Old Town La Quinta

Old Town is a few walkable blocks of Calle Estado and Main Street, close enough to La Quinta Resort that many guests wander down for dinner rather than drive. Restaurants keep patios open most of the year and the Sunday market runs through the cooler months.

Because La Quinta Cove and the resort sit within a mile, this is the one part of the city where a stay can be mostly car-free in the evenings. Daytime still means driving — for golf, for hiking access at the Cove trailheads, or for the 15-minute run to the Empire Polo Club during festival weekends.

Expect the quietest weeknights in the valley outside summer, and the sharpest rate spikes during The American Express tournament in January.

Eating and drinking nearby: Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill. Reservations matter in high season, and several kitchens shorten their hours in late summer.