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There's no shortage of activities and attractions. The dining is fabulous. The spas are among California's best. And the region boasts several ritzy casinos. Museums cater to WWII aviation buffs, art fans and nature lovers keen to experience desert ecology. El Paseo gives Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive a run for its money in its quality and range of boutiques. Palm Springs' music, film and arts festivals are world-renowned. More than two million visitors come annually to play golf on more than one hundred courses. Almost as many arrive to explore the palm groves, alpine summits or spectacular desert landscapes of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Joshua Tree National Park. And farther afield, Death Valley National Park outdoes them all for its kaleidoscopic physical beauty. Active Adventures You might be forgiven for thinking that a desert offers little to do and that it's just too darn hot to do it in any event. Wrong on both counts! The region is replete with exciting recreational activities. Fabulous winter weather spells Nirvana for hikers, rock-climbers, cyclists and other out- doorsy folk. Let's start with golf. There's no more quintessential image of the Palm Springs region than an emerald greensward studded by palms and framed by boulder- strewn mountains gloriously snowcapped in winter. In fact, the Coachella Valley has earned the distinction of "Golf Capital of the World," with more golf courses than you can shake a 4-iron at: about 120 in all. Incising the slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains, the three Indian Canyons tempt hikers with 30 miles of trails and picnic sites. Fed by natural springs, stands of desert fan palms crowd the canyon floors, providing sheltering oases for kit fox, bighorn sheep and coyote. Ancient petroglyphs can be seen while hiking Andreas Canyon and Tahquitz Canyon, with its spectacular 60-foot-tall waterfall. Natural Wonders Brimming with the glories of nature, the desert is a paradise for anyone who appre- ciates stupendous landscapes. The scenery is far more diverse than you might imagine, ranging from below sea level to more than 10,000 feet atop Mount San Jacinto. Abundant rains in winter carpet the desert with wildflowers—nowhere more spectacular than the springtime bloom of Antelope Valley Poppy State Reserve, near the town of Mojave. Snaking south through the Coachella Valley, scenic palm-lined Highway 111 will deliver you to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Capital of desert botanica, this 500,000-acre park is ablaze with fiery red poppies and other wildflowers. A 30-minute drive northeast from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park spans 1,240 square miles of Mojave and lower 180 2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A HOT AIR BALLOON adventure, right; hikers in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park take a break to enjoy the view, below; Palm Springs Art Museum, opposite. TOMMY BREWSTER/PALM SPRINGS CVB. STEVE HEAP/SHUTTERSTOCK . OPPOSITE: PALM SPRINGS CVB