Here’s a real “dilemma”…if you found yourself at a world-class resort full of upscale shops, would you do all of your shopping there or would you head into the “old town” to do some shopping in the local boutiques, specialty stores, and luxury shops instead?
Yes, that certainly is a very difficult choice, but when you are visiting the La Quinta area in Southern California that is a “problem” you might experience for yourself. It is all due to the way that the region has developed over the decades.
Shopping At Old Town La Quinta
The city was formally established only in the 1980s, though it is a town that has actually existed for much longer. In the mid-1800s, it was an area that was a virtual breadbasket that grew a large number of crops for large-scale consumption. By the 1920s, however, Hollywood had come calling and soon the region was a secret “getaway” for some of the movies’ biggest and first celebrities.
They came to the area for the privacy and because of the convenience – La Quinta is roughly 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Soon, however, they realized that the air and the weather was much better and more comfortable, and this only increased their “pace” of visitation. This led to the development of the La Quinta Hotel (renamed La Quinta Resort & Club in 1993), but also to the large number of substantial and impressive golf courses too.
Naturally, any celebrity worthy of their reputation would need to spend some of their “down time” buying the latest fashions, testing the most innovative beauty products, and enjoying the trappings of the good life. This meant that La Quinta had to develop the means of satisfying all of its visitors’ shopping needs too. Though many of the celebrities and upscale travelers would head up to Palm Springs for some of their shopping, La Quinta has since ensured that this sort of trip is entirely unnecessary.
From pro shops and boutiques in some of the golf communities, to the luxury shops in places like the famous La Quinta Resort & Club, the city can certainly help someone to obtain most of the goods they would need while on a getaway. It is, however, charming Old Town La Quinta that is a true shopper’s paradise.
Not only can a visitor or resident of the area find a large number of cafes and restaurants to meet their needs, but this Main Street location also provides them with access to some truly impressive boutiques and shops. Consider that within a matter of a single block a visitor can head to handmade jewelers, several antiques stores, a home goods store, around numerous different eateries, a few different salons and spas, and even a consignment shop and more.
So, to head back to that initial dilemma…a visitor could easily spend an afternoon perusing the offerings at their resort shops and then book a day of casual strolling and dining in the heart of La Quinta. They could even be sure to visit the downtown district on one of the Farmer’s Market days to enjoy locally grown produce and foods.
