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Itineraries

There’s no doubt about it, Sara Hammond is a fun in the sun lady that loves working and playing in Rancho Mirage and the Palm Springs Valley. Sara’s the hard driving Marketing Director and Wine Club Manager for the Tulip Hill Winery. Proud of the fact that last year membership in the Tulip Mania Wine Club grew by 60%, she has been working hard. But hard work and no play makes Sara a dull girl. So it's back to running daily with her canine sweetheart Bella Dance-a-rella, of Boxer breed. She enjoys the Palm Springs Valley’s art scene, knows a good steak, and where to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of a hard day.

Here is Sara’s 5-day relax and rejuvenate itinerary.

Sara Hammond and partner Kristi Brown indulging at the Mission Hills Spa at The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa.
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Sara Hammond
  Don’t let the sun catch you in bed, walk up to greet it. Early mornings are so beautiful in Rancho Mirage and a power walk around The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa is a wonderful way to wake up with the sun.
breakfast A brilliant breakfast for me is meditating over fruit, a cup of coffee, gazing onto the lush green grass of a golf course and listening to the birds. Restaurant Bella Vista and The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa offers just such a retreat.
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Sara Hammond
  Having indulged my hunger, it's time to indulge my body at the Spa at Mission Hills located at the Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa for a massage. The Mediterranean will make you feel instantly relaxed under fluid and repetitive massage techniques reminiscent of ocean waves. I also am fond of the Hot Stone in which smooth river stones heated to 120 degrees impart their natural energetic properties in this unforgettable massage experience.

