December 2014 – Gallaudet Properties

December 31, 2014

A Slice is a Good Thing at these Pizza Restaurants

Do you know how in some communities most of the automobile dealerships tend to be located in one area? It makes it convenient for shoppers to hit a lot of new car showrooms and used car lots without having to drive all around town.

We have a similar setup with pizzerias in the La Quinta–Palm Desert area. A person could sample good pizza at a different restaurant every day for more than a week without ever having to leave a short stretch of El Paseo, which is the business section of Highway 111.

Your trek might start at the Haus of Pizza (72795 Hwy 111) then ramble down the road to Stuft Pizza (72840 Hwy 111). Next up could be Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza and Grill (73595 El Paseo) or the Copper Oven (73196 Hwy 111) followed by The Hood Bar and Pizzeria (74360 Hwy 111) or perhaps Piero’s PizzaVino (73722 El Paseo).

Stuft Pizza La Quinta — Stuft Pizza – La Quinta

Let a thousand pizza styles bloom!
Are you getting the picture? I don’t know exactly how this incredible concentration of quality pizzerias occurred, but – like any true pizza connoisseur – I’m glad it did. Talk to locals and you’ll find folks who swear by their favorite among this lineup and I think that demonstrates that no matter how you prefer your pizza, you’re going to find a great restaurant offering your favorite style.

Many of us love the food at Stuft Pizza. They have a wonderful wood-fired oven that makes their hand-tossed crust something very special. And, like many of the restaurants listed above, their offerings go far beyond pizzas and include pasta, steak, seafood, sandwiches and more. They also feature a very long wine list and impressive selection of craft beers. There is also a Stuft Pizza in La Quinta, which is so popular that it is always busy, no matter what time of year!

You’ll need to go on your own pizza adventure to see which aligns best to your tastes. But lest you put on a few pounds while you’re conducting your research, there are some good ways to work off those calories right in the area.
Cahuilla Hills Park is nearby and that’s where you’ll find the trailhead for the Cahuilla Hills trail system. It also has a tennis court and four pickleball courts, a sport that is rapidly growing in popularity.

Golf is great exercise too!
And if you want to burn some calories on the golf course, La Quinta Country Club and La Quinta Resort are not too far from the “pizza district.” And that brings up another fact: the concentration of great pizza restaurants in La Quinta, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and the Palm Springs area in general may only be topped by the concentration of great golf courses here.

To pinpoint the exact location of golf courses and many of the areas best restaurants, be sure to download our Golf Resource Guide. It’s a free guide and it gives you a bird’s eye overview of almost the entire Coachella Valley.

For example, if you want to see the location of golf course properties in and around courses such as the Citrus Club, The Palms Golf Club, Silver Rock Golf Resort, Painted Cove and many more, this is the guide you need to see.

And when it’s time to take your search for the ideal home to the next level, just give us a call or drop us an email so we can help out.

Here’s to your enjoyment of desert living, golf…and pizza!

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December 24, 2014

Dreaming of a White Christmas and a Round of Golf

You can’t get through the holiday season without enjoying Bing Crosby’s recording of White Christmas a few times. Various artists have put their stamp on the classic over the years, but none will ever touch Bing’s version.

You may know that there’s a major connection between Bing Crosby and the Palm Springs area – Rancho Mirage specifically – but did you know that there’s also a connection between the desert here and a white Christmas?

I’ll cover some of the highlights between the crooner and our area first and then make the white Christmas connection. (I have to hold you in suspense for at least a few moments!)

Bing Crosby Estate Rancho Mirage — Bing Crosby Estate – Rancho Mirage

Bing had a wonderful estate in Rancho Mirage, just across the street from the Thunderbird Country Club. Bing’s love of golf is almost as famous as his silky smooth singing voice and he actually helped establish the Thunderbird Country Club.

Stay in Bing’s estate
His estate there is 6,700 square feet, five bedrooms and six baths. Visitors to our area can rent it today if they want to get a feel for his lifestyle. I also need to mention that the neighborhood where it’s located is Thunderbird Heights, which has been home to many celebrities over the years. In fact, Rancho Mirage itself is often called the “Playground of the Presidents” because of its rich history with First Families over the years.

But what about White Christmas? you ask. If you’re familiar with the geography of La Quinta and the Coachella Valley, you know that we back up to the San Jacinto Mountains. This year we got our first snowfall on the mountains in the week before Christmas. It’s not uncommon to get up on Christmas morning, look up to the mountains and see snow.

And if you, visiting children or grandchildren feel like waging a snowball fight, you can always buy a ticket, hop on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and take the ride to the top of the mountains. Is there any other place in the world where you can have breakfast outdoors under a palm tree and in less than an hour be hiking under snowy pine trees? I don’t think so.

White peaks, green fairways
And in the same way, where else can you have a snowball fight with your family and friends and an hour later be playing golf on beautiful green fairways? The combination of the climate and geography of Palm Springs, La Quinta, Indian Wells and the Coachella Valley is truly one of nature’s wonders.

You can really see how the desert meets the mountains when you download our free Golf Resource Guide. It lays out the valley floor with the location of all our great golf courses and the communities that surround them. Also included are guidelines for the price of homes as well as country club memberships.

If you want to walk the same fairways at the Thunderbird Country Club that Bing Crosby walked, you’ll find it on our map along with membership details. You’ll also see the great family of courses and communities at La Quinta Resort, including the Pete Dye designed La Quinta Resort Dunes Course, Mountain Course and Citrus Course.

