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Black-and-white photograph of Landon Dunn playing pickleball at a PPA event.

Landon Dunn

A force of nature on the pickleball court. Forged at Fritz Burns Park in La Quinta, he climbed the ranks of Coachella Valley with aggressive, light...

 Chocolate Mountains rising behind Bombay Beach homes and palms, with warm sunlight illuminating the rocky slopes. Photograph by Mark Miller.

Chocolate Mountains

The Chocolate Mountains reward a second look. Beyond the Salton Sea’s eastern shore, warm rock, deep shadow and a broad desert plain create a land...

 A Rat Pack-themed scene depicting three suited entertainers smiling together at a table.

Frank Sinatra

Who He Was Francis Albert Sinatra (1915–1998), the legendary singer and actor “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” left an unforgettable imprint on Palm Springs' histo...

 A desert iguana resting on a sunlit rock beside a La Quinta Cove trail.

Desert Iguana

The Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) is a robust, heat-tolerant lizard native to the arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwe...

 A pickleball player moving across Matt Anderson's backyard court, with mountains behind.

Jeffrey Lunak

Jeffrey Lunak doesn’t just play pickleball—he imposes his will on it. A longtime player and the owner of Sumo Dogs, Jeffrey brings deep wisdom, sha...

 Yellow prickly pear flowers and buds above green and purple cactus pads

Prickly Pear Cactus

The Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp.) is a striking and ecologically important member of the cactus family, widely found in the Coachella Valley a...

 Teddy bear cholla with golden spines above a desert mountain valley

Teddy Bear Cholla

One of the most visually striking and infamous cacti of the Coachella Valley and surrounding desert regions. Despite its soft, fuzzy appearance, th...

 Spiky-leaved desert plants among rocky hills in Joshua Tree National Park.

Mojave Yucca

A hardy, drought-adapted succulent native to the Mojave Desert and upper transitional zones of the Sonoran Desert, including the Coachella Valley's...

 Ladera Golf Club fairways, orchards and Santa Rosa Mountains beneath dramatic clouds. Thermal, California. Mark Miller, October 23, 2026.

Ladera Golf Club, Thermal

Ladera Golf Club occupies a striking meeting point in the southern Coachella Valley: green fairways and ordered orchard rows beneath the rugged San...

 Aerial view of the Indian Wells Golf Resort courses, lakes and surrounding Coachella Valley mountains.

Indian Wells Golf Resort

Indian Wells Golf Resort is a public golf destination in the heart of Indian Wells, California, featuring two distinctive 18-hole championship cour...

 Illustrated portrait of Dwight Eisenhower holding a golf club in a palm-lined desert setting.

Dwight Eisenhower

(1890–1969)Indian Wells, California (1950s–1960s) Who He Was Dwight David Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II and th...

 Jumping cholla cactus growing among granite boulders with desert mountains in the distance

Jumping Cholla Cactus

Also known as the Chain-Fruit Cholla, it is one of the most notorious cacti in the Coachella Valley and surrounding deserts. Its name comes from it...