With 80 percent of homes located in gated enclaves, Rancho Mirage is among the most affluent and well-managed communities in the desert.
The city boasts a fine roster of celebs, families, and vacationers. Many flock to Restaurant Row and The River (1) to shop, drink, dine, and enjoy new films. Gamers love Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa (2) for 24-hour entertainment. The literati enjoy the architecturally significant Rancho Mirage Public Library (3) for special events, lectures, and exhibits. The city also offers some of the best medical care in the country, with distinguished facilities like Eisenhower Medical Center and Betty Ford Center (4).
Rancho Mirage has seen its hospitality properties pour more than $750 million into upgrades and renovations.
Also on the horizon is Sunnylands, the spectacular Walter and Leonore Annenberg estate that will open to the public for tours, conferences, and special events in early 2012.
Tips & Fun Facts
■ Play all day at Splashtopia and Lazy River, fun in the water that won’t quit at Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa. www.rancholaspalmas.com
■ Taste wines from Tulip Hill Winery at The River at Rancho Mirage. www.tuliphillwinery.com
■ See exhibits at The Tolerance Education Center. www.toleranceeducationcenter.org
■ Take in one of the desert’s most spectacular views from the 18th hole of the Westin Mission Hills Resort and Spa’s Pete Dye-designed golf course. www.westinmissionhillsgolf.com
The River at Rancho Mirage
Whether you live in the Coachella Valley full- or part-time, or just come a-calling now and then, you know this place is more than simply location, location, location. It’s a feeling, a lifestyle, and most definitely a privilege. It’s also one of the “greenest” deserts around, not only because of the profusion of golf courses and verdant botanical gardens, but also for its collective commitment to sustainability evident in exemplary conservation measures, including recycling programs and xeriscaping implemented by cities, resorts, and residents.
What many consider “Palm Springs” is actually a collage of nine quite distinct cities that together fashion a one-of-a-kind resort destination. Included in this potpourri of paradise are Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indio, Indian Wells, and Coachella — municipalities that make life under our beloved sun, blue sky, and majestic palms ever merrier.