My wife Cecile and I are nestled at the foothills of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains, nursing a watermelon Margarita at the Chuckwalla Pool Bar & Grill. The desert holds so much beauty. We were greeted with the most vibrant colored plants and flowers. Free yoga in the morning, lunch and relaxing pool time in the afternoon with the cabana mist spray providing relief from the hot sun. Dinner at "The Grill"on the premises and out on the town. We had dinner last evening at Maracas Mexican Cantina and Grill in Palm Springs. This eatery places a unique twist on Mexican cuisine with an emphasis on fresh ingredients. We had tortilla soup, Mexican chicken pot stickers with pineapple ginger sauce, and Mahi-Mahi Fish tacos and shared a bottle of Corona Light.
This Shadow Ridge resort has become a home away from home-vacation, only one hour by plane from where we live in the South Bay. A one bedroom suite more than accommodates our needs. Though we are not golfers, we love seeing the rolling fairways of the eighteen-hole championship golf course, breathtaking mountain views from the comfortable balcony. The property offers recreational activities for every age including a waterslide, children's activity center, six pools, jacuzzi and plenty of shaded and unshaded pool lounge chair areas. The last evening we were there they had a wine and cheese social with a live contemporary band.
The only damper (temporary) on the trip was on the flight home on Southwest Airline from Orange County. Shortly after take off, the pilot made a nosedive and turn that shook a few people up. It wasn't until later in the flight that the pilot apologized for the unexpected turbulence. He informed us that another plane was in our flight path and he had to react abruptly to keep us safe.
