By Lynne Tucker
Would you like to know where you can get the best date shake in the world?
Floyd and Bess Shields came to the California desert in 1924 and started Shields Date Garden, working long and hard to build up their business and educate their customers about date culture. A 15-minute film Romance and Sex Life of the Date shows continuously during store hours, where you can still hear Mr. Shields talking about his favorite subject: the date.
Today, they still grow the dates without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. There are no preservatives used on the dates. When you buy Shields’ Dates, you are getting a healthful, natural treat that is higher in potassium than bananas, with no fat and no sodium.
The Café
The Cafe at Shields Date Garden offers breakfast and lunch, specializing in traditional American and Mexican dishes, as well as new twists on old favorites. The majority of The Cafe’s seating is on the outdoor patio boasting fresh white umbrellas, ivory linen covered tables, a rose garden, date palms and mountain views – all creating an experience that feels like a vacation right here at home.
The Gardens
The garden path winds through their 17 acres and I suggest you tour their magnificent garden. Proceed at your own pace, stopping to reflect and enjoy the beauty.
Shields Date Garden is located at 80-225 U.S. Highway 111in Indio. Take the Indio Boulevard exit off Interstate 10 and go south onto Jefferson Street for two miles. Take a left at Highway 111, and the Date Garden can be seen on the right. The hours of operation at the store are 9am-5pm daily.
Visit ShieldsDateGarden.com for more information.
Think travel!
The Shields Date Garden path winds through 17 acres. Visit ShieldsDateGarden.com to learn more about this magical place.
Lynne Tucker is a travel writer and photo journalist base in Palm Desert
