally, exit the park at the West Station, which puts you in the town of Joshua Tree. Be mindful there’s no water stations, fuel, food service, flushing toilets, Wi-Fi, or cell service in the park. Bring what you need. Elevation: 2,736 feet.
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Air Balloon Flights available daily that allow you to take in spectacular views of the Coachella Valley.
Fantasy Balloon Flights in Indian Wells, and Balloons Above and Magical Adventure Balloon Rides in Palm Desert, offer hot air balloon rides over the Coachella Valley at sunrise or sunset. It’s a romantic view of the area’s golf courses, country clubs, and the messy backyards of many valley homes. The rides are season, autumn through spring. Valentine’s weekend brings the Hot Air Balloon Festival to Cathedral City.
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The meeting spot for Fantasy Balloon Flights is Café Italia, a cozy restaurant with a unique dining experience: The servers sing songs from Broadway musicals and operas. Seating is limited.
This historical structure is a resonant tabernacle and energy machine sited on a powerful geomagnetic vortex in the magical Mojave Desert.
The Integratron is located in Landers, California, 20 miles north of Joshua Tree National Park. Its creator, George Van Tassel (1910-1978), claimed that the structure is based on the design of Moses’ Tabernacle, the writings of Nikola Tesla and telepathic directions from extraterrestrials. This one-of-a-kind 38-foot high, 55-foot diameter, all wood dome was designed to be an electrostatic generator for the purpose of rejuvenation and time travel.
The location of the Integratron is an essential part of its functioning. It was built on an intersection of powerful geomagnetic forces that, when focused by the unique geometry of the building, concentrate and amplify the earth’s magnetic field. Magnetometers read a significant spike in the earth’s magnetic field in the center of the Integratron.
The Integratron is privately owned by three sisters who have been part of the restoration and maintenance of the structure and property for more than 30 years. Their focus is to restore and preserve the structure while sharing it with people interested in its potential. Since their tenure, the Integratron is open to the public for the first time in its history while its restoration continues.
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Scenic hotel with rustic rooms, cottages and a steakhouse.
Family owned and operated, Highland Springs Ranch & Inn has been recognized as Riverside County’s first historic landmark, built in 1884. The sprawling property includes fields of lavender, olive groves, oak trees, and a picturesque organic farm.
The main hotel retains the character of the original building. Famous celebrities who visited this historic landmark, Albert Einstein, Wyatt Earp, Ernest Hemingway, Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor, Roy Rogers and Lassie the dog. This is family-friendly fun, with events like sheep shearing and an annual lavender festival, typically held in June – July. The lavender fields may be closed for private events, so we advise that you call in advance of your arrival during the festival dates.
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Shop ‘til you drop at the Outlets!
Interested in an afternoon shopping? With hundreds of stores, you can do some serious damage to your gift gifting list at Cabazon Outlet Mall and Desert Hills Premium Outlets. Strap on your pedometer and get moving. With high end shopping from Gucci, Armani, Ferragamo, Jimmy Choo and Calvin Klein to staple stores like Nike, Forever 21, Gap, Guess and Under Armour.
Take a break and enjoy an icy beverage or snack at the food court. Still have more energy, stop into the Morongo Casino to play slots, blackjack, or other table games.
A section of Joshua Tree National Park, Lost Palm Oasis Trail provides desert panoramas, bird-watching and the ruins of the Mastodon Mine.
Joshua Tree National Park is huge, but here’s a bite-sized introduction from the southern entrance. Turn east at the road to Lost Palms Oasis Trail. Park at the end, about a mile from the turnoff, and choose among small, medium, and large hikes: The 2.5-mile loop to Mastodon Peak, with a 440-foot increase in elevation, provides desert panoramas (if you scramble over boulders to the summit), and the ruins of the Mastodon Mine. Prime bird-watching. Keep your eyes peeled, too, for chuckwallas, whiptail lizards and, in late winter/early spring, wildflowers.
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Camp at the Cottonwood Campground near the parking area; for weekends fall through spring.
A Thursday night street fair filled with entertainment, arts, crafts and food in the heart of downtown Palm Springs.
