Everyone calls it, simply, "the desert," but the diversity of landscapes and ecosystems tells a more vibrant story—at least at many resorts. Walk hand-in-hand over bridges and streams, past lakes and gardens, and find the spot that says "romance" to you.  

The Coachella Valley is golfing paradise. With more than 100 courses, this is a vacation haven that melds golf and romance as few destinations can. And if one of you is not a diehard golfer, there are pools and spas galore offering blissful relaxation.  

The desert looks dry and lifeless from a distance, but up close it's one of the most compelling ecosystems on earth. Take a tour into the desert and find how beautiful, fragile, resilient, and full of life it really is.  

Desert Adventures is a premier eco-tour company that takes guests deep into the desert, even along the San Andreas Fault, to showcase the natural ecosystem in surprising ways. If you're looking for an out-of-the-box setting for a wedding party, look no further.  

One don't-miss Desert Adventures tour heads into the desert at sunset for an evening of magic. A stop at a natural oasis is a learning adventure, photo op, and chance for a romantic stroll before the sun disappears and a million stars begin to shine.  

Even the ducks in the Palm Springs area are privileged! With thousands of pools across the landscape, why swim with the wannabes in a duck pond when you can join classy vacationers in a glistening aqua pool?  

Dates are an important part of California's economy—the kind that grow on trees, that is. Tour a local farm, like Oasis Date Gardens pictured here, and learn how interesting the sex life of a date is. At tour's end, choose some to take home.  

The Palm Springs area is culinary heaven, a place where you can have romantic meal after romantic meal every night of your vacation. Chefs like those at JW Marriott Desert Springs can indulge your most decadent food fantasies—calorie counting is for when you return home.  

Looking for an idyllic setting in which to propose? Lakes and ponds with gliding swans and golden koi provide a romantic backdrop for that all-important question and the moment-after kiss you'll remember forever.  

At Spa Desert Springs at the JW Desert Springs, a couple or small wedding party can rent a dedicated suite for the day that includes an outdoor patio with fireplace and gauze-draped lounges, an inside relaxation suite, and treatment rooms just for you. Utterly romantic, utterly private.