Exploring the Greater Coachella Valley: Palm Desert (El Paseo), Rancho Mirage, La Quinta & Indio

While the City of Palm Springs anchors the western end of the valley, driving 15 to 35 minutes southeast down palm-lined Highway 111 takes you through the resort communities of the Central and Eastern Coachella Valley: Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Indio. Here are four stops for a half-day excursion.

1. Rancho Mirage (15 Mins East): 'Sunnylands Center & Gardens' (Free)

Built in 1966 by Ambassador Walter and Leonore Annenberg (and designed by A. Quincy Jones with a pink Mayan-inspired roof), the 200-acre estate of Sunnylands (37977 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage) is known as the 'Camp David of the West', having hosted 8 US Presidents (from Eisenhower, Nixon and Reagan to Obama), Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and Frank Sinatra's 1976 wedding.

• Free Gardens vs Estate Tour: walking the 9 acres of desert impressionist gardens (planted with 53,000 golden-barrel cacti, palo verde trees and twin reflecting pools inspired by Annenberg's Van Gogh and Monet paintings) and visiting the Sunnylands Center & Café are free (open Wednesday to Sunday from morning to mid-afternoon, no reservation needed). To tour inside the historic 1966 house itself, book a 90-minute Historic House Tour online when monthly tickets open.

2. Palm Desert ('El Paseo'), La Quinta ('Old Town') & Indio

1. Palm Desert (20 Mins East), 'El Paseo Shopping District': known as the 'Rodeo Drive of the Desert', one-mile-long El Paseo features over 250 boutiques, galleries, bistros and a free 18-sculpture walk (plus The Living Desert Zoo 5 minutes up Portola Ave).
2. La Quinta (30 Mins East), 'La Quinta Resort' & 'Old Town La Quinta': tucked into a rock cove of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Stroll the 45 acres of whitewashed Spanish casitas, orange trees and 41 pools of the 1926 La Quinta Resort & Club (where Frank Capra wrote It Happened One Night), hike the free La Quinta Cove Trail, and lunch in Old Town La Quinta.
3. Indio & Coachella (35 Mins East): home to the Empire Polo Club (site of April's Coachella & Stagecoach music festivals) and 1924 Shields Date Garden.