80 South Bay Accent COURTESY OF LA QUINTA RESORT & SPA circle amid lush grounds, you’ll see a splashing tiered fountain, surrounded by white adobe buildings with red tile roofs. Underscoring the Spanish Colonial architecture are handmade mosaic tiles, historic bell towers and wrought iron chandeliers that are reminiscent of another era. The 718 guest rooms are grouped in casitas like little apartments, and clusters of buildings are linked by curved pathways, gardens and citrus groves. In fact, the property staff encourages guests to pick ripe oranges and grapefruits that dangle from the branches. You are always steps away from one of 41 swimming pools and 53 hot tubs scattered throughout the property. And if you want to take that one romantic selfie, then pose in front of the waterfall, the same place where 1940s actress Greta Garbo took her wedding photo. Water features are abundant here in the desert lands. The sound of trickling water is everywhere, and if there’s not a fountain nearby, there’s a swimming pool, waterfall or a spouting pond. The mega-spa experience is also tops at La Quinta. Here, the spa has its own building, where guests find a courtyard fountain, private co-ed hot tub and indoor and outdoor lounging zones. Go for the Desert Duet, a 50- or 80-minute couple’s massage. Need some invigoration? The 75-minute Signature Citrus Smash is a La Quinta specialty that involves a no-nonsense exfoliating scrub followed by a soothing massage. In this desert region where summers commonly hit 116 degrees and locals call 99 degrees refreshing, come in the winter or spring to comfortably indulge in fine dining, spa treatments, tennis and golf. RELAX Just for kicks, visit the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway in Palm Among 41 pools on La Quinta’s grounds are smaller, more intimate ones serving those staying in private casitas. Springs and see where Elvis and Priscilla spent the first year of their marriage. The tour is led by a docent dressed in full costume as Priscilla Presley. Or make a date at the Shields Date Garden, where you can stroll through a 17-acre estate and watch the movie “Romance and Sex Life of the Date.” The resort itself offers an enticing array of shops and boutiques with everything from designer resort wear to La Quinta’s exclusive line of bath products. RECREATE Hike the sweat-inducing Bump and Grind Trail in La Quinta. Thrill seekers can sign up for the resort’s Waldorf Astoria Driving Experience, where you can “gun it” in a Ferrari, McLaren or Porsche under the guidance of a professional race car driver. Sign up for golf lessons at the pro shop and enjoy one of five elite courses. REFRESH Morgan’s in the Desert is run by a top chef, Jimmy Schmidt, a three-time James Beard recipient. One of the finest restaurants in the area and on La Quinta Resort grounds, Morgan’s focuses on contemporary American cuisine. The decor is handsome and luxurious, the food spectacular. Popular dishes include the pan-roasted Maple Leaf duck breast and the slow-braised short ribs with celery root and tobacco onion rings. An unusual favorite is the homemade popcorn-flavored ice cream topped with chocolate sauce and caramel popcorn. As an added bonus, the hotel plays live music every night. REKINDLE Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tram up to 8,516 feet to reach the San Jacinto Mountains at sunset. Unlike other trams, the actual car is an engineering feat, one of three circular aerial trams in the world. Think of being inside a giant rotating snow globe clutched by metal fingers. Stay for dinner and watch the stars emerge from the velvety sky. If you go in winter, there may even be snow on the ground. Another option is to take a nighttime Jeep tour adventure and go stargazing. Government codes in the Palm Springs area require low lighting so that light pollution will not disgrace the beauty of the star-lit sky. n
South Bay Accent - Feb/Mar 2015
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