A crash course in Palm Springs, the weekly street fair’s local businesses sell just about anything: homemade soaps, jewelry, artwork, and even timeshares. Walk down Palm Canyon and take in the aroma issuing from numerous food vendors. Buy art from local artists, get a massage, sign up for the local roller derby team.
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For a sit-down meal overlooking the street action and the mountains, try Tyler’s Burgers. Freshly ground burgers and amazing milk shakes.
The PGA West Stadium Course has been considered one of the Top 100 Courses in America by Golf Magazine and the 4th toughest course in America by Golf Digest.
Before you decide how to play the shot, you must decide which of the courses to play it from. (Why not stay and play all week?) Designed by the likes of Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, and Tom Weiskopf, they’re all part of one club (three are private, and three are open to the public), flanked by the Santa Rosa Mountains. A long-time host of the Bob Hope Classic, the courses have been tested by every golf luminary you know, plus presidents and assorted pro athletes from other sports.
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If you’re playing golf, doesn’t it make sense to recognize the other contributions its practitioners have made to how it’s done in the valley? In season, grab a bite at Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant, where, in addition to the eponymous libation, you’ll get yummy comfort food like meatloaf, pork chops, and mac and cheese.
The BNP Paribas Open is an annual tennis tournament held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California.
This is the fifth largest tournament in the world, and it attracts the best players. This is the only event where fans west of the Mississippi can see the likes of Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Andy Murray in competition (Roger Federer, sadly, was injured this year). And it’s a tournament loved equally by competitors and fans — everyone looks forward to being here. Most of that is about sports, but some is about amenities; dining options include internationally renowned Nobu, and local favorites the Chop House and Piero’s PizzaVino. Book early.
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Considered Southern California’s ultimate tennis center, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden is home to the BNP Paribas Open, one of the premier professional tournaments in the world, which takes place annually in March. The Stadium 1 is the second largest in the world, which includes 16,100-seats with great viewing of center court, 44 luxurious stadium suites, locker rooms, press room, broadcast booths, 6,000 square-foot commissary and more.
Support College of the Desert at their Street Fair!
The Street Fair, at College of the Desert, has been considered one of the top things to do in the Palm Springs area for over 30 years. It is a premier open-air shopping destination; therefore, it is only open from November through April. As you shop around you are also donating to a great cause, College of the Desert. Anything you purchase from a vendor at the street fair donates money to help students achieve funding and support to attend college.
The fair provides merchandise and services for all ages. It offers thousands of items for sale ranging from home goods, fashion, furniture, vintage cars, a farmer’s market, live entertainment, gourmet food, and more! You could easily spend 3 to 4 hours here strolling around the hundreds of vendors selling different items. Arrive early so you don’t miss out on the fresh vegetables and fruit vendors that come directly from their farms.
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Western hourly day rides are offered for novice and experienced riders.
For sixty-five years the Smoke Tree Stables has saddled mounts young and old alike to ride along the Smoke Tree Mountain.
Experience a few quiet hours of “getting away from it all” on over 150 miles of convenient riding trails that provide both solitude and breathtaking beauty. Located in Palm Springs near the Indian Canyons, Smoke Tree Stables offers guided tours for the entire day. All rides are beginner-friendly and accompanied by a guide. No reservations are necessary, but you must show up 15 minutes early. Rides take place every hour. Stop by Smoke Tree Village for an array of dining choices ranging from vegetarian dishes at Native Foods Café to cupcakes at Over the Rainbow.
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An unparalleled golfing experience for golfers of all levels!
Welcome to The Lights at Indio Golf Course, the ONLY night-lighted golf course in the Coachella Valley! Come experience the wide open and sweeping vistas complimented by amazing mountain views. In addition to a great on-course experience, we also feature a full-length driving range, short game practice area and a fully-stocked golf shop. Just don’t forget to set aside some time to stop in and say hello when you visit. Another great feature of lighted golf course, you can play in the summer with no fear of heatstroke. Tee times vary based on time of year. Hole length on the par 3 course ranges from 110 to 230 yards. You may have an interest in enjoying a game of FootGolf at Desert Willow Golf Resort. Always check the course you are playing for dress code.