Our guide to Palm Springs area golf clubs is an excellent way to start your search for real estate in La Quinta, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and the neighboring communities. And when you’re ready to delve a little deeper into property and homes, give us a call. We would love to help you find the ideal place for you and your family in our beautiful area.

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December 12, 2014

Two Great Dining Opportunities in La Quinta!

“What other people may find in poetry or art museums, I find in the flight of a good drive.” — Arnold Palmer

I think a lot of residents here in La Quinta and the nearby communities share the sentiment Arnold Palmer expresses in that quote, but I know that the golfing legend appreciates more than a well hit drive. I say that because I’ve dined at his restaurant, Arnold Palmer’s.

As we’re into the holiday season, food, feasts and festivities are big on everyone’s mind…and schedules. I’m certain that many of you are looking forward to preparing some major meals when you host family and friends in your homes. But let me urge you to take it easy on yourself every so often and enjoy a great meal in a top quality restaurant.

Arnold Palmer's Restaurant — Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant

All things Arnie
If you’re in La Quinta, or planning to come through the area, make sure you put a stop at Arnold Palmer’s on your “to-do” list. And if the golfers in your group want to go on an Arnold Palmer Pilgrimage, they can play a round at the SilverRock Resort’s Arnold Palmer Classic Course and then end the day enjoying dinner at The King’s restaurant in La Quinta. Not only does the restaurant serve great food, the photos and trophies on display make it a very tasteful homage to this special man.

That’s just one of the options here. I’m planning on highlighting a few more of our popular restaurants in coming weeks, but before I leave the topic in this missive, let me give you another suggestion: Morgan’s in the Desert. This is another very highly rated restaurant and it’s also a good one if your party wants to blend golf with fine dining.

A busy event calendar
Morgan’s is at La Quinta Resort and Club, so it’s an ideal place to meet up after an afternoon round of golf. One thing I really appreciate about Morgan’s is that they always have some seasonal event or feature going on. For instance, in November the restaurant will be doing a “Duck and Pear Festival” followed by a “Alba White Truffle Festival” in December. This keeps the menu fresh so even locals can go back again and again and find something new to try.

And with so many great – and world famous – golf courses in our area, whenever you’re looking for a fresh links challenge, La Quinta, Palm Springs and the Coachella valley can serve one up.

Free golf course guide
If you want to see how all of these golf courses and restaurants relate to each other in terms of their locations, we have exactly what you need: our guide to La Quinta area golf courses and restaurants. It’s a free download and it will show you exactly, for example, how close Arnold Palmer’s is to The Citrus, La Quinta Resort, La Quinta Country Club and The Tradition.

And to take this one step further – you can also own a great home on or near those courses. Our golf course guide will also help you find the areas where you would like to own property.

With all of this said, let me make one prediction: You’ll soon be on the phone making tee time and dinner time reservations.

Bon appétit.

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December 8, 2014

Indoor-Outdoor Design Ideas From a Stellar La Quinta Home

When a La Quinta estate was recently listed for $39.5 million it became the most expensive home for sale in the Coachella Valley – and no, I didn’t accidentally misplace the decimal in that figure. The property is listed for $5.5 million more than what is being asked for Bob and Dolores Hope’s historic John Lautner-designed home, which is priced at $34 million. If you are wanting to design your own house to make it unique and have everything you need then visit Aveling Homes.

However, I’m not bringing this up to start a discussion of real estate prices and market conditions. Tom does a good job covering that territory on these pages. What I like about these high profile homes for sale is that we learn a lot about the special touches owners have designed and built into their ultra-expensive homes. These can serve as inspiration for all of us.

If you follow any design blogs, magazines or television shows, you’ll often encounter discussions of “bringing the outside in” and creating “outdoor living spaces.” Homes in the Palm Springs area, La Quinta, Indian Wells and the rest of the Coachella Valley are ideal for incorporating these design concepts. There may not be anywhere in the world that is better suited to blurring the line between indoor and outdoor living.

Indoor-outdoor living for everyone
Most of the elements that “bring the outside in” are well within the reach of many home buyers. One of the most striking features of this nearly $40 million home are its expansive windows that bring views of the San Jacinto Mountains into the living space. Fortunately, you can get great mountain views at a significantly lower price. And do you know what: they are the same mountains for everyone!

Another feature in this expensive home that we see often in properties here is an atrium. With all the sun we get in La Quinta and the valley, an atrium is a wonderful feature and if you have one in your home you can even grow various palm trees indoors. That doesn’t just blur the line between the indoors and outdoors, it erases it.

Another feature included in this luxury estate is an outdoor, wood-fired pizza oven. These are becoming very popular and they can transform your outdoor entertaining. Fortunately, you can burn off the extra calories you consume eating your homemade gourmet pizzas the next day on the golf course.

The ultimate outdoor feature
For many homeowners in La Quinta and the neighboring communities, the ultimate way to bring the outdoors inside is to have their living space open up to a landscaped patio-lawn-pool-spa area, also fancy units of decking construction LA – that backs up to a golf course. That’s the quintessential image of golf course living and in our area there are so many great properties to choose from that are in that category.

Download our free golf resource guide and look for some of these: The Tradition, PGA West, Mountain View, Rancho La Quinta, The Citrus, The Hideaway, Indian Ridge, The Reserve and others. Also, spend some time using the search feature on our website.

Once you think you’re beginning to get a good overview of property and golf courses in La Quinta and the general Palm Springs area, call us and we can fill in some more details. I know we can help you find a home that meets all of your expectations!

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