La Quinta is Luxury Oasis in California Desert
The chicken-and-egg question guests often ask at La Quinta Resort & Club is which came first: the city of La Quinta or the resort? The answer is neither. The Spaniards came first when they created a base in La Quinta along their route to the San Gabriel Mission.
Several centuries later, along came big shot Bay-area businessman Walter Morgan, who chose to build La Quinta resort pretty much where the Spaniards had their base. It was much later that the city of La Quinta was named for the resort — one of only two cities in the country to be named this way. The other is Beverly Hills, named after the famous Beverly Hills Resort.
The area Morgan chose for his resort is in the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains near Palm Springs and, today, La Quinta Resort & Club has become a massive 42-acre collection of casitas, golf courses, swimming pools and tennis courts that, for the first-timer, requires a roadmap to navigate. Charming Spanish architecture and abundant vegetation weave a colorful tapestry against the mountain backdrop, making La Quinta Resort & Club one of the prettiest spa resorts you’ll ever see. It’s the perfect choice for a California vacation of any length.
Our trip from San Diego to La Quinta was quick and easy using the back route through the parched landscape near Anza, culminating in a 10-mile winding, downgrade taking vehicles about 5,000 feet down to the desert floor where temperatures were nearly 20 degrees hotter than on top of the grade. Any trip to Palm Springs during the spring and summer requires a little pre-planning to manage the heat. You don’t just show up and stay on the golf course all day in triple-digit temperatures.
The locals in the Palm Springs area have learned to time outdoor activities so that they’re accomplished in the relatively cool mornings. In some cases, afternoon activities will work if you know, for example, your golf course will have shade. One of the La Quinta courses always gets covered in shade from the Santa Rosa Mountains at 3 p.m. each day.
“Managing the weather here is just a matter of keeping hydrated and wearing sunscreen,” explained Sara Harper, La Quinta’s Director of Marketing Communications. “And the nights here are so unbelievably pleasant.”
We hit an unusually hot weekend for spring — it got as high as 108 degrees — but we noticed that the heat really didn’t get uncomfortable until early to mid-afternoon. As they say, it’s a dry heat in the Palm Springs area, and the 90-degree temps in the morning hours felt downright refreshing.
But there is no question that your time at La Quinta Resort & Club — whatever the time of the year — is bound to involve some serious submerging in one of the resort’s 42 swimming pools. No, that’s not a typo — La Quinta not only has 42 pools, but 53 hot tub spas. Many of the resort’s casitas have their own swimming pools, but other casitas are grouped around one or more mid-size pools where there seemed to be plenty of room to swim and ample deck chairs to accommodate anyone who wanted to lay out in the desert sun.
Our “starlight” casita was a spacious upstairs unit in a two-story building overlooking one of the swimming pools. Floor plans at La Quinta offer more than the usual amount of space — 450 square feet or more — and that, along with the high ceilings, gives a feeling of openness. An incredibly comfortable king bed, hide-a-bed, desk and audio/video entertainment area were in the main room; the bath area was equally comfortable with an over-sized bathtub, walk-in shower stall, double vanities and a separate room for the commode.
Casitas each are decorated with a Southwestern flair. Mexican influenced pottery designs, wrought iron mirror frames and bed treatments with browns, reds and yellows created a fiesta of color in our casita’s main room. Outside on the deck were lounge chairs, a table and umbrella to enjoy the outdoors in total privacy.
The casita buildings are connected by a maze of walkways that will keep you reaching for your hotel map. These sidewalks also are a primary thoroughfare for the golf carts and bicycles driven and ridden by resort employees as they spread out all over the vast complex that totals 800 casitas altogether.
Back when Walter Morgan first built the resort in 1926, the resort plan was a bit more modest — only 20 casitas, although he did build the valley’s first golf course. La Quinta Resort was created to lure Hollywood stars to the Coachella Valley where they could get away from the studio and relax in privacy — which of course had something to do with why the Palm Springs area became popular with Hollywood movie stars.
At La Quinta, the list of Hollywood stars was impressive — such lminaries as Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Katherine Hepburn, Eddie Cantor and Shirley Temple were regulars. Greta Garbo had a house on the property, and Frank Capra wrote many of his movie scripts in the same La Quinta casita that today has his typewriter and one of his scripts awaiting the lucky guest renting that particular casita.