After your game, join your friends at Pueblo Viejo Grill, one of Coachella Valley best Mexican restaurants. Check for daily food and drink specials.
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a desert botanical garden and zoo located in Palm Desert.
Located in the Palm Desert foothills, this unique and wild zoo is dedicated to preserving the flora and fauna of the Colorado plateau. It began in 1970 with 360 acres and has expanded to over 1200. 1000 additional acres remain in a natural state. Visitors can hike miles of trails and feed the giraffes, be surrounded by butterflies, and enjoy camel and carnival rides. Children love this zoo, but often there are just as many adults who spend an entire day roaming. Book a private tour for a first visit and see everything the park has to offer.
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On your way to the zoo, stop at Wilma and Frida’s Café for one of the best brunches in the desert. The pancakes and the short rib eggs benedicts will keep you fueled for the zoo for almost the entire day.
The Palm Springs Arial Tram is the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world.
Get your head in the clouds aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which rises 8,500 feet above Palm Springs. On days when the desert temperature sizzles, the top of the tram can be as much as 30 degrees cooler. You travel through five different ecosystems before gaining access to easy nature loops, challenging hiking trails, pristine wilderness for camping, even snowshoeing in the winter! This is the largest rotating tram car in the world, so you get spectacular views the whole ride up, and it’s probably the only tram with gentle flamenco music to accompany your journey.
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Peaks Restaurant, located at the top of the tram, offers a fine dining experience with jaw-dropping panoramic views and a generous menu.
Great tours for families and groups to explore goldmines.
Take a tour into California’s gold rush, but, really, there’s no hurry. Take your time panning for gold and learning how to make butter, throw a tomahawk, and (theoretically) build a log cabin. These days, we’re told, a diverse skillset is highly marketable, not to mention attractive to potential mates.
Some excursions involve a fair amount of walking, some ladder-climbing, and tunnel navigation, others are fairly passive. Mines are cool, well-lit, and ventilated, the perfect environment for the storytellers to spin tales of a life digging into the earth in search of elusive commodities. Spend the night, if you choose, in a one-bedroom cabin (Julian Mining Company) outfitted with a slate shower, wood-burning stove, and kitchenette (from $100 nightly).
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Sunnylands, the former Annenberg Estate, located in Rancho Mirage, is a 200-acre estate. Rich with historical significance, Sunnylands has been a vacation home for numerous celebrities and public officials.
The sprawling, 200-acre Rancho Mirage estate of Walter and Leonore Annenberg has been an oasis for some of the world’s greatest thinkers, leaders, and entertainers, from Bill Gates to the Queen of England. The exclusive property was hidden behind pink walls for decades, but following the death of Leonore, the estate opened to the public in 2012. The 20,000-square-foot A. Quincy Jones-designed house is a midcentury gem, and boasts one of the most important collections of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings in the world. The property also houses a notable retreat center, known as “the Camp David of the West,” frequented by President Obama.
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If you can’t score a ticket to see the estate, the visitor center is open a few days a week, free of charge. The center features art exhibitions, a café, and a small theater. Free events are often held in the perfectly manicured gardens, from family fun days to bird walks, and there’s Wi-Fi everywhere.
Come celebrate the world’s largest tamale festival!
The Indio International Tamale Festival began in 1992 from an idea by one individual. Since the beginning, there has been endless community support to make it an awesome festival. The festival began to gain attention and was ranked one of the top 10 “All American Food Festivals” in the nation by Food Network TV. The Festival has also set two Guinness World Records: one for the World’s Largest Tamale, at 40 feet in length and one for the World’s Largest Tamale Festival with 120,000 people in attendance.
Inside of this event you will find the most authentic, fresh tamales you have ever tasted. Along with the array of delicious food there is also an eating contest, a parade, live performers, traditional dancers, and much more to keep you entertained!
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Visit the “Best Place to Gamble” in Coachella Valley!
The Augustine Casino was voted by readers as the “Best Place to Gamble” in Coachella Valley for the “Best of Coachella Valley 2017-2018” awards show and party. The locals love this spot for its extremely reasonable prices, friendly service, and killer Café 54. Go and give your luck a shot as the slots are known as #WhereLocalsWin!
