This “Playground of Presidents” has stellar man-made creations (golf courses, the Agua Caliente Casino, lavish estates, opulent resorts) surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. It’s a winning combination that prompted the likes of Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Dinah Shore, Walter Annenberg and former President Gerald Ford to set up residence in Rancho Mirage. The latest human endeavor in town very much takes nature into consideration. The River, an entertainment complex with theaters, restaurants and top-notch shops, has caused quite a splash. The newest Rancho Mirage Rancho Miragelandmark joins such illustrious company as the greatly respected Eisenhower Medical Center (site of the famous Betty Ford Center) and the hands-on fun of the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert.

If it’s shopping you’re after, Palm Desert may be your personal Shangri-La. El Paseo (think Rodeo Drive and Worth Avenue without the attitude) offers block after block of stylish boutiques, shoe salons, jewelry stores, day spas, restaurants and museum-quality art galleries. And El Paseo is just one of many shopping showcases in a town where country clubs and resorts mingle with affluent residences. But nature, in its minimalistic glory, is also on display in Palm Desert. The Living Desert Wildlife and Botanical Park, for instance, combines an indigenous zoo with an arboretum experience. And, of course, there’s man’s ultimate outdoor challenge: golf. More than 25 private and public golf courses make sure Palm Desert is green all over.