Family Luxury in Rancho Mirage

Palm Springs usually takes the prize when it comes to luxury in the California desert but neighboring Rancho Mirage is giving them a run for their money with the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa.

This 4-star resort lets guests soak up the California sun while playing and relaxing in elegance. Located on 240 acres of lushly landscaped grounds, the resort is surrounded by a stunning desert backdrop of towering palm trees and the San Jacinto Mountain Range.

Guests can stay in one of the spacious guestrooms, opting to be poolside if desired, but, for true indulgence, the resort offers several types of suites. The Grand Suites are decorated with a desert theme and each has a different personality. The Presidential Suite, which offers impressive views of the property’s beautifully landscaped golf course, is ideal for families who want to vacation like kings.

Palm Desert from the top of San Jacinto © Travers Morgan | Dreamstime.com

One of the resort’s highlights is the championship golf course — Palm Springs can’t hog all the glory! The 27-hole Ted Robinson course is perfect for golfers of any skill level. The course includes six lakes and three different nine-hole layouts. Private and group lessons are available for guests who never golfed before or simply want to improve their stroke.

Golf isn’t the only way to enjoy some exercise during your stay. In addition to the pools and fitness room, the resort also boasts 24 tennis courts. They are open day and night with private instruction and clinics available. Don’t worry if you don’t show up prepared — the resort has gear for rent along with a pro shop where you can dress yourself like a real tennis star.

The resort makes sure kids aren’t left out of the fun while their parents indulge in the luxurious surroundings at Rancho Las Palmas. The hotel has its own water park, Splashtopia, to make sure your little ones get plenty of excitement. With two 100-foot waterslides, a play zone with fountains and sprinklers, a sandy beach and a 425-foot-long winding river for rafting, the whole family can stay cool in the desert sun. The water park’s Splash Grill lets families spend the whole day in the water by offering drinks, snacks and light meals.

The Omni Kids Crew program helps to keep kids from getting bored once they’re out of the water with a backpack stuffed with goodies like games, crayons and activity books. For kids looking for a truly unique vacation experience, the resort offers Mermaid University — a special program that gives children aged 6–13 the opportunity to don their own tail and practice swimming through an underwater obstacle course. The program runs until Sept. 30.

With so much to offer in an environment of pure luxury and decadence, the Omni Rancho Las Palmas is sure to top the list for family vacation destinations in the California desert this summer.