Hollywood stars still come to La Quinta today because, like many KSL Resorts properties, this resort is laid out in a campus style that allows a celebrity to avoid entering through a main entrance or elevator — the stars just drive right to their casitas, parking a few steps away and then get lost in the resort during their entire stay. This layout also is beneficial for everyday vacationers who don’t want to be bothered by convention and other group activities; when conventions are held at La Quinta they are held in areas where regular guests aren’t likely to even know they are there.
Sports celebrities, too, are in abundance — especially tennis players. La Quinta tennis pro Mike Casey has relationships with many world-class players who periodically will train at La Quinta. With 23 courts — clay, grass and hard surface — the resort has become popular also for ordinary people who just want to improve their tennis game. Many of the courts are lighted, which means the players can manage the Palm Springs heat by playing at night.
For golfers, La Quinta offers five courses, including three designated as PGA West.
For those of us who just want to relax and enjoy great food, La Quinta — as near as we could tell — fills the bill there, too. We only had time to sample the Adobe Grill — which served scrumptious and authentic Mexican cuisine — but the resort also boasts Morgan’s, a premium steakhouse, Azur by Le Bernadin seafood restaurant and the Spa Bistro, offering spa cuisine to make your stay as healthy as it was fun. Actually, including the golf courses, there are seven restaurants at La Quinta.
The Spa La Quinta is a top attraction at La Quinta — it offers guests many treatments created by the region’s first inhabitants. One of the top spa resorts in Southern California, this resort puts emphasis on outdoor spa treatments under the desert sky to add to the serenity and relaxation of the experience. Inside the spa facility, you’ll also find the Yamaguchi Salon, which is internationally known for cutting and coloring techniques that integrate Asian Feng Shui philosophy into these services. Those who enjoy spa vacations will enjoy La Quinta.
La Quinta Resort & Club has come a long way from the time in the 1500’s when it was the “fifth stop” on the way to San Gabriel Mission. Today it’s the first and only stop for many discriminating guests from around the world.
AT A GLANCE
WHERE: The resort is only about 30 minutes southeast of Palm Springs and a couple-hour drive from L.A. It is one of several fine spa resorts in the Palm Springs area.
WHAT: La Quinta is well known with international vacationers as well as California residents who may visit several times a year. The combination of activities—and the new popularity of spa vacations—makes La Quinta a popular choice.
WHEN: Year-round, but check for special travel deals and vacation packages during certain times of the year. If you have last minute travel plans, be sure to ask for any special rates. The best deals in the Palm Springs area are during summer months.
WHY: So many activities and so much luxury and quality all in one location — a California vacation spot that appeals to the entire family.
HOW: For more information on La Quinta Resort and Club, phone 1-800-598-3828 or visit www.laquintaresort.com.
Turn Your Bathroom Into a Spa Oasis With Feng Shui
In Feng Shui, the bathroom is a sanctuary where you nurture yourself.
Does your bathroom rejuvenate you in the morning and help you relax and unwind in the evening, or does it create chaos, increase stress and promote tension in your life?
Consider the following aspects of your bathroom and implement some of the suggestions to create a spa-like experience that uplifts your energy and renews your spirit.
1. Colors: The best colors for a bathroom include lighter shades of green, yellow, blue, silver sage, lavender, and yellow.
The bathroom already has an enormous amount of water energy represented with the sink, tub, shower and toilet. Colors that incorporate the “wood” element, such as light blues and greens, feed the water element and create a sense of balance.
Avoid colors such as red, purple, emerald, navy, brown and black; they make the room feel smaller. Additionally, red, purple and black represent the fire (red and purple) or water (black) element, which can make the water element in the room undesirably strong.
I recently worked with a client who had a small bathroom decorated entirely in red. The room felt tight and constricting. I felt my body tense as soon as I entered. I suggested that she paint over the red with a lighter cream or white and introduce green accents in the form of a shower curtain, rug and towels. Her bathroom now feels like a lush, personal oasis that she loves.
2. Life Energy: Many homes I visit have a lot of candles in the bathroom, especially on top of the toilet tank. While it’s relaxing and romantic to soak in a tub by candlelight, candles represent the fire element, which actually strengthens the water element already in the space.
Instead of candles, bring live plants into the bathroom to balance the water element. You can even replace those candles on top of your toilet tank with a lush green plant.
Of course, you can keep candles in your bathroom. Simply store them of sight when you are not using them, or keep only a few displayed. This change is easy and inexpensive to implement, and you’ll notice a difference right away.
