California Road Trips 2008 - (Page 28) california road trips 2008 DESERTS S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E Indulgence under the sun Shop and play in and around Palm Springs, then dip down to deserts and climb to Inland Empire mountain hamlets. Joshua Tree National Park. Cruise the desert in Jeeps or Hummers with knowledgeable guides to learn about this starkly beautiful, nearly 800,000-acre national preserve. Another fun option: Take a naturalistled hike. INFO: 760/367-5500 Salton Sea (41 mi/66 km: 51 min). Spy peregrines, eagles, white pelicans, and other spectacular birds at Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, named after the late performer-turned-congressman who died in 1998. INFO: 760/348-5278 Palm Springs (40 mi/65 km: 52 min). Indulge in premium golfing duds (without breaking the bank) at the Greg Norman Outlet Store at Cabazon Outlets. Tour the extensive collection at the Palm Springs Art Museum. INFO: 760/770-9000 Ocotillo Wells (64 mi/103 km: 1 hr 7 min). Discover desert beauty in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. In designated areas outside the park, tour on primitive roads (all-terrain or 4WD required). Check out Shell Reef with 4-millionyear-old fossil remains. INFO: 760/767-5391 Rancho Mirage (7 mi/10 km: 17 min). Pamper yourself with a relaxing spa day at this town’s decadent resorts, or spend a day on the links at the luxurious Westin Mission Hills Resort and Spa. INFO: 760/328-3198 Julian (33 mi/54 km: 37 min). Stomp grapes during a fall wine festival, take a big bite out of a perfect apple pie made from local fruit, then discover finds at antique Palm Desert (6 mi/9 km: 11 min). Glide in a gondola across the lagoon at The Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa. Shop at The Gardens on N Twentynine Palms El Paseo, and book seats for a 62 Yucca Valley JOSHUA show at McCallum Theatre for 1 TREE NP 62 10 Beaumont the Performing Arts. INFO: Park Blvd. Palm Springs Pinto Basin Rd. 760/770-9000 79 2 Rancho Mirage Idyllwild 111 Hemet Palm Desert 3 10 La Quinta (9 mi/14 km: 16 74 La Quinta SANTA ROSA & min). Tour the lushly landscaped SAN JACINTO 371 MTNS NM 79 grounds of the La Quinta Resort 111 79 & Spa, an ultra-posh, 1926 desert ANZASalton BORREGO 15 classic, then take a swing at the Sea DESERT SP challenging PGA West golf course, Ocotillo 78 Wells on the grounds of the resort. Julian 0 15 mi INFO: 800/598-3828 Spa-ing and early morning links at luxe desert resorts shops in this former gold-mining town, high in the Cuyamaca Mountains. INFO: 760/765-1857 Idyllwild (79 mi/127 km: 1 hr 45 min). Stroll the streets of this pineshaded hamlet perched in the San Jacinto Range to discover handmade treasures and fine antiques. Splurge on dinner at Restaurant Gastrognome. INFO: 888/659-3259 28 www.visitcalifornia.com Welcome Center SM Family Outdoors Arts Shopping Spa Golf Wine & Dine State Park Rob Brodman (3) 3 3 more ways to… spoil yourself 1 Discover the fun at the California Welcome Center SM, in Yucca Valley. INFO: 760/365-5464 2 Splurge on dinner at luxe Melvyn’s (760/325-2323) or try Copley’s, in Cary Grant’s former estate (760/327-9555). 3 Ride a Segway to tour modern architecture in and around Palm Desert. INFO: 760/341-7330 Hemet (23 mi/37 km: 41 min). Enjoy shows in a unique high-desert setting at the Ramona Bowl, a natural amphitheater. Check out mastodons at Western Center for Archaeology & Paleontology. INFO: 951/765-2300 http://www.visitcalifornia.com
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