Hotel at a Glance: Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel

You’ll probably spend most of your time here in your bathing suit. The hotel centers on three swimming pools and five hot tubs, all filled with natural mineral water and available 24 hours a day. Each one is heated between 90 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring you’ll be comfortable whether you’re swimming laps or simply relaxing.

• Perfect your tan on the pool deck as you sip a drink from the bar and enjoy views of mountains through the palm trees.
• Get pampered with a soothing hot-stone massage or aromatherapy facial at the on-site spa.
• Pool-view rooms are equipped with refrigerators and free WiFi.
• Dine alfresco or in the dining room at the aptly named Sunshine Café.
• Have a night out: The hotel’s sports lounge features karaoke and live bands on select nights.

Desert Hot Springs, California: Spa-Centric Oasis Minutes from Palm Springs

In 1913, settler Cabot Yerxa was digging a well in the Joshua Tree foothills when he unearthed natural hot springs bubbling beneath the Californian desert. This area later became known as Desert Hot Springs, a town that’s thrived over the years as a spa-centric getaway thanks to Yerxa’s find. The mineral waters, which hover around 148 degrees and are said to have healing powers, now flow directly into several local spas. Desert Hot Springs’ location, just 12 miles north of Palm Springs and two hours east of Los Angeles, also makes it an easy destination to reach for those looking for a relaxing escape from the big city.

You can see more of Yerxa’s legacy at Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, which sits within a Hopi-influenced pueblo home he built using materials found throughout the desert. The four-story museum stays open year-round and offers guided tours of the property and historic artifacts detailing Yerxa’s life and travels.

After dark, take advantage of the area’s light-pollution ordinances by driving 40 miles east to Joshua Tree National Park to stargaze and spy the glowing eyes of resident coyotes during a night hike. The roughly 800,000-acre park stretches across parts of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts and plays host to some of the country’s most varied wildlife. The five fan-palm oases that are scattered throughout the park are the best spots to see native animals, such as snakes, bighorn sheep, and black-tailed jackrabbits.