Day 2: Tennis, Tram & Dates
Waking the kids wasn’t easy as they’d crashed hard the night before. But the mention of a hot breakfast got their attention.
Tennis
We were up early for a tennis lesson at the famed Indian Wells Tennis Garden (78-200 Miles Avenue in Indian Wells). The kids had a morning lesson with a tennis pro. We checked in at the Pro Shop and got our rackets, then met the instructor on the court. Anyone can play here, you don’t need to be a professional athlete or even a club member.
My kids’ previous experience with tennis consisted of hitting balls at the neighborhood court. They’d always wanted to learn how to play and this was their shot! They were a little intimidated when we arrived. The facility is massive and it seemed like everyone knew what they were doing … except us. But our pro was patient and worked with each kid at their level. After about an hour, the kids left with newfound confidence and skills, and an interest in tennis.
Court fees are $25 for a day for the public. You can hire an instructor – or just enjoy the opportunity to play where the pros play. Indian Wells Tennis Garden is the site of the BNP Paribas Open, the largest combined mens and womens tennis tournament.
Lunch
Sweaty from tennis, we headed back to the hotel to clean up. Convenient, since it’s just across the street from Indian Wells. After a quick change, we headed out for an early lunch. We’d heard good things about Big Rock Pub (79440 Westward Ho Drive in Indio). Located on a public golf course, the lunch crowd was a mix of golfers and regulars.
We arrived before the lunch rush. The lunch menu included wings, burgers, and sandwiches, but pizza was an easy choice for my crew. Big Rock is known for its craft beers, live music and quirky decor.
Autographed guitars from the likes of ZZ Top, Prince and Eric Clapton adorn the walls and ceilings of the restaurant, and even the restrooms. It’s especially cool since many of the guitars are for sale with profits going to the Desert Cancer Foundation.
Date Shakes
Prior to visiting the Palm Desert, I wasn’t aware that dates were such a big deal for this area. Not the romantic kind, but the fruity variety. California grows 90% of all dates in the U.S., most of them are from Coachella Valley.
Shields Date Garden (80225 Highway 111 in Indio) is a local classic since 1924, and home of the famous date shake. I’m gonna be honest, I thought it sounded gross and it was a hard sell for the kids. Part of traveling is trying new foods and the date shake is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. We ordered at the 1960s milkshake counter. The shakes were served in tall, nondescript paper cup. Our first sips surprised us. The shake was thick, creamy and tasted a bit like caramel. It was good! You might balk at the price of $7.95 for a 24-ounce shake. Consider ordering one and splitting it. It’s really rich and best for sharing.
While you’re at Shields, you’ll find a huge variety of date-related treats. There’s also a movie called “Romance & Sex Life of the Date” showing in a retro-theater. My teenage daughter giggled at the title, but it definitely drew her in. We grabbed a seat and sipped our shakes while learning more about dates. While we weren’t here long, the experience was memorable. When we return to Palm Springs, we’ll be back for another shake because it really was that good.
It was time for a mid-day break. We headed back to the Homewood Suites, about a 10 minute drive from Shields Date Garden. The kids were split between resting in the room … or cooling off in the hotel pool. We realized we had time for a little bit of both before our next adventure later in the afternoon.
Aerial Tramway
After some down time, we were ready to explore again. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (1 Tram Way in Palm Springs) is an iconic tourist attraction in the area, operating since the 60s. It’s also a great way to beat the summer heat as it can be 30-40 degrees cooler at the top than on the desert floor. The drive to the tramway was about 45-minutes from the hotel, we headed slowly uphill for the last few miles before arriving in the parking lot at an elevation of 2,643 feet.
We got our tickets and lined up to board the world’s largest rotating tram car. In the span of about 10-minutes, the tram travels about 2.5 miles up Chino Canyon to Mt. San Jacinto State Park. The Mountain Station at the top sits at an elevation of 8,516 feet. It features observation decks, two restaurants, a gift shop, museum and more. We grabbed snacks and cold drinks, then headed out for a short hike. There are more than 50 miles of wilderness hiking trails here. There’s a nice downhill stretch leading from the Mountain Station into the woods. The kids had a lot of fun stretching their legs on the trails. It was a bit more challenging getting back to the tram station after our hike due to the elevation.
The tram runs daily including holidays. Cars depart at least every 30 minutes. Tickets cost $28.95 per adult, $16.95 for children ages 3-10. Kids under 3 are free, but need a boarding pass. You’ll check in at the ticket booth to get one. Parking costs an additional $10.
We’d spent more time than we’d anticipated at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Maybe it was the cool air or the gorgeous views, but once we got to the top, we didn’t really want to come back down. With sunset approaching and our stomachs grumbling, we hitched a tram ride back down the canyon and headed on to dinner.
Dinner
I plotted Acqua California Bistro (71700 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage) on my map. This family-owned spot features California cuisine in a hip, modern setting. It’s open for brunch, happy hour and everything in-between. With a wide variety of menu options, it’s a great family spot. But if you ask the kids, the best part was dessert, specifically the hand spun cotton candy served in an oversized martini glass. It was a sight to behold.
After a busy and active day, we were ready to turn in after dinner. We headed back to the hotel and set the alarms for an early wake up. A guide from Red Jeep Tours was due to meet us at 7:30am for a tour of the San Andreas Fault. So off to sleep we went.
Click “3” to read about our third day which took us to the desert and the pool.
