Our flight to Seattle yesterday wasn't until 3:15, so we had time to visit Sunnylands, the former Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage. The home, completed in 1966, is the epitome of desert elegance, where the rich, famous and powerful rubbed elbows for decades.
Seven presidents, British royalty and countless celebrities visited. Frank Sinatra married Barbara here. Everyone played golf on the private course. The indoor tour requires $50 advance reservations, but you can stroll around the gardens for free.
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I never saw such a manicured desert landscape, with acres of plants lined up like obedient soldiers. I suspect Mrs. Annenberg ran a tight ship! We had a nice salad at the outside cafe and watched a gardener fussing around with the sprinkler system.
After that, a 15 minute drive to a very different world from the Annenburgs-- Windmill Market in Desert Hot Springs. The folks are friendly and the date shakes the best in the valley. We bought more jumbo soft medjools and stuffed them in my packed suitcase. John, the date connoisseur, said they are the best ever. Dates here are good year round, but these might be a fresh crop.
Of course it isn't winter yet, but sure feels like it after that soothing warmth in the morning and evening, when you can sit outside drinking coffee or wine in your bathing suit or pj's.
The furnace is running and running this morning. But what a nice trip and we're looking forward to going back again next March, reservations already made.
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