3-Days of Fun in the Desert Sun

This is no desert mirage. The metropolitan oasis of Palm Springs, Calif., gets 360 days of sunlight every year and lies 110 miles east of Los Angeles in the Coachella Valley. Hardly in the middle of nowhere, Palm Springs is guarded on three sides by the San Jacinto Mountains, the San Bernadino Mountains and the Santa Rosa Mountains, and the Salton Sea (a huge lake, actually) lies to the south.

Its proximity to an array of natural attractions makes Palm Springs a major destination for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, cycling and horseback riding; nearby Joshua Tree National Park offers world-famous rock climbing. Palm Springs is also known as “the golf capital of the world” offering more than 100 golf courses. Every Thursday night, Palm Canyon Drive turns into Villagefest, a music, arts and crafts, and food festival that celebrates the city’s simple “village vibe” ambiance.

Set amidst palm trees and landscaped gardens, Le Parker Meridien Palm Springs is an oasis set in the majestic desert. Pioneered by Hollywood stars from the 1930s to 1970s, Palm Springs remains a major cultural hub with iconic architecture and stimulating artistic venues. The guest rooms and private villas reflect the hotel's unique topography in one of the world's most scenic deserts. The hotel is just a short distance from some of the celebrated sites of Palm Springs, including the Agua Caliente Indian Canyons and the Palm Springs Desert Museum. The hotel features five conference rooms and 11,000 square feet of meeting space designed to host an array of events. With two indoor and two outdoor pools, clay tennis courts, and Pilates and yoga classes, Le Parker Méridien Palm Springs is ideal for the active guest. The hotel's Palm Springs Yacht Club offers massages, hydrotherapy treatments, and other spa services.

Check out these top Palm Springs attractions in this wonderfully warm destination, from golf to architecture to Hollywood history.

Located in South Palm Springs adjacent to the Agua Caliente reservation and its Indian Canyons, these large stables offer fascinating horseback rides into the canyons. Patrons may explore remote trails, enjoy rare desert streams that flow year round, and pause under the shade of the palms. Rides normally begin at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. and last for two hours, but other times can be arranged. Credit cards are not accepted; cash is strongly preferred, but personal and travelers' checks may be accepted with several forms of identification.

The Indian Canyons are beautiful retreats from the sometimes-glitzy atmosphere of Palm Springs. When the streams are running, children enjoy splashing in the water and it's a popular area for picnics. Visitors now have the chance to see the "Witch of Tahquitz Canyon," an eerie shadow occasionally cast in the recently reopened canyon.

Being welcomed into the garden patio of Cary Grant's old property by the manager of Copley's, you feel like you are a guest at a outdoor dinner party. Award-winning chef Andrew Manion Copely cooks up an inventive seasonal menu.

Set amidst palm trees and landscaped gardens, Le Parker Meridien Palm Springs is an oasis set in the majestic desert. Pioneered by Hollywood stars from the 1930s to 1970s, Palm Springs remains a major cultural hub with iconic architecture and stimulating artistic venues. The guest rooms and private villas reflect the hotel's unique topography in one of the world's most scenic deserts. The hotel is just a short distance from some of the celebrated sites of Palm Springs, including the Agua Caliente Indian Canyons and the Palm Springs Desert Museum. The hotel features five conference rooms and 11,000 square feet of meeting space designed to host an array of events. With two indoor and two outdoor pools, clay tennis courts, and Pilates and yoga classes, Le Parker Méridien Palm Springs is ideal for the active guest. The hotel's Palm Springs Yacht Club offers massages, hydrotherapy treatments, and other spa services.

Play golf in immaculate, lush desert settings favored by celebs and PGA Tour golfers.

Located at one of the country's most prestigious luxury communities, PGA West offers world-class golf in a natural desert setting. The Club features four top-notch courses for PGA West members and their guests only. Choose from luxury 18-hole courses, including one designed by Arnold Palmer, one by Jack Nicklaus and another course designed by Tom Weiskopf. On-site staff includes PGA certified Director John Cochrane and PGA certified Pro Lisa Taggart.

The sunny golden walls of this intimate, 18-table restaurant seem to reflect the South of France rather than the Austrian origin of its owner and head chef, Johannes Bacher. No matter how unusual the combination, Johannes brings it all together in a beautifully presented meal. Yellow Beets as an appetizer? In balsamic syrup and an Austrian pumpkin seed sauce, it is sublime. Lobster in the mashed potatoes? It is a perfect accompaniment for crispy Atlantic Salmon. There is an extensive by-the-glass wine list and an exceptional variety of imported and domestic beers.

In a region crammed with Italian restaurants, this one has made a name for itself, winning numerous awards. The establishment was included in the Epicurean Magazine list of the top 100 restaurants in California. The calm, welcoming decor features contemporary plaster castings displayed like ancient Roman finds. The budget-conscious can try this spot at lunch, where pasta dishes and the grilled Panini sandwiches are a delight. At dinnertime, the Costola 'Alpina' is possibly the best-known dish, a thick broiled chop of veal in a mushroom medley sauce.

Explore modernist architecture and mid-century glamour in Southern California’s desert oasis.

A one-time escape for film’s finest, this town still offers a connecton to the big screen—and its stars. Take a break from fun in the sun and enjoy the latest in cinema or a trip back to Hollywood’s heyday.