5 Reasons to Visit Palm Springs

by Janeen Christoff
Last updated: 10:00 PM ET, Mon October 6, 2014

Photo courtesy Thinkstock. All other photos courtesy of Janeen Christoff.

As the weather cools, you might be looking to warm up, and the desert is the perfect place. The Greater Palm Springs area is bursting with local flavor, new attractions and high-end dining - as well as luxury hotel properties. Here are just five of the many reasons you may want to head to Palm Springs ASAP.

See Sunnylands

It's known as the "West Coast Camp David" and this mid-century modern retreat in the desert was my number-one reason for my recent visit to the Greater Palm Springs area. The Annenbergs directed that their beautiful estate be available to serve as a sanctuary for generations of high-level national and world leaders seeking the privacy, the peace, and "the pause" needed for solving the most pressing national and international issues. Sunnylands has housed presidents from eight administrations - including Obama.

And the Sunnylands Center & Gardens just reopened last month. Visitors can explore the center and the gardens for free and book tours of the estate online. Gratis activities include guided walks in the gardens and exhibits in the center, but the real highlight is the tour of the estate, which is made up of three cottages designed by A. Quincy Jones. Any fan of mid-century modern architecture will delight in the perfectly preserved interiors. The one downside - you aren't allowed to take pictures.

Relax at the Spa

If you aren't staying at Rancho Las Palmas, you should at least treat yourself to a day at their spa. It's the perfect place for a girlfriends' getaway and ideal for relaxation - as any spa should be. Their professional massage therapists are well versed in a variety of treatments and have a knack for finding and relieving trouble spots. The spa embraces its desert environment, incorporating the healing properties sage, lavender, verbena, chaparral and cactus into therapies.

Sample the Local Brew

Ever wondered what a beer flavored with the honey from killer bees might taste like? Me neither, but it's delicious - and you can try some at the Coachella Valley Brewing Company (CVB to the locals). CVB locally crafts a wide variety of beer in Thousand Palms, Calif., and they strive to showcase the agricultural attitudes of the desert with their brews - they had me at killer bees.

Another option for a local brew - and some pretty fantastic barbecue - is Babe's Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse, located in Rancho Mirage. Their on-site brewery offers award-winning microbrews and their restaurant features tasty baby-back ribs. Their homemade cornbread is also amazing - which should come as no surprise since this restaurant was founded by restaurant pioneer Don Callender, who founded Marie Callender's restaurants.

Head to State Fare at The Ritz

It's not often that a restaurant comes along that is a true classic, but State Fare at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage is definitely one for the books in California - exemplifying the new farm-to-fork trend. The restaurant offers a creative, fresh menu that incorporates food from the local Coachella Valley, inland Southern California and the Pacific Coast. It pairs its food menu with local wines and creative cocktails - both alcoholic and non. All of this with stunning vistas of the "Chocolate Mountains" make for a memorable meal.

Taste the Toffee

Last but not least, don't leave without tasting the local toffee. Not only is it delicious, but it also comes with a feel-good story to go with it (it lessens the effect of the calories, I promise). Brandini Toffee was started by two high school freshmen who were trying to save for a trip to Italy. Friends Leah Post and Brandon Weimer decided to start a candy company, selling toffee made with a family recipe.

Not only did these two raise enough for their trip, they caught the attention of media divas Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart. They have gone on to turn their mom-and-pop shop into a successful candy business, garnering several industry awards along the way - as well as lucrative contracts. You can try some of their toffee products at either of their two locations in Palm Springs or Rancho Mirage. My suggestion: the toffee shake. It's to die for.