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Rancho Mirage’s Cancer Survivors Park
September 3rd, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
"There is no such thing as false hope for a cancer patient. Hope is as unique with each individual as a fingerprint . For some it is the hope to make a complete recovery. But it might also be the hope to die peacefully; the hope to live until a specific event happens; the hope to live with disease; the hope to have their doctor with them when needed; the hope to enjoy today." Richard Bloch Located just east of the Rancho Mirage City Hall at the intersection of Highway 111 and Frank Sinatra Drive is a one-acre park dedicated to cancer patients and cancer survivors. The... >more
Island in the Sky
August 6th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Day hiking in the San Jacinto Mountains takes a little planning. You need a pair of sturdy hiking boots, a couple of layers of light weight clothing, a hat, sunglasses, two bottles of water, some sunscreen, a snack - peanut butter sandwich, some trail mix and a couple of apples fills the bill nicely - and a fanny pack to hold your supplies. Intrepid hikers pack a lot more including: a change of socks, a compass, field guides for identifying flora and fauna, whistles to attract the attention of search parties, pocket knives, band aids for blisters (don't wear new shoes on a hike), some... >more
Tulip Hill Winery
July 30th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Rancho Mirage is a verdant oasis located in the Palm Springs Valley on the edge of the vast California Desert . It is the last place you'd expect to find a tasting room for a northern California winery. Yet, at The River , a shopping and dining destination that some claim to be Rancho Mirage's downtown, there is a wonderful shop where lovers of the grape can experience some of California's finest wines. Tulip Hill Winery , with vineyards in central and northern California and a headquarters on the north shore of Clear Lake , operates the only tasting room in... >more
The SHOW at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa
July 23rd, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
As you stream across the California Desert on I - 10 there are many sights in the Palm Springs Valley that catch your eye but none are more eye-popping than the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa snuggled right next to the freeway. Towering over the desert floor this resort, casino, spa, dining and entertainment destination is a $375 million WOW! The vast desert views from the luxurious guest rooms are unparalleled. The gaming action is non-stop, the dining opportunities scrumptious but the sleeper is THE SHOW . Here in a state-of-the-art, 2200 plus seat performance venue,... >more
Tolerance Education Center
July 16th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
The minute you walk into the Tolerance Education Center you'll meet the charming and informed Anne Phillips , Director of Programs and Education for the Center. The space is small but the mission of the organization is profound and touches us all. I highly recommend a visit. As we toured the brand new facility Anne told me about the Centers founder, Earl Greif , a Holocaust survivor. Following World War 11 Earl moved to the United States where he became a very successful businessman. Now retried and living in Rancho Mirage , Earl is passionate about educating young... >more
It’s Not Just Play, It’s Serious Fun at the Children’s Discovery Museum
July 9th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Rancho Mirage has been occasionally referred to as "God's Waiting Room". It is true that the average age of the year round population is above sixty. But most of the folks living here that I know are not waiting around for God or the plumber. That's what the help's for - right? Active, engaged, smart, successful and happy defines the Rancho Mirage attitude and vibe of the residents. Mustn't forget generous! The Children's Museum of the Desert is a perfect example of the largess of the residents. The Annenberg's gave the land; Gerald and Betty Ford lent their name and... >more
Kid’s Camps at The Westin and Rancho
July 2nd, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
If you are concerned that the kids might get bored hanging out at a Rancho Mirage resort this summer - think again. Two resorts are presenting a host of fun activities for youngsters and adults and the choices are exciting and varied. The Fun Team at The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Villas offers a free program featuring arts and crafts sessions, pool games , golf contests , pool slide competitions and family fun bingo nights. A newly implemented Name that Tune competition is widely popular with kids and adults vying to demonstrate who's the smartest when it... >more
The Smoketrees are Blooming
June 25th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
