Shopping and dining along Washington Avenue
Washington Avenue is home to shopping options like Albertson’s Grocery Store or, just across the street, Ralph’s Fresh Fare. Locals enjoy Mario’s Italian Cafe, a regional chain known for its authentic Italian pasta and cozy atmosphere. Or, for classic diner food, stop by Goody’s Cafe Palm Desert. Other retail options are accessible in La Quinta down south. “All of the cities in the Coachella Valley area conjoined, and it’s easy to hop from one to the other,” says Sloan.
Golf courses and the city of festivals
The former site of the Bob Hope Classic, the Bermuda Dunes Country Club, along with its 27-hole golf course, was designed in 1958. It continues to be one of the neighborhood’s most distinguishing features, and members spend sunny days teeing off under the shadow of the San Jacinto Mountains. Three miles south of Bermuda Dunes is the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, home to a 16,000-person stadium and the Indian Wells Open (also known as the BNP Paribas Open), held annually in March. Indio, also known as “the city of festivals,” is 5 miles from Bermuda Dunes along Country Club Drive. There’s the Palm Springs Kennel Club Show in January, Stagecoach in April and the International Tamale Festival in December.
Nature preserves and playground closer to home
Just under 10 miles north of Bermuda Dunes across California Route 10 is the Coachella Valley Preserve, a sanctuary that spans nearly 20,000 acres. Walking along one of the area’s many trails, visitors may spot endangered fringe-toed lizards (they “swim” through the sand to escape predators), flat-tailed horned lizards or giant palm-boring beetles. Beyond, find Joshua Tree National Park. A bit closer to home, the City of Palm Desert Freedom Park has a popular playground and a pickleball court.
Private airports, public buses and nearby medical care
A privately owned facility open to the public, Crown Aero (Bermuda Dunes Airport) is located at the eastern border of the neighborhood. “The airport is small enough that you won’t hear the sound of engines from your home,” says Sloan. Most residents (those who don’t own private planes), will drive approximately 15 miles, or 25 minutes, to Palm Springs International Airport. From here, 12 airlines fly to over 30 nonstop destinations. Bermuda Dunes residents can also use the public bus system, SunLine Transit, which stops along Washington Street and travels south all the way to La Quinta. Six miles from the neighborhood along Highway 111 in Indio is the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, which offers general surgery services, diagnostic imaging and women and infants care.