Known as the golf capital of the world and boasting an average of 360 days of sunshine each year, Palm Springs – the onetime first-choice getaway for Hollywood elite including Frank Sinatra, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable and Bette Davis – is the perfect modern-day winter escape.
Where to Sleep:
It was amore at first sight when we saw the villa-style accommodations of the Miramonte (from US $189/night), a 215-suite Italian-themed property boasting resort-like services and featuring fountains, piazzas, olive trees, grand archways and intricate stonework.
Or splurge on a stay at the A-list celebrity hangout The Parker (from US $229/night), sister hotel to New York’s swanky Le Parker Meridien, which was redesigned in 2004 by Jonathan Adler.
For tighter budgets, opt for the affordable Ace Hotel (from US $129/night), a hip roadside motel featuring vintage-meets-mid-century design and a decidedly summer camp vibe.
Where to Eat:
Check out the casual fare at Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro, whose second-floor venue provides the perfect people-watching vantage point. We loved the Q Special pizza (US $14), with herb-marinated chicken, Portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers and mozzarella.
For a romantic night out, head to La Quinta Resort & Club, a historic health-ranch-turned-resort whose four restaurants include the authentic Mexican Adobe Grill – try the tortilla soup (US $8) and tamales (from US $15) – and the contemporary American Morgan’s in the Desert, headed by James Beard award-winning chef Jimmy Schmidt.
What to Do:
Brush up on your strokes with a golf clinic, such as the Callaway Wedge Lesson (US $159), at Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa.
Or head for the hills on the Aerial Tramway, offering stunning views of the desert valley from a rotating tram that ascends 2.5 vertical miles into the San Jacinto Mountains.
For a real treat, board Desert Adventures Jeep Tour’s San Andreas Fault Tour (from US $109) to see a natural palm oasis, steep-walled canyons, and perhaps even spot a rattlesnake or two!