First time I saw a Smoketree in bloom I almost ran the car off the road. For most of the year they are scrubby pale gray-green shrubs that colonize washes and vacant lots around Rancho Mirage . Many can be seen south of Highway 111 across from The River and a couple of blocks to the left and right behind the Bank of America along Sahara Road. For an even more impressive stand of trees follow Sahara Road west until it dead ends at Mirage Road. Turn left noting the Smoketrees lining the west side of the road until you reach the entrance to the Blixseth Mountain Park... >more
Lucky and Bangkok 5
June 24th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Reba and I have always loved Thai food and last evening we headed out with a friend to find some. Good news! Rancho Mirage boasts two Thai restaurants . Both are wildly popular. But last evening we knew exactly where to go for impeccable service, a serene environment and scrumptious fare. Bangkok 5 , on Highway 111, is a slice of Thai refinement and hospitality. The minute you step through the doors and are welcomed by owner, Lucky Teachanarong, you'll know that you are in for a treat. Ensconced in a cozy booth we noted the restrained decor, lovely verdant garden... >more
Morongo Shopping Mecca
June 18th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
On your way back to the Southland, just 20 minutes from Palm Springs headed west on Highway 10, there is a not-to-be missed shopping Mecca . It is worth a stop. Obviously thousands that stream by to and fro the Palm Springs Valley and points east know about the outlets. I'm not much of a shopper so recently on an exploratory mission to check out the outlets I was dumbfounded to observe busloads of Chinese shoppers frantically engaged in impulse capitalism at the Gucci and Dulce & Gabbana stores. They were having a blast. Chairman Mao would have blown a gasket. High end... >more
Car Washing with Elephants-Pink Ones
June 11th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
So how do you cap a perfect get-away vacation in beautiful Rancho Mirage ? The answer is obvious - you wash with elephants - pink ones - before you head back to town. You're relaxed. You have a smile on your face. You've played golf , slept in, luxuriated at a spa and enjoyed some great dinners with your significant other. Now it's time to return to reality. But your sedan has been sitting out-of-doors and Mother Nature has left her calling card on the windshield. You can't go back to town without looking as good as you feel. Since your wheels are an extension of your So. Cal.... >more
Hiking in the Altitudes
June 4th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
June in the Palm Springs Valley guarantees three digit temps. Love the heat. Early morning walks, afternoons holed up with books that you've been meaning to read since they were unwrapped at the Holidays and nightly swims under the stars. Rancho Mirage resort guests are into summer too. They chaise lounge alongside our resort pools - all June Gloom immigrants - getting their attitudes readjusted and their tans jumped started. Tee shirts, board shorts, flip flops, movies in the afternoon ( Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a wow yesterday), top down on the car at night, white wine... >more
Escape June-Gloom to the Sun and Kids Eat Free
May 28th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Escape that coastal gray gloom. Head for Rancho Mirage in the heart of the Palm Springs Valley for a little Family Fun summer in the sun. School's out and your kids want to swim and play out doors. Where better to jump start the summer than at a Rancho Mirage resort only a half a tank of gas and less than a 2 hours drive from any Southern California driveway. Rancho Mirage resorts are offering some of the best rates ever. Mid-week rates are a steal! Plus upon check-in at five participating resorts kids, twelve and younger, receive a Family Fun Passport that... >more
Llyn Foulkes at The Palm Springs Art Museum
May 21st, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
The Palm Springs Art Museum is not any mid-sized museum. The renovated brut building huddled at the base of the soaring San Jacinto Mountain smack downtown Palm Springs has been updated with flair and intelligence by director Steven Nash and his posse. Many eye filling modern and contemporary works here. Sleek installation design and a smart juxtaposition of pieces make an excursion through the changing exhibitions and permanent collections edifying and fun. No moment is more eye-popping than finding Llyn Foulkes' provocative rant on the fallacy of American's Manifest Destiny... >more
Rancho Mirage at a Glance
May 14th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
