A Great Place to Sit and Take in the Scenery

The River at Rancho Mirage which is anywhere from a 15-20 minute drive from Palm Springs is a great place to bring the whole family. If you plan to visit Palm Springs, be sure to take some time to travel to Rancho Mirage and see one of the most popular watering holes in the desert. During season (September until June), there is also free and live entertainment at The River, which are frequently musical performances.

If you are looking for a great place to dine and shop, catch an air-conditioned movie with stadium seating at the Century Theatre, or indulge in delicious chocolate from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, The River will not disappoint.

Dining at The River

Among the many things to do in Palm Springs and surrounding desert area, the River is one of the more popular places to take a stroll, even in the blazing heat. Escape the desert heat with a cold Ben and Jerry’s ice cream  or try the half-priced appetizers during happy hours at the Yard House Restaurant. The happy hour is the best time to take advantage of a great deal at the Yard House and try some very delicious fusion cuisine. Yard House happy hour is Monday – Friday from 3PM – 6PM and Sunday – Wednesday from 10PM – midnight. If you like buffalo wings, you have not lived until you try the Yard House spicy buffalo wings.

If you would like to try restaurant-brewed beer and delicious ribs, Babe’s Restaurant offers a great menu selection and is not missable from the road with the giant pig statue in front. Behind Babe’s is the Cheesecake Factory, which aside from cheesecake has an extensive menu similar to the Yard House. You can’t go wrong with the Chilean Sea Bass on the menu. For a fine-dining experience, any date would be able to appreciate the tasteful ambiance, classy service, and delicious Continental-American cuisine at Piero’s Acqua Pazza.

Accross the way is P.F. Chang’s–yet another restaurant with unmistakable giant statues in front, this time of Chinese-style horses (a constant for the restaurant chain) to match the Chinese dining experience. One frequently overlooked appetizer is the Crab Wontons dish, which is filled with delicious creme cheese and a small amount of crab. Be warned, if you are expecting to find a noticable amount of crab, you might be dissapointed. They are delicious and a must-try, but do not order them with an expectation of plentiful crab meat.

Shopping at The River and Around the Immediate Area

Most of the shopping at The River is specialty. The Tulip Hill Winery not only offers wine tasting but also has an excellent selection of collectable kitchenware and quite a few rooster statues and kitchenware for the rooster enthusiasts. For smokers, there is a Cohiba cigar shop located next to a few other shops for beachwear and designer sunglasses. The Borders bookstore also offers a small cafe and air-conditioned place for reading or listening to the latest music CDs.

The only downside: there are no fish in the river, but there are quite a few ducks.