What it is

A 45-acre resort with 796 casitas at the base of California’s Santa Rosa Mountains.

What it isn't

In Palm Springs proper, or small in scale.

What we think

Think of Palm Springs and low-slung wellness retreats surrounding a central pool might come to mind. Then there’s La Quinta, a historic getaway since the days of Greta Garbo and Charlie Chaplin, who used to retreat here when they grew weary of Hollywood. To start, the resort has 41 pools and 53 hot tubs, many of which are attached to one of the 98 casitas, also landscaped with patios and fire pits. On the grounds of the Spanish and Mediterranean-style resort, travelers can practice their serve or swing on one of 23 tennis courts or 90 holes of golf, and tend to weary muscles in the 23,000-square-foot spa, where popular treatments include the time-tricking HydraFacial and desert stone massage. The dinner menu changes every three weeks at the recently debuted Morgan’s in the Desert, where James Beard Award winning chef Jimmy Schmidt serves wellness minded dishes such as kale and pomegranate salad and pan-roasted Nova salmon in a bougainvillea-filled courtyard.

You're here because

You want access to a plethora of activities—spa treatments, golf, cooking classes and exotic car driving experiences—as well as the privacy of your own desert casita.

The Moment

Strolling around the resort at daybreak, a particularly quiet moment as the sun turns the Santa Rosa Mountains a dark purple hue, with fresh orange juice in hand.

Restaurants & Bars

TWENTY6 - Modern American bistro spotlights innovative approaches to familiar favorites, using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients

Adobe Grill - An authentic regional Mexican dining experience

Morgan’s in the Desert - Infuses the freshest source of ingredients found on the planet to produce contemporary American cuisine

Location

La Quinta, California, a half-hour drive southeast of Palm Springs and a two-and-a-half-hour drive east of Los Angeles.