This casino is the perfect place to gamble with more than 800 of the latest, most popular slot machines and table games. The table games include Blackjack, Spanish 21, Down Under Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em and Three Card Poker. Try out a new game or play the original $3 Blackjack! After you gamble all your money away or win some big cash head on over to Café 54. With its award-winning chef and buffets, the food is always delicious and fresh!
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Start your engines, racing enthusiasts!
If you’ve ever dreamt of being a race car driver, start your engines here. Courses at the BMW Performance Driving School tell you how to skid, drift, change lanes, brake, and slalom, all performed at excessive speeds. Teachers provide real-time instruction over walkie-talkies while you drive. Put your newfound knowledge to the test in a drag race around the private track at the Thermal Club.
Refreshments are provided at the school, but you can pre-warm your engine at TKB Bakery & Deli, located off Interstate 10 at Golf Center Parkway in Indio.
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Taste some of the best desserts in Greater Palm Springs!
Copley’s Restaurant: Lemon Lavender Scented Pound Cake
As a lover of lavender. Lavender soap, lavender walls, lavender nail polish. I love lavender everything, even the taste of it in food. When I saw that Copley’s had created a lavender dessert, I just had to try it. Of course, the presentation of the dish makes it almost too pretty to eat … almost. The layers of flavors in this tasty dessert evoke running through a meadow of fresh lavender in designer sandals while the delicate breeze blows through your hair.
Great Shakes: Milkshakes & Malts
The shakes at Great Shakes are a thing of wonder. When you enter Great Shakes you’ll find a chalkboard menu with a ginormous list of shakes they are currently whipping up including their seasonal favorites. The flavors are unique and all ingredients are fresh and nearly all locally sourced. All shakes are made from scratch (the ice cream comes from a local dairy and made exclusively for Great Shakes) and can either be made as a milk shake or a malt. They can be made lactose-free as well. Some of the highlights include a S’mores shake with real roasted marshmallows on top, salted caramel, and the infamous Date Shake.
Raspados Colima: Fruit-Based Desserts
If you’re looking for a dessert that is off the beaten palate, Raspados Colima is the spot for you. They have crazy, big, Instagram-worthy desserts that are fruit based, which makes those guilty feelings quickly dissolve within the first bite. The owners’ favorite authentic Mexican desserts inspire all the desserts. I was so excited to try some of the most popular items because, except for the basic Mexican staples you’ll find at restaurants like flan and churros, I was unfamiliar with these fruity concoctions. I was amazed by the presentation of each dessert. So fun and original. You’ll find the Fruta Loca, aka Crazy Watermelon, which is an actual watermelon carved out and filled with fresh fruits like mango.
Pinzimini: Bourbon & Vanilla French Toast
At Pinzimini you can have the best of both meals — breakfast for dessert. The Bourbon and Vanilla French Toast drew me like butter to a biscuit. It’s made with a brioche loaf, bourbon fig sauce, and topped with vanilla bean gelato. The unusual combination of flavors, including the fact that you’re eating breakfast for dessert. Although French toast is a traditional morning dish, it translates nicely into dessert with the addition of the thick, bourbon fig sauce. This sauce is rich and complements the brioche bread. The vanilla bean gelato cools off the richness and the additions of figs and mint sprigs makes for an overall perfect bite.
Cork & Fork: King’s Hawaiian Bread Pudding
Not a bread pudding fan? However, when I heard through the dessert-vine that Cork & Fork offered a King’s Hawaiian Bread Pudding …well, my stubborn brain and my taste buds had to have a discussion — and thank goodness my taste buds won. I love King’s Hawaiian Bread and tend to always have those mini rolls on hand to make just about every sandwich. I found this dessert to be not only creative, but also intriguing. It’s made with fresh bananas, white chocolate chips, ’99 Bananas banana liqueur, and whiskey caramel.
Eight4nine Restaurant & Lounge: Chocolate S’mores Fondue
At first glance you must try ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ – the Earl Grey Baked Alaska which arrives with a flaming fire atop a mound of fluffy meringue. Not a lover of Baked Alaska, try the deconstructed ‘Smores plate with finely ground graham cracker crumbs, a pile of berries, the toasted-chocolate covered marshmallows and finally the tiny cup of chocolate sauce for dipping.
