Desert Springs, California, USA

In need of a break from the blistering Scottish summer weather!!  A quick browse on the Internet secures us flights to California.  Picked up our hire car and fought our way through the freeway traffic to Downey, which is located in southeast Los Angeles and only 18 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).  Our intention was to stay just on the outskirts of Los Angeles for a couple of days to get over the flight.

We had no reason to visit downtown LA, we’d done all that many times before.  Good choice of hotel, just far enough out of town and we arrived smack on time for complimentary drinks and appetizers at the Manager's Evening Reception.

A couple of days to get over the flight and we were off up the San Bernadino freeway towards the high desert.  I had been up this way before working with the United States Marine Corps where I spent weeks in the Mojave Desert area, just to the north of Palm Springs.  This time though, I was going to have more luxurious surroundings.

 

The Palm Desert resort cities have blossomed into a year-round haven for visitors and residents.  With nearly 365 days of sunshine, an abundance of entertainment and activities, and the picturesque Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains, the Coachella Valley offers a taste of paradise to 3.5 million visitors every year.

 

We initially secured a villa within a very nice gated entry golfing complex in the heart of Palm Springs.  Unfortunately, the dozy Real Estate tart couldn’t get her credit card machine to work and suggested we come back the next day – mmm, don’t think so!  We moved on down the valley to a place called Indian Wells.

From a humble oasis sprung a fountain of luxury. Once an exclusive playground of movie stars, sports legends and even American presidents, Indian Wells now welcomes the world to its sparkling resorts and premier cultural, golf and tennis events.

What was once an Indian tribal well and wagon train stop slowly grew in the '50s and '60s into a small, celebrity-studded enclave. When President Dwight D. Eisenhower first vacationed here, he was so impressed with Indian Wells that it became his winter residence.

Throughout the '50s, tennis tournaments became annual events, it now hosts the BNP Paribas Tennis Open.  In 1960, the first Bob Hope Desert Classic was played at Indian Wells Country Club.

Today, thousands come here every year seeking a wee bit of the good life.  I suppose we could put up with the peaceful, sun-soaked lifestyle and idyllic setting for a while!

 Eisenhower Walk.

We find what we are looking for.  The Miramonte, is a contemporary Mediterranean estate, it lies at the foothills of the majestic Santa Rosa Mountains.  The Miramonte Resort and Spa offers guests a true luxury spa resort experience.  Bright bougainvillea, fragrant olive groves and the Santa Rosa Mountains set the stage for the most unique resort experiences in the Palm Springs area.  Evoking the sense of a grand estate, an expansive village of Tuscan tiled villas with grand archways and fine-crafted stonework are woven into 11 acres of lush citrus, rose and herb gardens.  Signature 'Desert Dream Beds', twice-daily maid service and high speed wireless Internet access, make the Miramonte Resort one of the finest Southern California hotels.

Ok, Ok we've heard enough, we''ll take it.

 

 

 

 

We arrived just in time for the weekly Tapas evening - great timing again!  It looked like a scene from Beverly Hills 90210, all very polite and sophisticated, in an American sort of way.  A couple of glasses of Californian red and some tasty goodies and we were ready for that desert dream bed!

We soon got into the swing of doing eh, nothing!



Relaxation by the pool was bliss, the temperature perfect, evening sundowners, fantastic scenery and a couple of early morning strolls, just what we ordered.  A great start to our Californian adventure.   Next stop San Diego.

Even the fountain water has dye in it -

 to make it look bluer!