With only 17,000 year-round residents Rancho Mirage is a small town. Yet in its 37 year history it has been a powerhouse playground for Hollywood celebrities and American Presidents . For a taste of this history visit Rancho Mirage's City Hall and explore the galley of archival photographs that line the walls of the public spaces. City Hall is located on the south east corner of Highway 111 and Frank Sinatra Drive - the names of the streets in our town provide a clue to the players that helped mold our City. Frank Sinatra's famous compound built to entertain Jack... >more
May-Gray Family Fun in the SUN
May 7th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Summer is just around the corner. Kids are itching to get out of school and play. Swimming, bar-b-ques in the backyard, popsicles, family vacations all contribute to the fun and lazy daze of summer. Yet along the Southern California coast Mother Nature always surprises us with her mantel of May Gray and June Gloom . A wise strategy to keep the coastal desert moist for the first part of the summer, but for kids it makes for pool-side goose bumps and shivering B-B-Qs. Where's the hot chocolate! Come on Mom. It's time to pack up the kids and head for Rancho Mirage in the Heart... >more
The Coziest Bed in Town
April 30th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
By now I'm sure you know that not all bedtime is for catching ZZZZs. But whatever happens on the divan at home, where most of us spend a third of our lives, we want it to be cozy. Snuggle in and read a book, convince the cat to cuddle and purr, sip a jigger of scotch while watching a rerun of Rockford - and all the rest of the activities that make for a rich and personal private life. Hotel beds can be about something altogether different and we each have our own fantasies about them and how we like our get-away beds to be. Cozy is a desirable factor but a bed at a resort should have an... >more
Hiking in the Palm Springs Valley
April 23rd, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
I've been hiking a lot lately. Spring has arrived this year with a particular vividness. Wild flowers and cactus are blooming in profusion. The azure sky is dotted with billowy clouds scudding eastward. Snow mantels the high peaks. The temperature in the mid to high 70's degrees Fahrenheit is perfect for hitting the trails. All you need is a good pair of hiking boots, comfortable loose fitting clothing and a hat. I use a hiking pole-holiday gift from my son-mostly for show and swagger but it occasionally comes in handy on a steep incline. Bottled water is a must. Three bottles for two... >more
Giraffes Birth Surprises Zookeepers
April 16th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
HOW'S IT POSSIBLE? Weighing in at one hundred and forty-one pounds a baby giraffe hit the ground like a seismic event at The Living Desert on March 10! In the middle of the night with no warning a giraffe gave birth to a yet unnamed bull calf. In the morn, zoo keepers found the five feet and eleven inches new-born dry, nursing and walking around in the holding yard with Mom Dadisi , Dad Hesabu , and "Uncle" Pona . The giraffes were unfazed. The zoo keepers stunned. "Our staff suspected that Dadisi may have been pregnant because she was gaining weight, but we were not sure..." Ah the... >more
Thriving at Coachella and Stagecoach
April 9th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
The Coachella Music & Arts Festival (April 16th, 17th and 18th) and the Stagecoach County Music Festival (April 24th and 25th) are upon us. Got tickets? Bet you do. Now's the time to think about some of the things that can make or break your fun. It'll be HOT and COLD! Bring lots of bottled water and drink it. Keep the water flowing 'cuz when you're thirsty you're already dehydrated. Nothing can spoil the experience like a trip to the emergency room for sunstroke. And if you get it you won't get back to rocking for a few days so expensive tickets will be wasted.... >more
Furniture Redux Luxe
April 2nd, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Rancho Mirage is home to many fine furniture stores. So many in fact our little city is often touted as the home and office design center of the Palm Springs Valley . The Rancho Mirage Furnishings Associates mission is to promote awareness of the rich diversity of shopping opportunities in this category. In a future blog I plan to write about this segment of our community's businesses. However, a less obvious and perhaps more interesting aspect of this shopping segment to visitors are the numerous furniture consignment stores that populate Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage. Many... >more
Spring Break Family Style
March 26th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Reba and I are empty nesters but in our day when spring break rolled around we'd pack up the kids and head for a resort for much needed R&R and family bonding. A little bit of luxury and full service amenities were a requirement. A laid back attitude that made the kids feel comfortable was also a must for any resort we'd select. Why Rancho Mirage never hit our radar I'll never know but as an expert at making wife and kiddies happy on a get-away, I'm here to tell you that the Palm Springs Valley and particularly Rancho Mirage is just about the perfect destination for family... >more
