I have lived in the desert for well over a decade now and regularly play tourist in my own town, but there is always something new to explore! Case in point – I only just discovered Desert International Horse Park, a world-renowned 239-acre equestrian facility in Thermal. Open to the public and offering a slew of activities, the park is a great way to spend a morning, as my mom and I did this past Sunday. Learn more about the sprawling facility, as well as four other things I’m currently loving in the Valley, below.
xo, Lindsay
THE WINE & CHEESE SHOP ON EL PASEO
I consume a ridiculous amount of cheese and, as such, have been eagerly anticipating the launch of this fromagerie ever since seeing its “coming soon” signage pop up on El Paseo last summer. Barely open a month now and it has already become a favorite. The gourmet market/deli/cheese shop is intimate, welcoming, and serves up some of the most scrumptious sandwiches in town (the Turkey/Brie and French Ham are my personal favorites), alongside stellar charcuterie boards, pizzas, salads, wine, and, of course, cheese.
HOT LIPS COFFEE
Cathedral City native Tara Uziel has created an atmosphere of pure joy with her chic coffee shop Hot Lips. Offering “daytime disco for your heart and soul,” the café opened this past summer and promptly acquired a league of devotees. I finally popped in to sample the fare last week and couldn’t agree more with the glowing online accolades! The espresso is tasty, the service insanely friendly and the ambiance hip – think colorful chairs, retro art, and shelves teeming with fashionable vintage attire and handmade goods.
HAT BAR
An inspired shopping concept recently hit El Paseo in the form of the Hat Bar by Pretty Please Collective. Patrons of the vibrant new shop are invited to craft custom hats – everything from felt to trucker to cowboy – using a curated selection of embellishments, including patches, pins, ribbons, dried flowers, matchbooks, and more. Skilled designers are on hand to help guide the overall process, as well as to burn words and graphics onto your creations. Not into hats? The shop also carries a fun selection of clothing, jewelry, and accessories.
“THE LIVING PYRAMID“
Desert X has long been one of my favorite Coachella Valley happenings. This year’s exhibition doesn’t kick off until March 8th, but you can catch a sneak preview courtesy of Sunnylands, which is currently hosting The Living Pyramid, a stepped monolith covered in cacti created by nonagenarian Hungarian-American artist Agnes Denes. Per Dezeen, the plants “will sprout, bloom, grow and perhaps die over six months as part of the installation, reflecting the growth cycle of the surrounding desert.” Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Sunnylands Gardens, the work is a true sight to behold!
DESERT INTERNATIONAL HORSE PARK
I recently had the pleasure of touring this Thermal equestrian facility and was introduced to a whole new world of desert adventures! Open seasonally each October through March, the expansive park offers 18 weeks of horse shows and competitions, as well as a plethora of special events, including concerts, trivia nights, bingo and more – all open to the public! Admission is free (as are many of the activities) and includes access to all of the park’s rings, arenas, warm-up fields, shops, and food kiosks. I highly recommend grabbing a brew from Cowdog Coffee when on site!