november2011

56 SanDiegoMagazine.comNovember2011

The Westin Mission Hills

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

While other vacation

destinations are shutting

down outdoor activities

for the cooler seasons,

the Desert Resort

Cities have over 350

sunny days annually.

WITH THE HOLIDAY season
upon us, there’s no better time to
embrace the desert.

First stop, La Quinta Resort & Club.
With an early, fireside dinner at
Morgan’s in the desert, composed of
dishes like Two Peach & Serrano
Ham Salad, Maple Leaf Breast of
Duck accompanied by sides
Coachella Sweet Corn and Russet
Potato & Comte Gratin, visions of
holiday gatherings may bring on
thoughts of sweater weather and
wooly UGG boots. Not too fast,
there’s entertainment afoot.

The Grooves in the Grove concerts
continues on Fridays, 7-9 p.m.,
through November 25. Live,
contemporary jazz comes by way of
acclaimed performers including

David Benoit, Keiko Matsui,

Hiroshima, and Peter White. The

perfect setting: outside on La

Quinta’s main lawn with the Santa

Rosa Mountains serving as a

backdrop and fragrant citrus trees

adding ambience. Contributing that

extra something special: the desert

moon and stars lighting up the sky.

With 2012 in the offing, there are

even more reasons to schedule visits

to the desert. Among them,

strolling the gardens of The

Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in

Rancho Mirage (sunnylands.org).

Once the winter home of Leonore

and Ambassador Walter

Annenberg, Sunnylands is set on

200 acres. Over the years, the

property has hosted myriad world

leaders, dignitaries, and celebrities.

Sunnylands is scheduled to open in

March. However, the perfect sneak

peek can be had during Modernism

Week, February 16-26. An ideal

time to showcase the A. Quincy

Jones-designed mid-century

modern house built in 1966. Other

attractions to take in during a free

visit (there is a charge for tours of

the house and reservations are

required): exhibit films, interactive

media kiosks, café, gift store, and

solar farm. Views abound of Mt.

San Jacinto; the best, perhaps,

being various spots along the path

circling Sunnylands' desert garden.

For those who like basking in the

sun, a perfect spot for setting up

camp is the 50,000-square-foot

outdoor playground at Agua

Caliente Casino Resort Spa in

La Quinta Resort & Club

DESERT CITIES:

'TIS THE SEASON

FOR SUN