MyDesert.com
Sponsored by:
Subscribe to The Desert Sun

2009 Best of the Valley

Best Recreation
Best Dog Park
Palm Springs Dog Park

1. Palm Springs Dog Park. Located directly behind City Hall (at the corner of Tahquitz and El Cielo), this is a community-supported, 1.6 acre space where well-behaved doggies can run off the leash. It's divided into two sections, the smaller area for smaller pets. The whole is surrounded by a whimsical wrought-iron fence, complete with dog portraits, that ensures no dog will scoot out into the adjacent parking lot when another is entering with its owner. Mindful of our summers, the park's supporters have provided shade tents to augment the mature trees. There are water fountains for both people and dogs, as well as some grassy areas and seating. You are expected to clean up after your pet and, if you're a regular, you'd be welcome to do your part by making a donation; 6 a.m.-10 p.m. (maintenance Tues. & Fri., noon-3 p.m.); 2 Civic Drive North, Palm Springs; 323-8281; palmsprings.com/points/dogpark.

2. City of Palm Desert Civic Center Park, Palm Desert

3. Freedom Park, Palm Desert

Best of the Rest: Centre Point Park, La Quinta; Joe Mann Park, Palm Desert; Fritz Burns Park, La Quinta


Best Fitness Center
Next Level Fitness

1. Next Level Fitness. A dollop of nutrition tops all the programs here, and whether it's exercise for kids or cardio kickboxing for adults, you'll leave looking and feeling buff; 73-600 Alessandro Dr., Palm Desert; 341-8200; nextlevelfitness.org.

2. World Gym, valleywide

3. Golds Gym, valleywide

Best of the Rest: Power Of Fitness, valleywide; 24-Hour Fitness, valleywide; Palm Desert Athletic Club, Palm Desert; Indio Community Center, Indio; Spa, Spa Resort Casino, Palm Springs; Balanced Training Boot Camp, valleywide; Anytime Fitness, Cathedral City

Best Hike
Bump and Grind Trail

1. Bump and Grind Trail. The trailhead may have changed - to the Mike Shuler Trail in Palm Desert behind the Desert Crossings shopping center - but the popularity of the Coachella Valley's most descriptively named trail continues unabated. It's the best free workout in the desert, with valley views galore and sinewy switchbacks guaranteed to get your calves in shape. Early morning is best, BYO water; Painters Path, south of Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert; cityofpalmdesert.org.

2. Indian Canyons, Palm Springs

3. Tahquitz Canyon, Palm Springs

Best of the Rest: Ladder Canyons, Mecca; Andreas Canyon, Palm Springs; Art Smith Trail, Palm Desert; Eisenhower Mountain, The Living Desert, Palm Desert; Lykken Trail, Palm Springs; Murray Canyon, Palm Springs; Skyline Trail to Upper Tram Station, Palm Springs


Best Place to Take Kids
Living Desert

1. Living Desert Zoo and Garden. Can't top this! Zoo camps year-round, critter programs, a petting kraal, things to examine and touch and, because it can get hot, plenty of covered, misted rest and play spots; 47-900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert; 346-5694; livingdesert.org.

2. Pump It Up of Coachella Valley, Indio

3. Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert, Rancho Mirage

Best of the Rest: Next Level Fitness, Palm Desert; Knott's Soak City Waterpark, Palm Springs; Net-Jam, Palm Desert; Boomers!, Cathedral City; Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs; Indian Canyons, Palm Springs; Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs

Best Public Golf Course
Desert Willow Golf Resort

1. Desert Willow Golf Resort. The city of Palm Desert's idea of municipal golf looks, feels and plays more like high-end resort golf. The two courses, the Firecliff and the Mountain View, feature sand, water and innovative designs by Michael Hurdzan and PGA Tour member John Cook. It's tournament-caliber golf for public consumption that forced other cities to upgrade their municipal facilities; 38-995 Desert Willow Dr., Palm Desert; 346-7060; desertwillow.com.

2. Indian Canyons Golf Resort, Palm Springs

3. Indian Wells Golf Resort, Indian Wells

Best of the Rest: Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort, Palm Springs; SilverRock Resort, La Quinta; Marriott's Shadow Ridge, Palm Desert; Indio Municipal Golf Course, Indio; Cathedral Canyon Country Club, Cathedral City; Classic Club, Palm Desert; Palms Course, Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa, Palm Desert


Best Public Park
Palm Desert Civic Center Park

1. Palm Desert Civic Center Park. Somewhere on these 70 acres is a place to play any sport that comes with a ball. Otherwise, enjoy the tot lots, picnic pavilions and the desert's biggest shade trees; 73-510 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert; 568-9697; cityofpalmdesert.org.

2. Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms

3. Freedom Park, Palm Desert

Best of the Rest: Ruth Hardy Park, Palm Springs; La Quinta Civic Center Campus, La Quinta; Demuth Park, Palm Springs; Whitewater Park, Rancho Mirage; Sunrise Park, Palm Springs; Fritz Burns Park, La Quinta; Bagdouma Park, Coachella

Best Tennis Court

1. Palm Springs Tennis Club. Eleven hard-surface tennis courts, some equipped for night play and all resurfaced within the last three years, are the lure at this Palm Springs institution, just a few blocks from Palm Canyon Drive. There's also a pro shop with two teaching pros. Flexible hours means that play can start prior to 8 a.m., but match-making begins at that time; finish your last game by 9 p.m. Open to members or guests of the Palm Springs Tennis Club resort and timeshare residences; 701 W. Baristo Rd., Palm Springs; 318-1716; palmsspringstennisclub.net.

2. Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Indian Wells

3. Tennis & Lawn Club, Desert Springs, JW Marriott Resort, Palm Desert

Best of the Rest: Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage; Plaza Racquet Club, Palm Springs; Palm Desert Civic Center Park, Palm Desert; College of the Desert, Palm Desert; Tennis Club, La Quinta Resort, La Quinta; Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, Indian Wells; Whitewater Park, Rancho Mirage


  See more than 200 things you love about the desert: Dining - Entertainment - Recreation - Schools - Services - Shopping