Luxury and Lagoons: A Family Escape to the Desert Oasis

The phrase “desert oasis” is thrown around a lot, but when it comes to the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, the words have never rung so true. Located just outside Palm Springs, in the city of Palm Desert, this sprawling, 450-acre sanctuary boasts 884 guest rooms, 101 suites, five spectacular outdoor pools, two 18-hole championship golf courses, 20 tennis courts, a 38,000-square-foot luxury spa, and a high-tech JW Entertainment Zone arcade.

These amenities are great, but what brought my family here was the boats. That’s right, the resort also has real boats that cruise a giant lake, taking guests around the property and to dinner at the hotel’s signature restaurants.

My family began a recent stay at the Marriott by checking into a gorgeous 7th-floor suite, overlooking the pool area and the lake. The beautifully spacious room came with two plush pillowtop queen beds, a comfortable separate sitting area, a sleek workspace, and a mini-fridge. In the bathroom we found a big soaking tub and a separate shower with a glass door. The highlight of the room was the private balcony, where we got a bird’s-eye view of the property, including the sparkling pools and calm lake below us.

Beyond the room is a colossal atrium lobby. The space is stunning, with soaring ceilings and a grand, open-air design. The resort’s vast, multi-acre internal lake system extends inside the building and the hotel’s electric gondola boats park directly inside the giant lobby, entering and exiting through massive, integrated sliding glass doors.

Our favorite spot at the resort was the pool area, which features a lively main family pool, a chilled oasis pool, and relaxing whirlpools. Although it was 100 degrees during our stay, the refreshing water put us in vacation mode as we splashed and lounged. While at the pool, we snacked at the Oasis Poolside Bar & Grille. We split a fresh shrimp cocktail and a California Turkey Club Wrap, packed with greens, turkey, bacon, cheddar, tomato, and avocado herb aioli, paired with crunchy house-made chips and refreshing lemonade.

From the pool, we headed back to the lobby and boarded a fun electric boat. With a friendly and informative captain at the helm, we cruised around the lake, passing fountains, going under bridges, and encountering numerous feathered residents. The resort is a certified wildlife sanctuary and home to an iconic flock of brilliant pink Chilean Flamingos, several species of exotic ducks (like ringed-neck teals and whistlers), and a bevy of elegant, long-necked black swans.

As the boat glided along the edge of the lake, we were lucky enough to spot one of the black swans nesting right along the shore! To finish out the cruise, the captain took us along the outer edges of the lake, showing us some of the stunning, massive desert luxury mansions that beautifully line the resort’s championship golf courses.

After the boat ride, we drove 10 minutes from the Marriott to dinner at Porta Via, a contemporary California bistro located on El Paseo, a glamorous, palm-lined street also known as the “Rodeo Drive of the Desert.” A hotspot for stylish locals and visitors looking for a premium dining experience, the restaurant serves quality steaks, pastas, and sushi in a sleek, mid-century modern space that feels upscale, but is still very family-friendly.

Our dinner at Porta Via began with fresh, golden-crisp crab cakes and a vibrant Jalapeño Tuna Roll loaded with nori, rice, spicy mayo, avocado, jalapeño, scallion, toasted sesame, lime juice, cilantro, and savory ponzu. For the main courses, we enjoyed a perfectly grilled skirt steak seasoned with a dry rub marinade and topped with an incredible, vibrant chimichurri sauce, alongside a spectacular Parmigiano-Crusted Alaskan Halibut served with sautéed green beans and cherry tomatoes. The kids were happy with a classic burger and crispy chicken nuggets.

Back at the Marriott, we took a moonlight dip in the pool and watched stars appear in the dark sky above the Santa Rosa Mountains. We then wrapped up the evening on our 7th-floor balcony, sipping wine and absorbing the warm desert breeze.

The next morning, we drove a few miles northwest to the world-famous Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Our getaway began at the base of Mt. San Jacinto, where we boarded a large, rotating circular tramcar. The car begins its journey at Valley Station at an elevation of 2,643 feet and ends at Mountain Station at 8,516 feet above sea level.

As the 80-passenger tram scales the mountain, visitors are transported through five unique ecosystems—a change in landscape and life equivalent to a drive from Sonora, Mexico to the Arctic Circle in Alaska. It makes this trip in about 11 minutes. During the journey, the car is pulled up nearly 13,000 feet of cable and passes through five huge support towers. At each tower, the tram shimmies and shakes, giving riders a roller coaster thrill.

At the top, there is a lodge-like visitor center, two restaurants, and Mount San Jacinto State Park, which offers 54 miles of hiking trails and a few primitive campsites within a 13,000-acre pristine wilderness. When we got to the top, we set out on a hike of Long Valley, following a three-quarter-mile-long loop trail through a large, beautiful meadow and had a memorable lunch at Peaks Restaurant high above the clouds.

The next morning, I hit the fitness center, located inside the hotel’s state-of-the-art Spa Desert Springs. The massive, 38,000-square-foot facility boasts 47 private treatment rooms, volcanic rock saunas, steam rooms, and an exclusive 75-foot saltwater lap pool. Its treatments are uniquely inspired by Blue Zone lifestyle principles designed to foster longevity and deep relaxation—making it the ultimate haven for anyone looking to recharge.

After working out, I met the family for breakfast at Rockwood Grill, the hotel’s premier dining spot. Sitting near the outdoor patio overlooking the water, we indulged in a hearty big breakfast loaded with perfectly cooked eggs, savory potatoes, toast, coffee, and juice, while the kids were in absolute heaven tackling a mountain of decadent chocolate pancakes.

Our last adventure at the Marriott was a visit to the JW Entertainment Zone, a 12,000-square-foot mega-arcade located near the pool. Here, the kids went wild playing a mix of retro classics and cutting-edge titles, jumping between air hockey, Mario Kart, Skee-Ball, and the World’s Largest Pac-Man. It was a perfect burst of family fun to cap off a wonderful desert trip before heading home into the bright sun.

The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa is located at 74-855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert, California, 92260. For more info on staying at the resort, call 888-538-9459 or visit: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/ctdca-jw-marriott-desert-springs-resort-and-spa/overview/