by Anne Dimon

At a growing number of resorts, you can take
the first step on the road to living better, longer -
and have your vacation, too!

One of the first things you notice when you pull up to the entrance of this legendary desert hideaway is the wide arc of blooms that sweeps across a meticulously groomed landscape. Complementing this manicured tapestry of color is the sound of trickling waters, gurgling from fountains and trickling over miniature waterfalls. The welcoming scene sets a mood that is simultaneously reenergizing and calming. Very Feng Shui.

Located just outside Palm Springs at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, the legendary La Quinta Resort & Club dates back to 1926 when it was a private and sophisticated enclave for Hollywood celebrities. Stars may no longer flock here to seek solace, but the sprawling resort with its village-like groupings of Spanish-style casitas continues to offer a refuge from the stresses of daily living.

Since 2000, one of La Quinta’s points of distinction has been the WellMax Center for Preventive Medicine. As Eastern wellness philosophies continue to mesh with Western medical practices, the word “preventative” is establishing its place in the North American health vernacular, and medical clinics and wellness centers such as WellMax are helping to define a new and growing travel niche. Think about it. At an increasing number of such resorts around the world, you can take the first step on the road to living better, longer - and have your vacation, too!

This state-of-the-art preventative medicine clinic offers comprehensive scientific testing to determine such things as genetic predispositions to certain medical conditions - heart diseases and cancer, for instance. Clients are given nutritional analysis, mental and physical fitness testing, interior body imaging, bone density, lung scans plus routine medical tests and blood work. Of course, this isn’t a walk-in clinic. You can’t just pop in and book a brain scan. Clients typically sign-up for a two-to-four-day program consisting of 12 to 20 hours of in-clinic time.

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