The Presidential House

The house is inside a gated community in one of La Quinta's most sought-after addresses. Seven minutes on foot and you are at Old Town: restaurants, bars, shops, hiking trails into the mountain. Seven minutes back and you are in the pool. The schedule writes itself.

Three bedrooms, each with mountain views. The primary suite has a king bed, a private bathroom, and a direct view of the pool and the Santa Rosa range. The second bedroom has a queen. The third has two doubles. Eight guests, and the house does not feel crowded once everyone finds their spot.

The kitchen is open to the living area and fully outfitted: smart appliances, a new propane BBQ out back, hardwood floors, four Smart 4K TVs with every streaming service. The garage holds four cars. The gated driveway has fit a 33-foot RV without trouble. Self check-in with a keypad means you arrive on your schedule. Joshua Tree National Park is an hour away when the group wants a day outside the valley.

Coachella and Stagecoach festival grounds are 18 minutes by car. We have hosted groups who use this house as festival base camp and groups who never leave the property at all. Both choices make sense once you are sitting outside in the evening when the desert cools and the smell of the creosote comes in off the hills.