Palm Springs Eternal

Chris Duthie

Top photo, La Quinta Resort: © Chris Duthie

It’s little wonder that golf has become the fundamental keystone for so many of the world’s finest golf destinations.

Palm Springs is just such a place. Located just 110 miles southeast of Los Angeles, in winter this legendary West Coast hotspot sports flawless weather, breathtaking landscapes, upscale shopping, award-winning restaurants and full-service resorts that offer access to some of the best golf in the West, underscored by this week’s hosting of the PGA Tour’s Humana Challenge at PGA West (pictured below) and La Quinta Country Club.

For generations a retreat for the rich and famous—from Bob Hope to the Rat Pack to Leonardo DiCaprio to Gwen Stefani—Palm Springs has become an everyone’s-invited playground of outdoor adventure, arts and culture, gaming and entertainment. For instance, check out this six-point sample of Palm Springs’ more sumptuous offerings:

1. La Quinta Resort & Club: In addition to its five championship-caliber golf courses designed individually by Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Greg Norman, the resort pampers vacationers with seven restaurants, 41 pools, newly renovated luxe accommodations (some with outdoor fireplaces), spa and wellness, tennis, desert hiking and premier kids programs. Bonus tip: Free junior golf clinics are offered every major holiday, including Easter, at nearby PGA West Golf Academy.

2. Walk of Stars: Check out tributes to Elvis Presley, Liberace, Sophia Loren and the scores of Hollywood celebrities who have been coming to the Coachella Valley since the early 1920s. Bonus Tip: Ride the city’s new free trolley, the Palm Springs BUZZ, available Thursday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

3. The Dinah: Billed as “the largest all-girl event and music festival in the world,” The Dinah celebrates its 25^th anniversary April 1-5 with an extraordinary calendar that includes electrifying pool parties, major concerts, DJ battles and more. Scheduled performing artists include Bebe Rexha, Meghan Trainor, Crystal Waters, Ivy Levan and Christina Perri.

4. Downtown and Uptown Design District: A snippet of retail heaven for aficionados of vintage clothing and antique shops, the District also is a vast assortment of modern retailers, fashion boutiques and artist-owned galleries. Bonus tip: Every Thursday evening, VillageFest transforms city blocks into a rollicking outdoor street fair of live entertainment and artisan booth offerings.

5. Triada Hotel: Opened in November following an 18-month redesign of Palm Springs’ historic Spanish Inn (host to Elizabeth Taylor, Tyrone Power, Howard Hughes and many other starlets), the red-tiled Triada is all about luxury living. Amenities include 56 splendid guest rooms, pools, courtyards, restaurant, spa, breathtaking mountain panoramas and easy walking to the downtown’s Movie Colony and the Uptown Design District.

6. Coachella Music and Arts Festival: For 15 years the double-weekend CMF has rocked the valley with the biggest names in the entertainment industry. This year’s April 10-19 schedule includes AC/DC, Steely Dan, Florence and the Machine, Ryan Adams, Drake and Jack White. Bonus tip: Get your tickets now. Last year the Coachella tallied 579,000 guests, making it one of the largest and most popular musical fests in the world.

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Chris Duthie is a contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer, the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.