Cool Pools
March 19th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Summertime is my favorite season of the year in Rancho Mirage. Hot? Yes it's hot but think of it this way - summer is our winter. We get up early and play, hole-up in the middle of the day to read a book and emerge in the evening for more enjoyment. No snow to shovel, no salt damage on our cars, no bundling up to go out - just tee shirts, shorts and flip flops needed here. And it's peaceful! Summer time is POOL TIME! Floating on my back with the night stars blazing overhead, the moon rising over the distant mountains and a gentle breeze swaying the palm tree fronds is heaven for this... >more
Moon Worshiping in Rancho Mirage
March 12th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
This morning I slipped out of bed in the pitch black, pulled on my walking gear and pushed out the front door. Mocking birds were beginning to salute the dawn. In the far distance a dog yelped his glee. Otherwise the cool dark quiet of the pre-dawn morn enveloped me and as always, I looked to the sky to greet her. Full and radiant, the moon's grace illuminated the landscape. A perfect orb she hung suspended above the Santa Rosa Mountains . Her everlasting splendor filled me with peacefulness and a sense of connection to all of Mother Natures wonders. Palm trees swayed ever so slightly in... >more
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
March 3rd, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is an officially designated Rancho Mirage HOT SPOT. In 2010 guests staying at Rancho Mirage resorts receive a VIP Access Privilege Card that provide adult admission discounts at four Palm Springs Valley HOT SPOT attractions The ride of a lifetime. From desert floor to the top of Mount San Jacinto the incline steeps 10,834 feet straight up. The " Jig-Back Tramway" ascends the granite cliffs from the Valley Station at 2,643 feet to the Mountain Station at 8,516 feet in 10 spectacular rotating up, up and up minutes. Step into the Swiss... >more
Typical Winter Day in Rancho Mirage
March 2nd, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Video by Joel Hochberg I'm writing poolside. Stretched out on a chaise lounge with my lap top, a glass of iced tea and K. D. Lang on disk crooning in the background. There's a dusting of snow on Mount San Jacinto. The palm trees in the foreground are glistening in the morning light and swaying ever so slightly in the gentle breeze. The temperature is in the mid 70's and my only worry is keeping the shadow of palm tree from blocking my sun. My sister in Raleigh North Carolina is house-bound with sleet and freezing winds whipping around her home. Her daughter in Buffalo, New York snow... >more
After Hours in the new Rancho Mirage
February 26th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
As the sun dips behind the Santa Rosa Mountains and the palm trees sway and rustle in the evening breeze, happy hour percolates in Rancho Mirage. Smile as you glide on to the patio at bluEmber at Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa . Order you favorite libation, settle into a cushy lounge chair and let the smooth sounds of pianist Rick Ross (Wednesdays) or the rich soulful harmonies of the John Stanly King Band (Thursdays) get you in the mood for a night on the town. Friday's feature The Smooth Brothers , Saturday's guitarist Bobby Moses and Friends and on Sunday's, trumpet... >more
Palm Springs Art Museum: Epicenter of the Desert Cool
February 19th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
The Palm Spring Art Museum is an officially designated Rancho Mirage HOT SPOT. In 2010 guests staying at Rancho Mirage resorts receive a VIP Access Privilege Card that provide adult admission discounts at four Palm Springs Valley HOT SPOT attractions. Just so you know - I'm crazy about museums. Make a point to stop in at any museum I encounter and I've encountered a lot in all corners of the world. For fourteen years of my career I was the director of a contemporary art museum. OK, OK - full disclosure - I have a masters degree in painting, maintain a studio and I'm married to an... >more
Golf Togs Like a Sheik – Rancho Mirage Pro Shops
February 12th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Play like a pro and dress like a slob. Not good Rancho Mirage form in-season when the hotshots fill the town and everyone puts on the dog day and night. They say clothes make the man. Maybe. Depends on the man or the lady for that matter. A little distinction wouldn't hurt when you're hooking and slicing your way through 18 of the best we've got. Try dressing like a pro if you play like a slob. Leave the Dockers at home and outfit yourself with a little panache for your next round at one of Rancho Mirage's purveyors of fine golf duds. For ladies the ground zero of golf attire can be... >more
Kraft Nabisco Championship Tickets Are Now On Sale!
