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Contemporary Mediterranean Resort with Views of the Santa Rosa Mountains

In the Southern California resort town of Indian Wells, desert sunlight spills over the Santa Rosa Mountains and into a scenic valley occupied by Miramonte Resort & Spa. Sixteen red-roofed villas are spread out across the property, which features Italian fountains, Mediterranean columns and archways, and vivid splashes of purple bougainvillea. In its aura and architecture, the resort resembles Tuscany, except that in place of Italy's rolling countryside there’s mountainous desert terrain that's striking in its rugged beauty.

Luxury rooms are decorated with a color scheme of olive, sand, and nutmeg. A few steps from each room's private patio, a communal herb garden sprouts sage, basil, and rosemary. In addition to perfuming the air, these herbs—along with citrus fruits and olives from onsite groves—add zest to the fresh seasonal fare served at The Grove Artisan Kitchen. At Miramonte's The Well Spa you can practice yoga, receive a massage, or dive for taffy in the saltwater pool. Resort guests also enjoy easy access to three championship golf courses as well as the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

California's Coachella Valley: Recreational Oasis amid Rugged Mountains

The town of Indian Wells is tucked between Palm Desert and La Quinta in California's Coachella Valley. It's just about 16 miles south of Palm Springs—the affluent, artsy community known for its abundance of outdoor activities such as golf, tennis, and hiking through the desert and mountains. The Palm Springs Art Museum fills its whitewashed galleries with works of traditional and modern art, hosting exhibits showcasing contemporary glasswork and Native American basketry and pottery. About 4 miles north of the museum, the Indian Canyons abound with intriguing organic and geological features, including some manmade bedrock mortars and metates once used to prepare food. A winding footpath leads through rocky gorges and parched deserts before ending up at a prime picnicking spot beside a babbling canyon stream.

Just a few miles west of the hotel, The Living Desert gives travelers a chance to savor the climate while strolling grounds filled with desert flora and fauna. Friendly nubian goats nuzzle up to visitors in Village WaTuTu. Bearded dragon lizards as well as soul-patched dragon lizards sun themselves in a semiarid woodland display. Gritty rock footpaths wind through the zoo, and a shuttle ferries guests to cactus groves, butterfly gardens, and other animal exhibits.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.