Meet friends for a coffee or a quick game of backgammon, stop by to purchase a house gift, stroll the labyrinth and 1.25 miles of garden paths. (If you download the Gardens audio tour, it will guide you through the Gardens, identifying some of the plants and choices made by the landscape architect.) Don’t miss the replica of the bench that President Barack Obama gave President Xi Jinping of China when the two met at Sunnylands in 2013 for what has been termed a “shirtsleeve summit.”
Rather stay indoors? Visit Reach for the Sky: Tradition + Inspiration (on view through June 7, 2020).
Join a guided walk, take a yoga class, and then relax with a walk around the labyrinth, or enjoy a salad and an iced tea in the Café.
From November through April, there are several free public programs offered—many of them geared toward health and wellness—all of them educational and none requiring a reservation. Participate in a yoga class on Friday or a Tai Chi class on Saturday; join a guided tour of the Gardens on Thursday or a walk led by an experienced birder on Friday morning. Sundays are family-friendly with tech-free activities that include informal games, and books and toys for children of all ages—don’t forget to ask for one of our activity totes and blankets! Add a walk around the labyrinth, a stop at the café, or a visit to the exhibition, Reach for the Sky: Tradition + Inspiration (on view through June 7, 2020).
Whether you have tickets for a tour of the house or not, there is plenty to keep you busy at Sunnylands Center & Gardens.
The award-winning A Place Called Sunnylands, a 20-minute film, is the perfect complement to a tour and a way to learn about the Annenbergs and the history that has taken place in their beloved winter home.
Before or after the film, enjoy fine French press coffee and a snack or light lunch in the Café, which has a spectacular view of Mount San Jacinto. A special blend of iced tea similar to the one Mrs. Annenberg served her guests is available all day long.
Don’t go home without a visit to the wildflower field on the east side of Sunnylands Center. These gardens are home to pollinators and other desert wildlife. They are less formal than those around the Great Lawn. The walks around both parts of the Gardens total 1.25 miles. There’s even a self-guided audio tour. You can see the replica of the bench that President Barack Obama gave President Xi Jinping of China when the two met at Sunnylands in 2013 for what has been termed a “shirtsleeve summit.”
Explore the exhibition, Reach for the Sky: Tradition + Inspiration (on view through June 7, 2020).
Prior to heading to your car, stop at the Sunnylands Gift Shop for a book, post card, or the perfect gift.