People say you can tell a lot about a person by their fingernails. So I keep my immaculate with a manicure and an Earth Pedicure from the Spa at Mission Hills. It's so nice to indulge!
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Sara Hammond
  Relax and enjoy the rest of the day at the Palm Springs Art Museum. What began as a museum about the desert has evolved into an oasis for the arts with Modern and Contemporary American works by artists such as Robert Motherwell, Helen Frankenthaler, Duane Hanson, and Mark di Suvero; Contemporary California painting and sculpture by Sam Francis, Edward Ruscha, Robert Arneson, Nathan Oliveira, and many others; Studio Art Glass by Dale Chihuly, Howard Ben Tré, and William Morris; and Classic Western American Art by Thomas Moran, Charles Russell, Frederic Remington, to name a few.
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Sara Hammond
  The modern 125,000-square-foot complex, designed by renowned California architect E. Stewart Williams, also houses collections of Native American and Mesoamerican Art.
lunch Be certain to grab a snack at the Palm Springs Art Museum café. The café contains a collection of photographs capturing old Hollywood society in the Palm Springs Valley. Natalie Wood, Dinah Shore, all the celebs are there.
  The Palm Springs Valley is home to modernist architecture and mid-century (20th) design. Palm Springs offers many stores dedicated to this hot design style.
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Sara Hammond
  Here are a few suggested stores to look into: Palm Springs Consignment, Modern Home, 111 Antique Mall, Modern Way, The Galleria, and Fitzsu Society.
dinner After a day of indulging my mind, body and soul; I believe I do deserve to indulge my appetite. Black Angus Steakhouse serves up hearty steaks that will make any meat lover's mouth water. Their Mushroom and Blue Filet Mignon is my personal favorite and it pairs well with a big bold Tulip Hill red.
  Finally for a semi-sinful indulgence, make a trip to Golden Spoon for a scoop of “Just Chocolate” frozen yogurt.
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Sara Hammond
breakfast Seattle’s Best located inside Borders at The River is a nice place to grab a morning coffee and to pick up a good book.
  A little known secret in Rancho Mirage that any avid reader will enjoy is the Book Nook. Nestled inside the Rancho Mirage Public Library, the Book Nook sells used hardcover and paperback popular novels and non-fiction for as little as a $1.00.
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Sara Hammond
  With so many calling the Palm Springs Valley their second, third or fourth home; you can find unbelievable deals on virtually never worn designer clothing and pristine home furnishings. Consignment store shopping can be fun but you have to know where to go. So here are some suggestions for Rancho Mirage: Collectors Corner, Cargo Consignments – one room of vintage clothing, Suzy’s Repeats Boutique, and Re-Deux.
lunch For a marvelous Mexican lunch, pop into La Palapa Bar and Grill at the Atrium Design Center.
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Sara Hammond
  Gallery hopping in the Palm Springs Valley can be such a lovely way to spend the afternoon. Many world-renowned contemporary and modern artists such as Fletcher Benton, Tony Berlant, Dale Chihuly, and Ed Moses can be found in the galleries here in Palm Desert along the El Paseo. The Eleanor Austerer Gallery, The Hart Gallery, and Imago Gallery are just a few you may wish to visit. Jan Richins of Janice & Friends Hair and Nails is just east of The River on Highway 111...this is where I go to keep my doo perky. Jan is a busy girl, so make sure you call early to get on her schedule.
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Sara Hammond
  A stone’s throw away is bluEmber at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa; go here for cocktails on the patio: It’s a bit of heaven: palm trees glistening in the sun, egrets and migrating ducks feeding in the lakes, and the lush greens of their world-class golf course.
dinner Dinner at Amici Italian Trattoria is robust food without the frills or fuss. Their Conchgilie con la Salsiccia is pasta with Italian sausage, onions, squash and chili flakes in a creamed roasted red pepper sauce. It’s perfect! But my absolute favorite is the spicy, bid flavors of the Pasta Puttanesca. Mamma Mia!
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Sara Hammond
  The Bighorn Overlook Trail just after sunrise is a great way to see the entire Palm Springs Valley and Rancho Mirage. Beginning at the upper parking lot of Rancho Mirage City Hall, this short ¼ mile trail features several switchbacks and ends at a picnic shelter featuring amazing panoramic views.
breakfast Kristi always surprises me with a picnic breakfast from Bouchee Fine Foods. There is nothing like eating warm quiche Lorraine at first light.
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Sara Hammond
  Gallery hop! My favorite is Dezart Gallery & Dezart One Gallery owned by three artists and featuring the work of regional and national artists and is located in a complex hosting multiple galleries in Palm Springs. Explore them all.
lunch Lunch at Guacamoles in Palm Springs. Chef Owner, Antonio makes The Pride of Tijuana, the best Chicken Caesar Salad Ever. After lunch stroll through the Movie Colony District in old Palm Springs just east of Indian Canyon and north of Alejo Road. This historic residential district is where old Hollywood celebrities such as William Holden, Marlena Dietrich and so many more came to relax in the sun and let their hair down.
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Sara Hammond
dinner Taste the good life – California’s country club cuisine with a splash of Bing! Yes, an old Hollywood dinner at the world famous Bing Crosby’s Restaurant and Piano Bar. This is where cool and hip never go out of style. I always start with the Wedge Salad and follow that with the succulent Seared Ahi Tuna with Persimmon and Potato Gratin.
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Sara Hammond
  With such beautiful mountain and desert vistas in Rancho Mirage, an early morning walk is a great way to catch a glimpse of the Palm Springs Valley’s beauty but also to calm a restless spirit. My Boxer, Bella Dance-a-rella and I often walk a brisk 5 miles from Highway 111, north on Bob Hope Drive to Country Club Drive. Then precede west on Country Club back to Highway 111 and then east back to Bob Hope.
breakfast For breakfast with an attitude, check out the small, but wonderful hole-in-the-wall Sunshine Café in Cathedral City.
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Sara Hammond
lunch Cheesecake Factory at The River is where I often head for lunch. Great salads and sandwiches. Stop by Tulip Hill Winery at The River to check out the new gifts that are always arriving for the boutique. Or pick up a couple of bottles of Tulip Hill Winery Cabernet Reserve as a memento of your adventures. Pop into Blonde, also at The River. They carry all the hottest and coolest resort wear fashions. For great cocktails, check out Haleiwa Joe’s Seafood Grill. This Hawaiian themed eatery occupies a mid-century modern architectural masterpiece. It’s a blast from the past!
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Sara Hammond
dinner Experience the excitement and distinctive flavors of Kobe Japanese Restaurant’s authentic Japanese teppan-yaki ("iron plate cooking"), prepared right at your table by knife-wielding chefs. Located in a replica of a Japanese country inn, Kobe is best known as the home of beautiful kimono-clad servers and the most talented teppan chefs in the Palm Springs Valley.
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Sara Hammond
breakfast A hearty American breakfast at Applebee’s is the way to get the morning started.
  Settling in at the pool at the Hilton Garden Inn in Rancho Mirage with a pile of food and wine magazines which can be picked up at Borders at The River is relaxation at its best. Swim a few laps and then I might put in a couple of miles on a treadmill in the Hilton’s recently, remodeled gym.
lunch For lunch, walk across the street to Maki Maki California Japanese Cuisine at The River for sushi and sashimi platter. Try the sweet shrimp, they are divine.
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Sara Hammond
  The stars really do shine brighter in the desert, and the McCallum Theatre is the place to see them. With the list of performers who have appeared on the McCallum Theatre stage reading like a Who's Who of the entertainment industry - Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Barry Manilow, Willie Nelson, Seal, YoYo Ma and countless others; the McCallum Theatre is a great place to take in a show. Some performances offer matinees; here’s a hint…check out the line up and ticket availability before leaving for your trip.
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Sara Hammond
dinner For a late night dinner, The Steakhouse at Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • & Spa Rancho Mirage is sublime. Steaks, chops, veal, lamb and wonderful seafood highlight the menu – reservations are strongly suggested as this is simply a must visit restaurant.
  After dinner, you may wish to try your luck at a slot machine before heading for bed. Who knows if lady luck is on your side, it may be a very prosperous ending to another perfect day in the Palm Springs Valley and Rancho Mirage.
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