4 Fabulous Outings in the East Valley… You want to see something different. You want to take full advantage of where you are. Here are some unique ways to spend your time in the East Valley.
Visit Greenday in Indio. This is where 100% post consumer glass blends with cement to produce a sustainable building and moulding material. Check out designs, everything from gargoyles to picnic benches. Then order up. You’ll feel your carbon footprint start to shrink.
Greenday LLC
43180 Sunburst St.
Indio, CA 92201
949.637.3674
Start your Big Year! We love this place! Enjoy some relaxing time at the wetlands at the Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center in Indio! Its primary mission is to rehab and release wild birds. The wetlands provide a natural area in addition to other treatment ponds and nearby open lands where nature can be observed, studied and enjoyed. There are bird watching blinds, towers and benches for your enjoyment. And remember, even a small donation goes a long way.
Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center
46500 Van Buren
Indio, CA 92201
760.347.2647
If he knew about it, Chapala Market could be in Quentin Tarantino’s next film. Not only is this an authentic Mexican market, but it’s got some of the most incredible Mexican food in the valley. The gals behind the counter know their stuff. Spanish will serve you well. Don’t expect to eat in, the dining area is teeny tiny. But for takeout Mexican, you’ll find nothing better.
Chapala Market
66351 Harrison St.
Thermal, CA 92274
760.397.4447
Forget Val Kilmer for the near future and reinterpret the Salton Sea at the new Salton Sea History Museum. The museum “spotlights the physical, cultural and natural history of the Salton Sea and surrounding areas. In addition they promote available options for restoration of the historic Salton Sea that ultimately maintains both the lake and salinity levels.” This is a unique, new attraction to the area. Plus, the reproductions of the famous Salton Sea ashtray made possible by the Palm Springs Modern Committee are retro great.
The Salton Sea History Museum & Visitor Center
72120 S. Lincoln St. (end of road across creek)
Mecca, CA 92254
760.393.9222
www.saltonseamuseum.org
Art, Culture and a Spectacular Sculpture Garden… There isn’t enough picture space to capture the beauty and creativity of The Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert. Granted, we’ve been fans of the Palm Springs Art Museum since our first visit years ago, so we had high expectations of the Palm Desert branch. To say the least, we weren’t disappointed. To say the most, our jaws dropped. The museum resides between two of the valley’s best restaurants, the French Cuistot and the Italian La Spiga. The Cuistot patio actually looks out onto the Faye Sarkowsky sculpture garden, which is by far one of the most creative and beautiful uses of desert space we’ve seen, right in the middle of the bustling city.
The museum, like its sister in Palm Springs, is filled with marvelous collections, some from the private collections of desert residents, which are viewed nowhere else in the world. From classic sculpture to contemporary art using light and media, the museum boasts a unique, wide-ranging microcosm of talent within its light, airy space. With admission at $5, think of combining your visit to the museum with lunch at Cuistot. Just check Cuistot’s lunch hours as they tend to change in and out of season. If you make it a group experience, La Spiga will open for lunch for groups of 40 or more. Just give them a call.
Now back to the sculpture garden… Frankly, it’s a little mindblowing to think that this garden sits about 50 feet from the busy Highway 111. The attention to detail is exquisite, including the blue iridescent tile crushed into the walkways to give the feel of a stream glinting in the sun. Currently, signs mark the future homes of sculpture, which will only enhance the rocks, waterfalls and gorgeous array of desert plants which makes the garden environmentally-friendly, calm, serene and lovely.
Pedestrians walking by may also enjoy the sculpture garden. Take time out, relax and enjoy the many wonders that the garden offers, then meander up to the Museum and get a little culture from this pocket of nirvana in the heart of the Coachella Valley.
The Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert is an exhilarating addition where the El Paseo and Highway 111 meet. With proximity to the El Paseo shopping district and neighboring some of the top restaurants in the valley, it becomes an important lynchpin of culture and enjoyment. Make sure to inquire about the “Friends of Palm Desert” membership launch campaign and come to the opening on March 31!
The Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert
72-567 Highway 111
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Located at Entrada del Paseo at the westernmost intersection of Highway 111 and El Paseo
760-346-5600
Polo anyone? The Cantina at Eldorado Polo Club has been taken over by Roc’s Firehouse Grill. Redesigned with fantastic service and unbeatable views, the Cantina is a “unique, must stop” restaurant and attraction in the East Valley.
The inside tables, banquettes and wood sports bar provide a cozy tavern feel, in stark contrast to the wide open spaces that surround it. With polo memorabilia on the walls, it’s obviously a place to kick back, relax and watch some sports inside or some chukkers outside. The service is quick and excellent, with a comfort food menu. The Fire Marshall sandwich is recommended, along with the best homemade potato chips we’ve tasted in quite some time.
You can also eat on the patio where you have a field side seat during the polo matches. However, be on guard to duck if a player sends a ball in your direction. The action is intense and, at times, within feet of your dining, making it all the more exciting!
This is an incredible place to spend the weekend meals. The views are unlike anywhere else in the entire country, spanning from Mt. San Jacinto in the West all the way to the tip of the Chocolate Mountains to the South.
So treat yourself to a unique lunch at the Roc’s Firehouse Grill at the Cantina at the Eldorado Polo Club. It will not disappoint.
Roc’s Firehouse Grill at Eldorado Polo Club
50950 Madison Street
Indio, CA 92201
760.775.3336