Due to its location as a transition zone between the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts, Mission Creek has a rich species composition.
Stretch your legs and your appreciation of the region’s range of microclimates among several trails bisecting this transition zone between the Mojave and Colorado deserts. The preserve reaches from desert oases to alpine elevations, and in February was granted national monument status. An easy 1.5 miles in gets you to a charming stone house and picnic tables. Keep going, and 2 more difficult miles farther you meet the Pacific Crest Trail.
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Finish – or start – your day of natural resource worship with a 90-minute tutorial at nearby Palm Springs Windmill Tours, a couple miles east of the intersection of Highway 62 and I-10.
This experience, through the eyes of a local, is perfect for all ages.
Calling all hikers, this is the place for you. The Indian Canyons are the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. These canyons are especially sacred to the Cahuilla people today and are historically important to scientists and nature lovers. The Cahuilla people have thrived here for thousands of years. Rock, art, house pits, foundations, irrigation ditches, dams, reservoirs, trails and food preparation areas still exist in the canyons. There are a variety of trails based on your skill level. If you are hiking the warmer months be sure to grab water, sunscreen and a hat.
To make a full day of your experience, stop by the Aqua Caliente Cultural Museum. Be sure to contact the Museum in advance for hours, as they vary through the summer. The Museum offers a variety of educational experiences, lectures and performances.
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Spend a relaxing afternoon at the Polo Grounds!
Eldorado Polo Club holds the most competitive and thrilling polo in the country. It has been the premier destination for polo in the west for over 60 years with its stunning views of the mountains. If this is your first polo match, we can assure you it won’t be your last! Watching polo is a must-do activity during the winter months.
Watching polo on a Sunday is the perfect way to relax with your family and friends. Matches occur at 12:00pm and 2:00pm and there are a few different places where you may watch from. The best place to experience the polo matches is at the Eldorado Clubhouse. For just $10 per seat, you will be provided with a full-service menu and bar to order from during the matches. Another option to choose from is Sunday tailgating where you can enjoy polo from the sidelines. Pull your car up to the tailgating areas to the north and south of the Clubhouse with your picnic chairs, blankets, and food! The last option to choose from is to watch on the Cantina Patio, where you will sit outside and watch the live action pass by.
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The Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is a 31,000-acre native plants and wildlife preserve located in the Little San Bernardino Mountains of the Transverse Ranges.
You want to commune with nature, take a hike … or maybe just a walk. You want options. You want to be here, where a variety of habitats are found between the Mojave and the Colorado deserts, hosting elevations from 600 to 3,000 feet, and several hiking/walking trails. Maps at the kiosk make your options clear: a half-mile, wheelchair-accessible ramble along the boardwalk through the riparian oasis, to an 11-miler through Big Morongo Canyon, and several in between.
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En route or post-trek, stop at the tiny Morongo Fruit Market just past the post office on the east side of Highway 62. Great prices on fresh dates (hiking fuel!), and a specialty candy department that makes your heart sing and your dentist weep.
Named "LA's Best Mountain Getaway," Idyllwild is located in the San Jacinto Mountains and is famous for its rustic community, craftspeople, rock climbing and hiking activities while relaxing during a quiet mountain getaway.
Easy switchbacks on a two-lane highway lead to Idyllwild, a mile-high community that’s big on rustic. Nestled in the heart of the San Jacinto Mountains, Idyllwild is close to the desert but feels like it’s an entire world away. The pine trees grow tall and lanky. The air is snappy. It’s cozy. Start your day at Forest Furniture Gallery at the fort in the center of town, where you can purchase knotty-pine pieces made from local, responsibly sourced lumber. Stroll through the nearby shops to pick up gifts for everyone on your list. The town is brimming with talented craftspeople; look out for distinctive pottery, fancy mustard, or a solid walking stick.
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Local favorite Café Aroma, on North Circle Drive, offers French, Latin and Asian spin on old favorites in a bistro atmosphere. Visitors and residents mingle for live music, poetry readings, and casual fare.