Visit to Sunnylands, Rancho Mirage

Gosh, I haven't posted here since Thanksgiving!!!!  It's hard keeping up with 3 blogs and Facebook!

However, yesterday I went to Sunnylands with two of my now-retired colleagues from my school.  We try to get together a couple times each month, even if we just meet for coffee.  

Sunnylands is the "playground of presidents" and is located in Rancho Mirage, CA.  It is a 15 acre estate.  I think every president since Eisenhower has stayed there at one point and played golf there.

So, off we went!  We bypassed the $21 tour of the house (too sterile for us!) and instead we walked around the gardens (free!).  It was a beautiful but cool day here in the desert, especially with views of the snow-covered San Jacinto mountains!

Here are some of the photos I took yesterday:

 Beautiful snow-covered mountains!

 One of the two water fountains

 Nice lawn...in the middle of the drought?  Of course, Mr. Annenberg owned his OWN water company!

 The house.  Too stark and sterile to take the $21 tour!  (ripoff)

 This bench was donated by President Obama for the leader of China.

 Lots of cacti

Beautiful Mt. San Jacinto