Sunnylands Center & Gardens

"It’s an expansive desert art garden, art-exhibition center, and historic home where Queen Elizabeth II once stayed (among countless other luminaries). Such a marvelous property inspires a feeling of time travel into a place where privilege was the lifestyle. Gardens are landscaped with care to each detail, walking paths invite quiet strolls, and exhibits reveal splendid treasures. The house itself is a masterpiece of mid-century-modern architecture and interior design, earning it historic-site designation in 1990. There’s much to learn about art and late 20th-century diplomacy here. Or you can just wander and ponder the beauty brought about by the Annenbergs, whose private estate featured 13 man-made lakes, three guest cottages, and a nine-hole golf course. The couple’s art collection included original works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Wyeth, and Monet; and though they’re mostly loaned to museums these days, at Sunnyland you'll still find perfect replicas." - Kelsy Chauvin

"The fact that Sunnylands serves as the Camp David of the West Coast kind of does this stunning estate a disservice: And while it's still frequented by many presidents and politicians, it's open to the public. Designed for the Annenbergs by A. Quincy Jones in the '60s, it is one of the more stunning examples of mid-century architecture, and it's situated on meticulously manicured grounds. Book well in advance for tours, though you can always stop by to see the permanent exhibition, which offers a great survey on some of the home's big moments over time."

"Palm Springs’ slightly upscale and affluent neighbor, Rancho Mirage is known for its country clubs and resorts, like the iconic Sunnylands and posh Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage. It tends to draw a slightly older, more sophisticated — but not stuffy — crowd. With demand for real estate and vacation rentals at an all-time high in Palm Springs, and thanks to a resurgence in local art and interest in mid-century modern design principles found all throughout the Coachella Valley, Rancho Mirage and neighboring Palm Desert are seeing spikes of interest as alternative options. The weather, with 300 annual days of sunshine in the region, doesn’t hurt either." - Travel + Leisure Editors