Friday Evening: Let the weekend begin with fine food and drink. A window table at The Edge Steakhouse at The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage rewards diners with decadent entrées and a side of purple mountain views. Design enthusiasts might opt for Wally’s Desert Turtle, a family-owned spot with interiors by Steve Chase, dating back to the 1970s. Keep the party going after hours at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa for 24-hour gaming and regular live entertainment, including major touring acts. If slots aren’t your style, swap the casino for arcade classics at Dave & Buster’s.
Saturday Morning: The mountains are calling. Start your day with a trek through the Mirada trail system, four paths of varying distance and difficulty that begin behind Rancho Mirage City Hall, where you can pick up a free trail map. Afterward, fuel up with coffee from Koffi, where the beans are roasted on-site, or linger over Belgian waffles, homemade crêpes, or caviar-dotted salmon Benedict at Si Bon.
Dessert at Si Bon, known for classic Belgian fare.
Photo courtesy CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE
The grotto at The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage.
Photo courtesy CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE
Historic estate at Sunnylands Center & Gardens.
pHOTO courtesy city of rancho mirage
Saturday Afternoon: Spa, water park, or golf? Whatever your pleasure, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. Book a treatment at a luxe spot like Sunstone Spa, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Spa Las Palmas, or Westin Wellness Spa. Take the family swimming — Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa has a water park. Or book a tee time at The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa or Desert Island Country Club.
Saturday Evening: Cowboy Cantina dishes up Hatch chile–spiked Southwestern fare, Las Casuelas Nuevas serves family-style Mexican classics, and Willie’s Modern Fare offers a dash of British. After dinner, stop by the Rancho Mirage Observatory for a public stargazing night and view the cosmos through telescopes.
Sunday Morning: End your weekend with a tour of the A. Quincy Jones–designed estate at Sunnylands. Tickets go fast, so get yours early. Enjoy pastries and coffee or a light lunch at Sunnylands’ counter-service café, or head to nearby Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop for a sub to fuel your trip home.
