Indian Wells Tennis Club-After the Top 10 Leave, 'You' can Play There

Indian Wells Tennis Club

Although Indian Wells Tennis Garden is known for it’s annual tournament in March where the top ranked players in the world assemble,  the rest of the year it is a tennis club where anyone can play.  The club offers memberships, drop ins, lessons, camps and daily clinics for every level and age of player.  The facility is beautifully appointed with 29 hard courts, fitness and locker rooms, a member lounge, racquet stringing and a well stocked pro shop.  There’s definitely something unique about playing on the same courts where the likes of Nadal, Federer, Djokovic battle it out,  while dreaming about what ‘could have been.’

What to do After the Game

When the Indian Wells tournament isn’t running, you can sometimes take a tour of the centre court stadium as well as walk around some of the other courts.  The setting which is adjacent to the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains is breathtaking, and the tennis gardens offer some great points where you can enjoy mountain vistas and views of the stadium.

The centre court stadium was built in 2000 and is the second largest tennis stadium in the world, holding over 16,000 people.  Indian Wells expsansion will feature a new court to be be opened in 2014.

And if you’re in Palm Springs when the tournament is not, it’s an event not to be missed.  One of the world’s great tennis tournaments, in one of the globe’s most beautiful settings.

Where to Stay

Desert Princess Hotel

About a 20 minute drive from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the Desert Princess Hotel is set on the 27 hole Desert Princess Golf Course.  Almost all rooms have views of the golf course or  mountains.  A large pool is one of the focal points of the property.  The location is close to Palm Springs.

Desert Princess Hotel

67967 Vista Chino

Cathedral City, CA  92234

1-760-322-7000

1-800-433-0431

Book the Desert Princess Hotel

Palm Springs Ruth Hardy Park-Where Fans Play Tennis During Indian Wells

Ruth Hardy Park Tennis Courts

It's a hang-out for the hard cores, recreational tennis players of all walks of life are found everyday at Palm Spring's Ruth Hardy Park.  It's a place where you know you'll find someone to play with each and every morning in the bright California sun.  The courts are just a stone's throw from downtown Palm Springs and they epitomize the laid back, fun vibe  of this desert city.

A few minutes down the valley at Indian Wells, the best in the world battle it out the first two weeks of March.  But here in Palm Springs the quest to be king or queen of the recreational court rages on every day of the year.  Althtough there might be the occasional disagreement on the courts, afterward at the picnic tables, it's all smiles as they re-hash the morning's results. 

Ruth Hardy Park has eight very popular public courts that are a favorite of locals, visitors and snowbirds.  You’ll have no problem picking up a game if you show up early enough in the morning. And you may even get invited for a beverage at a picnic table afterward.  The courts are lit at night, and it’s a bit easier to walk on at that time of day…and a bit cooler.

What to do After the Game

Downtown Palm Springs

There's really nowhere quite like Palm Springs.  Colorful street scenes, dramatic desert and mountain backdrops, margaritas, coffee shops and art all rolled into one low rise, modernism architecture city.  Where else can you see Marliyn Monroe and Sony Bono out on the street?

Where We Stayed

Caliente Tropics Hotel

A throwback to Palm Springs of the 1960's, but modernized for today's travellers.  The Caliente tropics has one of the largest pools in the city.  This is an affordable and fun place to stay very close to downtown.  The views from the pool and hot tub are some of the best the area has to offer...  And the cabanas offer refuge from the desert sun.

Caliente Tropics Hotel

411 E Palm Canyon Dr

Palm Springs, CA USA  92264

1-760-327-1391

calientetropics.com

Jericho Beach-Tennis with a West Coast View

Jericho Beach Vancouver

Jericho Beach Tennis Courts

Vancouver British Columbia Canada

It's difficult to concentrate on your tennis with a view like this.  Jericho has four courts and a practice wall.  Needless to say with it's magnificent setting, it is a very popular place to play tennis. 3041 Point Grey Road.

What to Do After the Game

Robson Street at Night

It would almost be wrong to visit Vancouver and not take a stroll down Robson Street.  The iconic road is a major southeast to northwest thoroughfare of the city.  It is lined with shops, restaurants, coffee shops and people.  The wide sidewalks make it a popular place to just take an urban walk.

Where to Stay

Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside

Another one of the big tower hotels that Vancouver has become so known for.  The Renaissance has a great location right in the heart of downtown Vancouver.  Close to the convention centre, shopping, restaurants and night life.  

Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside

1133 West Hastings

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

V6E 3T3

1-604-689-9211

California Dreaming-Places to Stay and Play during the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament

The Westin

Mission Hills

Tennis Club
Rancho Mirage, California  

For those who want to be close to the action as the Top 10 battle it out at Indian Wells, the Westin Mission Hills is a great place to play some tennis between watching the tournament.

Mission Hills features seven lit tennis courts including a tournament court with stadium seating which are set on the grounds of the magnificent Mission Hills Westin.  The club is run in a partnership with Pete Burwash International.  Courts are reserved on a first-come first served basis.  There are ball machines for rent and clinics and 

lessons are available.  

What to do After the Game
There's really no reason to leave, other than to go watch the tournament.  Three championship golf courses, two very large pools and acres of manicured grounds with relaxing spots to have a refreshment offer plenty of reasons to stick around after the game.  It really makes you wonder if a resort can get any more beautiful. 



Where to Stay
The Westin Mission Hills
The hotel is designed in the old Mission style with adobe exteriors and archways abounding.  Gardens wind through the different areas of the hotel.  Fountains and pools add a refreshing contrast to the desert landscape that lies just outside the grounds of this unique resort.  

The Westin Mission Hills
71333 Dinah Shore Drive
Rancho Mirage, California 92270

1-760-328-5955

Beacon Hill Park Victoria-Play Tennis There if you Dare

Beacon Hill Park

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

They call themselves the ‘Tennis Warriors’, and they hone their court skills outdoors 365 days a year.  You can drop in for free at Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park and challenge these warriors, or you can become one of them.  The Tennis Tourist checked out Beacon Hill Park on New Year’s day and found himself a rallying partner.

Beacon Hill Park Video

What to Do After the Game

Beacon Hill Park

The park is in Victoria’s historic James Bay neighborhood.  Beacon Hill sits right at Mile Zero of the legendary Trans-Canada highway.  It is Victoria’s main urban green space with over 190 acres(75 hectares) of park.  Located next to Victoria’s southern shore, it includes numerous playing fields, beautiful manicured gardens, exotic species of plants and animals such as wild peacocks.  There is a petting zoo for the kids.  The views of the Straight of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic mountain range are spectacular.  The sport of cricket has been played in Beacon Hill Park since the mid-nineteenth century.  During the summer there are outdoor concerts and festivals.  The park is surrounded by lovely old homes and you can take a horse and white carriage ride throught the park and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Where We Stayed

The EmpressHotel

This grand old hotel majestically overlooks Victoria’s scenic inner harbor.  It’s a treat to stay in the old rooms of this stately building which was built in 1908 and has been one of Canada’s favorite destinations for well over a century.

The pool stays open late, and is lots of fun after a day of tennis and sightseeing.  Having a fancy cocktail at the Bengal lounge in the hotel, and rubbing elbows with those who want to see and be seen is a Victoria tradition that’s great fun.  The curry buffet in the lounge is pricey but highly recommended.  

The Empress Hotel
Toll Free: 1 866 540 4429
721 Government Street
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Where is your Favorite Place to Play Tennis?