Sunnylands

We have arrived home, once again, from a weekend retreat with the HMC trustees in Palm Springs. Every year we have a choice of activities on Saturday afternoon when meetings are not in session, and this year we signed up to take a tour of Sunnylands in nearby Rancho Mirage. I must live in a cave, because I have never heard of this estate, the winter home of Walter and Leonore Annenberg. It turns out that the Annenbergs' grandson is an alum and trustee of HMC, and I'm sure he arranged our visit to the estate. One can get tickets to tour the house (beyond the Visitor Center and tour of the gardens), but they are extremely limited and hard to come by, although our guide gave us tips on how to best get them.

Sunnylands is known as the West Coast Camp David where world leaders have come to meet in this idyllic setting to communicate and come up with solutions to problems. I seem to remember that President Obama was out in Palm Springs this June, and this was actually where he met with China's President Xi. 

We saw many, many photographs of the dignitaries who have spent time at this place since it was built in the mid-1960s, from presidents, actors, and Queen Elizabeth. We were not allowed to photograph inside the house (you can look up photos online), but for its immense size, it also feels very comfortable.

Looking toward the house via one of the many man-made ponds

View from the Visitor Center with one of the lava rock walls

Entrance to the house

View of the mountains from the golf course