3. Proper Ventilation: You want good air flow throughout your whole house to promote the flow of chi, but it is especially important to have proper ventilation and fresh air circulating in the bathroom. Run the fan when you take a hot shower so you don’t create mold and mildew in the bathroom.
4. Scents: Your bathroom experience should encompass all your senses. Small pots of fresh herbs, such as lavender, rosemary or sage, add a relaxing scent to the space, while offsetting the water element in the room. Try to avoid using air fresheners that may add toxic chemicals to the air; look for natural alternatives whenever you can.
5. Organization: What do you see when you walk into your bathroom: the curling iron, makeup and brushes scattered across the vanity? Or do you notice bath salts, folded towels, organized baskets and soothing lotions?
Consider organizing the space to display items that are pleasing to the eye. Keep your hair dryer and other styling tools tucked away out of sight. Even when they’re not turned on, these items emit electrical energy that can energize a space too much.
6. Lighting: Make sure your bathroom is well lit and that you have additional lighting options such as multiple lights or lights on a dimmer.
7. Mirrors: Bathroom mirrors should permit you to see your entire face. If the mirror is not hung at the proper height, and the image cuts off the top of your head or chin, it is slicing your energy. This can lead to problems of self-esteem or feeling “incomplete.” It’s best to have one mirror rather than multiple panes of mirrors, so the mirror does not cut your image into segments.
8. Etiquette: The toilet seat should always be down with the toilet lid closed. Do you really want that bacteria going into the air when you flush the toilet?
9. Proper Maintenance: Fix any leaking faucets and keep the fixtures clean. Dripping water is said to “drain” your wealth and can lead to financial difficulties.
These are just a few ways you can incorporate Feng Shui into your bathroom and your life. How do you feel when you walk into your own bathroom? What do you like and dislike about other bathrooms you’ve visited?
For your free feng shui guide, visit http://www.KenLauher.com.
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Creating Your Own Private Spa Oasis
Bathrooms used to be primarily a functional space, with very little thought to their appearance or style. But today, the bathroom is considered an important part of the home – a place to relax and also an asset in the sale of a home. If you hope to make your bathroom a relaxing “spa-like” room, you need to focus on contemporary bathroom design.
There are a lot of features to incorporate into contemporary bathroom design. If you are interested in creating a high-end bathroom, you may want to consider features such as:
walk-in showers with multi showerheads; radiant heating for tile floors; whirlpool spa bathtubs; glass shower doors; luxurious custom cabinetry; and elegant tile.
The first step in planning a contemporary bathroom design is to evaluate the structure of your home. Some of these elements are very heavy, especially if you plan to use granite or marble tiles. You need to know whether your floor can handle the weight of a spa-tub (when full) or a multi-head walk in shower with a lot of tile.
What if Space is Limited?
Another factor to consider is space. How big is the bathroom? Smaller bathrooms require scaled down fixtures. For instance, contemporary bathroom design might incorporate an above counter basin. This option for a basin is great for smaller bathrooms because the basin is the focal point – you can use a smaller cabinet as the base.
Do you have a small bathroom with a bath/shower combination? One option to consider is replacing the bathtub with a large shower pan. Your former bathtub becomes a walk-in shower. Add some beautiful tile with bathroom accessories such a tiled soap tray, or heated towel racks. You may have what’s technically considered a “smaller” bathroom, but it’s far more luxurious, functional and inviting.
Details Add Elegance
Think about your image of a spa. What comes to your mind? Do you think of sleek, simple spaces with natural elements like tile or bamboo? Incorporate those ideas into your contemporary bathroom design. Don’t forget to add bathroom accessories to enhance the image. For instance, luxurious stacks of fluffy towels, hand-crafted soaps, baskets filled with magazines, a glass bottle with scented oil and bamboo sticks to dissipate the scent, and baskets to hide spare rolls of toilet paper.
Contemporary bathroom design incorporates luxury, functionality and an eye for details with well-chosen bathroom accessories. With a little planning and design, you can create a beautiful bathroom that will feel like your own private spa.
James Mahoney is the owner of two sites on home design, Bathroom Designers Ideas.com and Kitchen Designers Ideas.com. He has written many articles on both bathroom and kitchen design. Learn about bathroom design ideas and trends by visiting his site at http://www.BathroomDesignersIdeas.com