Planning Your Trip

This desert retreat has everything you need for a weekend away or a full-on recharging departure from the everyday. The resort’s design embraces all that sunny Palm Springs has to offer, while the dining and local activities will keep you fortified and engaged. Here’s what to bring.

A seating area with a fireplace overlooking a valley at sunset

Evening Chic

Desert nights have an innate feeling of glamour. Remember that Palm Springs began as a retreat for Hollywood’s Rat Pack — Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin defined the casual but confident wardrobes that still dictate what to wear in this sandy hotspot.

Women should bring one standout but airy shift or jumpsuit to dress up for a fancy dinner or pair with comfortable sandals for an architectural walking tour. Think artsy chic without too much bling.

Leather sandals for men or open-toe mules for women are a smart choice for this ultra-warm but fashionable locale. You can wear them around the pool area by day or out at night for a poolside dinner date.

Desert temperatures can drop considerably when the sun goes down, so bring a light cotton sweater or warm scarf that is easy to wrap around your shoulders and deploy when needed.

Pool overlooked by palm trees and lounge chairs

Weekend Getaway

Make sure to pack clothes that let in the breeze and still show off your stylish side. Lightweight layers and smart accessories will be the best choices as you head into this stylish desert encampment.

Cropped jeans are a great idea for women since you will want to stay cool while also being fashionable enough to attend a match at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden or grab lunch at the resort’s Edge Steakhouse.

A cotton tote or lightweight backpack is good to have if you plan on doing any shopping or gallery perusing. That way you don’t have to worry about having room in your weekender bag to bring your purchases home.

Both men and women will be smart to bring along a straw hat to protect their face from the desert sun. Bring your own or check out the many options on sale at the hotel’s Spa Boutique.

Spa Retreat

If you’ve finally made time for a trip that’s all about relaxation and rejuvenation, congratulations. Do as the locals do and bring comfortable, active-ready layers that won’t make getting dressed a distraction from your well-deserved R&R.

A short-sleeve, chambray button-down can keep you cool while being a fashionable and versatile cover-up. It is also great for a facial or a blow-out since you don’t have to pull it on and off over your head.

The fitness center offers many types of yoga and Pilates classes so make sure to pack your yoga gear. If you want to up your heart rate, also think about bringing sneakers to attend Desert Boot Camp or adult cycling.

If this trip is all about relaxation, then pack a super-comfortable set of pajamas. There is nothing better than heading back to your room after a day of workouts and massages and slipping into your favorite set of PJ’s for a long, restful night of sleep.

Don’t Forget:

Hiking boots are a smart thing for any active traveler to pack since The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage is a short jaunt away from Joshua Tree National Park. This otherworldly park full of cactuses and rocky vistas has amazing hiking trails that are just rugged enough to require solid footwear that can protect your ankles and give you full knee support.

This desert oasis is home to some of the best dining, nightlife and golf in Southern California. Here’s what to put on your to-do list.

Dining Reservations

Southern California isn’t as well known as its northern brother Napa Valley for innovative cuisine, but the options are just as exciting. The State Fare Bar & Kitchen at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage is a farm-to-fork restaurant that crafts dishes made with ingredients from the finest purveyors in the local Coachella Valley. Edge Steakhouse sits on a cliff, offering unparalleled views of the desert valley below. The menu includes classic options like milk-fed veal chop and potato gratin in addition to innovative dishes like foie gras served over a blueberry pancake. Or you can experience a Parisian feast at Le Vallauris, a local French restaurant known for its celebrity clientele and lobster bisque.

Nightlife

Outdoor bars are a Palm Springs signature, and the resort’s Air Pool Bar is one of the city’s best. Start with the Chad-illac Margarita, which includes a spot of Grand Marnier, then head out on the town to hear some of Palm Springs’ world-class DJs. The party starts at Costas Nightclub, at the nearby JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. Then head to Zelda’s, a Palm Springs standby for more than 30 years. The menu includes plenty of top-shelf liquor and champagne, and the guest list can fill up quickly. Ask the hotel concierge about reserving a table with bottle service.

Spa Appointments

Spa offerings at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage are enriched with holistic, indigenous herbs and plants that enhance treatments designed to awaken the senses. Reserve the Desert Wildflower Poultice Massage, which combines century-old techniques with indigenous organic herbs and heated herbal poultices that release tension and induce a deep state of relaxation. A local favorite is the Indigenous Desert Clay Wrap, which will uplift your senses, detoxify your skin and refresh your spirit with a body brushing and clay mask wrap created out of local desert clay.

Tee Times

There are more than 100 golf courses in the Palm Springs area, and resort guests have access to six of the best ones. The Desert Willow Golf Resort offers two courses, both surrounded by breathtaking desert mountain views. The nearby JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses, both designed by legendary course architect Ted Robinson. Last but certainly not least is Indian Wells Golf Resort, which has two 18-hole courses and is the host of Golf Channel’s Big Break and the PGA’s Skins Game.

Rancho Mirage is a desert oasis known for its towering palm trees and backyards dotted with swimming pools. Just south of Palm Springs, this area was once the playground of Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant. Today, it draws music’s hottest stars with the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Architecture fanatics flock here to tour perfectly preserved mid-century modern homes. The restaurant and cocktail scene have heated up in recent years, but date shakes and Mister Parker’s restaurant are still classics. If you can handle the desert heat, Joshua Tree National Park is just an hour away and laced with magnificent hikes.

A Romantic Getaway

Rancho Mirage and its surroundings embody a Mad Men-era glamour that transports you to a different time. Tour the area’s renowned mid-century modern homes, once owned by Hollywood stars. Tee off on some of the country’s top golf courses and hike cactus-lined desert trails, then soak sore muscles in mineral-rich hot springs. The food scene in Palm Springs has heated up in the last few years.

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Perfect Weekend

Rancho Mirage and its surrounding palm-filled desert have long been the go-to escape for L.A.’s cool crowd. The mecca of mid-century modern architecture boasts homes designed by Richard Neutra and once lived in by Hollywood stars. And the city’s Uptown Design District has plenty of shops to pick up Mad Men-esque furnishings to take home. Fabled Joshua Tree National Park is just an hour away.