February 10th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Tickets for the 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first LPGA major of the year, are now on sale. This year, golf fans can make a major contribution of their own by supporting the charity of their choice. One hundred percent of the proceeds from advance ticket sales will be donated to charity. Tickets and can be ordered online at http://www.kncgolf.com/ . When ordering tickets online, purchasers will be asked to designate a charity to receive the proceeds from the sale. Currently, more than 40 charities have signed up to participate in the program. The tickets are priced at $25 for... >more
The Indian Canyons: Palm Springs’ First Downtown
February 5th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
The Indian Canyons is an officially designated Rancho Mirage HOT SPOT . In 2010 guests staying at Rancho Mirage resorts receive a VIP Access Privilege Card that provide adult admission discounts at four Palm Springs Valley HOT SPOT attractions. Since the beginning of time, long before Hollywood discovered the desert, a thriving community of people lived in the vicinity of what we know today as Palm Springs . Snow melt from the Santa Rosa and Santa Jacinto Mountains feed gushing streams that in turn nourish lush palm oasis at the foot of the mountains. In and around these oasis... >more
Snow Capped Surround
January 29th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
The recent rains have capped our mountains with snow. What a sight! The Palm Springs Valley is surrounded by snow-topped peaks. With a cobalt blue sky overhead, palm trees swaying in the foreground and golfers dotting the emerald green fairways of our courses I imagine that this must be what paradise looks like. RM >more
Kraft Nabisco Championship Hot Tips
January 29th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Along with the Masters Tournament at Augusta , the Kraft Nabisco Championship has enjoyed the longest continuous run of any Major. This LPGA tournament was founded by Dinah Shore and today the $2,000,000 purse attracts the top lady golfers in the world to the California desert each spring to duel it out for the championship and opportunity to take the winners leap into Poppie's Pond . This is Rancho Mirage's signature event and the town pulls out all the stops to welcome the players, international media and visitors from all over the world. Balmy weather, palm trees glistening,... >more
The Living Desert
January 29th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
The Living Desert is an officially designated Rancho Mirage HOT SPOT . In 2010 guests staying at Rancho Mirage resorts receive a VIP Access Privilege Card that provide adult admission discounts at four Palm Springs Valley HOT SPOT attractions. Anytime there's a cheetah involved I'm there. Loved these streamlined felines ever since I first experienced them in Nairobi National Park on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital. They'd leap up and loll on the hoods of cars. Pressing their faces against windshields their purring would rattle the glass and something primeval, deep in my bones.... >more
Rub Me the Right Way: Rancho Mirage Spa Experiences
January 22nd, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
The Egyptians did it with rare oils, the ancient Chinese mastered it with discipline, the early Greeks and Romans couldn't get enough of it and the Swedes perfected it as a treatment for tension. In the new world the Huichol Indians, descendants of the Aztecs, made it as part of their Shamanistic practice. Today, massage incorporates techniques refined over the centuries and is enjoyed by millions of world-worn travelers. They know how to rub away the throb of aching muscles, relieve the tensions of work and for a heavenly hour or two, ease the cares of the world. We seldom remember the... >more
Rancho Mirage: The River Runs Through It
January 15th, 2010 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Downtown was never so much fun. The River is Rancho Mirage's town square...but square it's not. Designed by John Jerde of City Walk fame this life-style destination draws the crowds and celebrities. Go for a bite, to shop, enjoy a flick, to groove to live concerts in the amphitheater on weekends or just hang out by the fountains and cascading waterfalls that meander through-out the complex. Check out the Bobby Chan shop where the latest in resort wear can be found. Don't miss BLONDE for women's, men's and children's hottest fashion looks. Both shops have the perfect duds for the many... >more
In Pursuit of the Perfect Margarita
December 28th, 2009 - Rexs Reviews - by Rex Masterson
Love those Aztecs for inventing North America's first indigenous distilled spirit. No wonder they were so willing to lose their hearts with Tequila, the preferred drink of the day. Centuries later, 300 million blue agaves a year are harvested northeast of Guadalajara to produce the nectar that makes Margarita's irresistible. A Mexican barman of genius is credited for inventing the sweet and tart combination of Tequila, Triple Sec and lime with a circle of salt on the rim of a glass in the 1930s. Give the man a Nobel Prize! Rancho Mirage provides a plethora of watering holes where you... >more
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Rancho Mirage – Heart of the Palms Springs Valley: Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio, Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, Coachella.
Visit Rancho Mirage. Nestled in the heart of the Palms Springs Valley are the beautiful attractions of Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio, Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and all of the Coachella Valley. Get a reservation or book a room at any of the local luxury resorts and hotels.