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The main pool area, where cabanas can be rented and margaritas should be consumed.
La Quinta Resort and Club, situated between Palm Springs and Indio in tiny La Quinta, is one such resort. Originally started in 1926 by a rich traveler stricken with tuberculosis, the resort was, in essence, a desert rehab center that expanded into a Golden Age Getaway for Hollywood elite. Frank Capra wrote his first Oscar-winning script there. Greta Garbo built a small house to enhance her reclusive nature (walled courtyard, don't ya know). Other names like Barrymore, Chaplin, Eastwood, Heston, de la Renta, Beckham and at least 12 POTUS' were guests, as well.
The character, even grace, of the property comes from the well-earned "legacy" status of being around for 80-some years (and serving 12 presidents). But it also lies in its confident, lush gardening, charming rooms and villas, outstanding spa area (indoors and out) and its impossibly helpful staff.
The low-slung, Spanish style casitas and rooms are all clustered around small pools and whirlpool spas (41 pools and 53 tubs, in all). There is a main pool area, replete with cool-water misters and rent-able, pool-side cabanas. It feels as glamorous around this pool as at The Riviera in Palm Springs, but without having to have had a multi-million-dollar update. La Quinta's 45 acres are dotted with lime, lemon, orange and grapefruit trees as well as about 100,000 flowers (replanted semiannually) and towering palm trees.
The fitness room is state-of-the-art and complete with the Life Cycle family of machines and weights. It has a roomy footprint and plenty of TVs to distract you from the fact that you are working out rather than lounging, pool-side.
And in case you like to spoil good walks, there are five challenging, beautiful and touted golf courses on the grounds. That's 90 holes of frustration just begging for you to join! Actually, the two Pete Dye, two Jack Nicklaus
The facade of the 23,000-square-foot Spa La Quinta.
Tennis is another main attraction in the high desert, too. Before Indian Wells built its stadium court, La Quinta hosted the tune-up tourney that preceded the U.S. Open. Most of the players (and definitely Roger Federer) now stay at the resort and commute to the tournament these days. They even play a charity event the week before Indian Wells. With 18 hard and 5 Har-Tru clay courts, the three staff professionals are kept busy all year round. (Full disclosure: our backhand got the best lesson of its adult life on our last visit with Coach Jim.) The head pro, Tom Gorman, is no less than the winningest U.S. Davis Cup team ever.
Spa La Quinta is 23,000-square-feet of indoor/outdoor opulence that is steeped in the 'wellness' approach to massage therapy. The soaring-ceilinged lobby has a charming clothing and bath boutique as well as a stylish hair and nail salon. The massage rooms open onto a private inner courtyards. The main courtyard's pergola area has misters for summers and fireplaces for winter. Adding to the super-relaxing ambience is a Spanish-tiled circular fountain -- for sitting in.
The Plaza is for those who either can't resist collecting more monogrammed shirts or those who forgot to pack their Tommy Bahama leisure gear. There's also Ralph Lauren and a Cutter & Buck. The shops and business center ring the plaza, proper, which houses three levels of excellent dining: Azur (for the tablecloth diners), Adobe Grill (for a lighter mood and authentic Mexican cuisine -- and KILLER margaritas) and Twenty 6/Bar Twenty 6 (a modern American bistro that pulls in locals and guests for a more raucous evening).
All said, the La Quinta wraps together all the gold threads a seasoned, high-end resort should have -- along with a Hollywood legacy that continues today. And it's within a couple hours of Los Angeles.
DEAL ALERT: It does get powerful hot in the Coachella Valley, of course, so to entice more tourists the resort is offering a rather grand discounted package for the summer: the all-inclusive option. This package, for $299 a night, is a room, unlimited golf/tennis/fitness and one spa treatment per day. Click here for more deets. Another deal is a room rate of $89/night.
La Quinta Resort & Club
49-499 Eisenhower Drive
La Quinta, CA 92253
760-564-4111
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