The La Quinta Resort & Spa is a legendary
hideaway located
at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains.
Credit: Courtesy of La Quinta Resort
& Spa
A Trek to La Quinta -
Gem of the Desert
by Ringo Boitano
 y
brother Ed in Seattle likes to tease me by saying that Southern California
has just two seasons-the smog season and the fire season. Sure, it's
worth a chuckle. But those of us that do live here know that SoCal does
have seasons; it's just that they are very subtle. The early days of
autumn can be hot, but soon the faintest of fall colors appear and the
landscape cools down into almost a perfect 'sweater weather.' We're
fortunate in SoCal-there's much to see and do in our own backyard. Even
a short car drive can feel like a trek into an unknown place and new
emotional landscape.
PALM SPRINGS DESERT RESORTS
With over 129 18-hole golf course, 600 tennis courts and more than 40,000
swimming pools, the Palm Springs Desert Resorts has long marketed itself
as a recreational oasis in the middle of the Coachella Valley desert.
Spread over eight cities-Cathedral City, Desert Hot
Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs,
Rancho Mirage-it became a perfect getaway for Hollywood stars back in
the contract system days with the "Two-Hour Rule," where actors
had to be available within two-hours of the studio. With its secluded
bungalows and tranquil atmosphere, it also provided the ideal location
where celebrities could blend into the desert landscape, away from the
jarring glare of adoring fans. Palm Springs soon became just as famous
for its celebrity patrons with single digit names-Elvis, Frank, Bob,
Liberace-as its enchanting beauty.
Even Shirley Temple was a visitor
to The La Quinta Resort & Spa.
Credit: Courtesy of La Quinta Resort &
Spa
LA QUINTA-GEM OF THE DESERT
Some celebrities opted for the extra 20 mile drive to the La Quinta
Hotel, a legendary hideaway with the reputation for being the most secretive
of all the resorts. Garbo-perhaps the most reclusive of all Hollywood
stars-slept here. So did Frank Capra. He also wrote on the premise 'It's
A Wonderful Life,' 'It Happened One Night' and 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.'
Later he called La Quinta home.
Today the Spanish hacienda-style hotel is spread over
45 manicured acres at the foot of the magical Santa Rosa Mountains.
It is quite literally a city within a city, complete with 796 suites
and casitas, 41 swimming pools, four restaurants, 90 holes of golf,
and the worldclass Spa La Quinta, which features PGA WEST Golf Massage,
open-air Celestial Showers, Sacred Stone Massage and more. ('more' would
include my first mud bath).
The main swimming pool at La Quinta Resort &
Spa
Credit: Courtesy of La Quinta Resort &
Spa
The city of La Quinta-incorporated in 1984 and named after the resort-has
done much to maintain its exclusivity and heritage, while still making
it tourist---friendly with an infrastructure for room to grow. Water
marks on the Santa Rosa Mountains-La Quinta was once under the waters
of ancient Lake Cahuilla-can still be seen, with the city planners making
sure that no views are obstructed. They have even designated over 600
acres of the mountain for the Coachella's Valley's first archeological
park.
For a celebrity fix there is dining at Arnold Palmer's
Restaurant-also a part-time city resident-which is a virtual museum
of golf, with photos and mementos from his career. There's a putting
green just off the courtyard patio, with views of the Santa Rosa Mountains.
The menu features Arnie's own favorite comfort foods like steaks and
meatloaf.
Just down the road there is also the Arnold Palmer Classic
Golf Course at SilverRock Resort, home to the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
Clint-another one digit celebrity-can occasionally be
spotted in Old Town La Quinta, the home of his second Hog's Breath Inn.
Dubbed by locals as the 'Desert Hog,' it is like the original in Carmel,
decorated with posters from his career. In the spirit of the Eastwood
legacy, I opted for the "Dirty Harry Chopped Steak Dinner,"
only to read later that Clint is now a vegan. No wonder he looks so
good at 78.
GiveintotheDesert.com
LaQuintaResort.com
La-Quinta.org
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