The Tennis Traveler: Top 5 things to do in Indian Wells

Indian Wells, the tournament, is a beautiful excuse to visit Indian Wells, the city. Just thirty minutes southeast of Palm Springs is the little oasis that we fans like to call Tennis Paradise.

And trust me, there’s plenty more to paradise than tennis with a view. Here are the Top 5 things to do in Indian Wells:

1. Coffee with the Pros

How do the players kick off the Sunshine Swing? With a little bit of a sunshine in a cup.

Whether you drink coffee or tea, or just opt for a breakfast bagel, IW Coffee is the place to start your morning. And during Indian Wells, a morning at this establishment basically guarantees a run-in with the pros.

When I tell you I was in line behind Madison Keys, I was BEHIND Madison Keys. Right there. In the flesh. Just going about her morning.

And on my way out? Cameron Norrie walking in.

When you make your way out to this charming coffee shop, let us know if you run into any pros!

2. Take to the Green

Second to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, in my tennis-loving professional opinion, is the Indian Wells Golf Resort.

This property has two courses ranked in the Top 25 “Best Municipal Courses in the United States” along with a 53,000 square-foot clubhouse. Just five minutes away from the tennis garden, both the Celebrity Course and Player Course are ready for action.

The resort also hosts weddings and PGA Tour events, and was even the location in our Best of Three series with Daniela Hantuchova, where she challenged tennis’ top stars like Tommy Paul and Belinda Bencic on the course.

There’s always potential to run into a few pros at this resort, too, which is always a great excuse to visit.

3. It’s a bird, it’s a plane…No, it’s you in a hot air balloon!

One activity that will truly set you apart from the rest of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden attendees is taking a hot air balloon ride around the desert.

Fantasy Balloons offers a unique hot-air experience over the Palm Desert, covering up to 30 miles of vineyards, country clubs, golf resorts and landmarks all in one viewing.

Yes, you have to enjoy sightseeing and, yes, you can’t exactly be afraid of heights in an open-flamed balloon, but most importantly…they have banana shaped balloons!

Float in a literal bunch of bananas or a classic hot air balloon basket, and brag about it to everyone at the tennis gardens upon return to planet Earth.

4. "Glow in the Park"

If you’re going to be at Indian Wells through the finals day on Sunday, March 17, then make time for a “Glow in the Park” experience at The Living Desert Zoo.

On select nights beginning March 16, the zoo will come to life with “hundreds of illuminated lanterns, dozens of larger-than-life displays, and countless photo ops showcasing the wonders oof wildlife from across the globe.”

Before the 16^th, the top-rated zoo experience offers “Me & You at the Zoo” on Tuesdays, and “Hoppy Hour” on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And if you have this little voice inside that aches to feed a giraffe, they can make that dream come true, too.

5. Dance the Night Away

From happy hour at 4:30 p.m. all the way through live music starting at 6, The Nest is the place for a dining experience.

“Come for the food, stay for the fun,” reads the website.

Seven days a week, this restaurant meets Mediterranean cuisine with Californian charm to deliver high-quality ingredients in a mouth-watering way. As the sun sets over the desert, the restaurant turned bar turned nightclub is known for keeping up with the times, playing great music and creating a crowded dancefloor.

Less than a month ago, The Nest was visited by Justin Bieber, which just goes to show you that you shouldn’t overlook the local hotspots.