Four more spa adventures: P.S. isn't the only gay-friendly desert destination blooming with earthly delights this spring.

PALM SPRINGS

THE ADVENTURE Joshua Tree is a world-class rock-climbing destination. The National Park Service offers information, maps, and free guides (760-367-5500). Uprising offers classes, private guides, and half-day climbs (888-CLIMB-ON). Backcountry Found, a gay-owned tour operator, leads rock-climbing and backpacking trips (415-626-6240). If climbing rocks seems too hard-core for you, climb into a snazzy red Jeep for a guided ecotour with Desert Adventures (888-440-5337).

THE SPA Grassy lawns with swaying palms, topiary, citrus trees, gazebos, white roses, fountain courtyards, multiple swimming pools, and curtained cabanas surround Estrella Spa at the 74-room Viceroy (866-891-0948, rooms from $109). Opened in the 1930s, the hotel was a back-in-the-heyday hideaway for the glitterati. It retains its retro-chic Hollywood Regency ambience with shiny black lacquer furniture, bold black-and-white wallpaper, crystal chandeliers, and mirrored walls and tables. After dark, the hotel's Citron restaurant, which offers one of the finest dining experiences in town, is pure white, candlelit, and gorgeous-especially its alluring poolside lounge area.

THE TREATMENT Hot enough? Chill at the Ice Haus, which offers an erotic way to play with clay. Step inside an igloo-like, enclosed outdoor patio and refresh under a rain shower. Then paint yourself and your partner with rosemary-mint scented clay. Bake in the sun, then come clean with exfoliating gloves and crushed ice. After another rain-shower rinse, massage lemongrass-sage-lavender lotion into your skin and spritz spearmint mist all over (60 minutes for $85, $125 for two).

GET YOUR GAY ON In a town that's estimated to be around 35% gay, pretty much every bar can be considered a gay bar. But kitschy tiki-themed Toucans is the place to really party (760-416-7584), and you may even catch out mayor Ron Oden letting his hair down there. Low-key but very local, the new sports bar Scores (760-327-0753) just opened along the gay party block of Arenas Road. Don't miss The Dinah, the legendary annual lesbian party, now in its 17th year, March 28-April 1. The following weekend over 20,000 boys show up for the enormous White Party, April 6-9. The pool parties always make a splash.

LAS VEGAS

A mere 17 miles from naughty Las Vegas nightlife, gondolas drift along a two-mile-long lake ringed by sandy beaches, golf courses, and palm trees. Lake Las Vegas-a three-year-old resort made up of luxury residences, condominium-hotels, an upscale village, and two flagship hotels-is a low-key alternative to the Strip. At sunset, take in jazz concerts on the shore or movies under the stars.

THE ADVENTURE Paddle Lake Mead--just a 15-minute drive away--to explore hidden coves, rain caves, secret islands, and the stunning Black Canyon, with walls rising 2,000 feet high. Canoe and kayak rentals are available at Willow Beach Marina (928-767-4747). For guided kayaking trips, contact Kayak Lake Mead (928-767-3061), Boulder City Outfitters (702-293-1190), or Desert Adventures (702-510-4746).

THE SPA If you've visited Florence, the 349-room Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas (702-567-4700, rooms from $159) will elicit deja vu. Its Ponte Vecchio-style bridge straddles the take, with built-in rooms offering views of clear blue water, rugged gray mountains, and harsh but beautiful desertscapes. The resort has the feeling of a Tuscan villa, with arched doorways, interior courtyards, statuary, trompe l'oeil artwork, vine-covered trellises, shaded loggias-and from your balcony, a moon that hits your eye like a big pizza pie. Its spa emphasizes mind and body remedies that include private meditation gardens and music therapy.

THE TREATMENT After swimming, kayaking, and hiking, your muscles may be screaming. The "Muscle Repair Treatment" soothes the aches with arnica, fir, and rosemary extracts.

Then, while you're wrapped in cool linens, lie back for a heavenly scalp massage (50 minutes for $125).

GET YOUR GAY ON Most of the Strip's hip lounges and dance clubs-Pure at Caesars Palace, Mix Lounge atop THE hotel, Tag at the Venetian, Studio 54 at the MGM Grand, and Tryst at Wynn-have a diverse crowd, but the enormous, high-end Krave (702-836-0830) is the only totally gay nightclub, with the largest square footage of any in the West, they say. The "Fruit Loop" on Paradise Road, between Tropicana Boulevard and Harmon Avenue (one block south of the Hard Rock Hotel), offers an array of smaller Levi's bars and dance clubs.

TAOS

In the northern New Mexico wilderness, you'll inhale the sweet scent of pines and take in the spectacular high-desert scenery: centuries-old sandstone formations, gaping gorges, rushing rivers, magnificent sunsets, snow-topped peaks, and impossibly blue sky. Artists have long been drawn to this picturesque area, hence the galleries located around every corner. For handcrafted sculptures, pottery, jewelry, and paintings, visit the Tags Pueblo, a living Native American community dating to the 11th century.

THE ADVENTURE On a llamatrekking hike through the federally protected Wild and Scenic Rivers recreation area of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, you'll descend 800 feet to the Rio Grande Riven Let your llama loose to graze while you visit freshwater springs, discover ancient petroglyphs, and bask by the river, sipping hot tea. After a gourmet lunch, reunite with your four-footed friend for the return trip (from $89 for day trips, through Wild Earth Llama Adventures, 800-758-5262).

THE SPA At Rancho de San Juan (505-753-6818, rooms from $285), a 12-room gay-owned luxury boutique inn between Santa Fe and Tags, you'll enjoy expansive views, fireplace suites, a fine collection of local art and antiques, and international award-winning cuisine. Bubbly fountains beckon you to the wisteria-shaded Hacienda Courtyard, where you can enjoy a massage or a few minutes of contemplation.

THE TREATMENT The spa comes to you with the hotel's in-suite services. Try "the Wrangler," a deep-tissue massage with penetrating, soothing essential oils. The treatment ends with foot and hand reflexology (60 minutes for $135).

GET YOUR GAY ON In tiny Taos there aren't many bars, let alone gay ones, but Tuesday is gay men's night at the Adobe Bar at the historic pueblo-style Tags Inn (505-758-2233), This social bar is also one of the best jazz venues in northern New Mexico.

LOS CABOS

Pristine desert meets turquoise sea at the southernmost tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. The area boasts picturesque San Jose del Cabo, a shopping and business district that retains its Old Mexico charm, as well as raucous sister Cabo San Lucas, which offers most of the nightlife in the area. A 20-mile corridor of white-sand beaches and upscale resorts connects the towns.

THE ADVENTURE Feel the warm breeze on your face as you explore miles of desert in your choice of wheels; cute Mini Cooper S Convert bias, available in crayon colors ($200 per day), sporty two-seater Porsche Boxsters ($290 per day) or BMW Rockster motorcycles ($185 per day, $25 for a second rider-complete with teacher riding suits and helmets), All can be booked through Los Ventanas (below)

THE SPA Los Ventanas al Paraiso (888-ROSEWOOD rooms from $450)-an ultra-exclusive discreet retreat and celebrity haunts-hugs the beach, Within its wails, cactus-lined pathways wind past its whitewashed villas open-air restaurant, tequila and seviche bar, and infinity pool. A tequila setup graces every room, rein scopes are offered for stargazing or whale watching, and pool butlers clean sunglasses and proffer cooling Evian misters, Enjoy your spa treatment in a private cabot a surrounded by fountains, bigotrying cacti, flowering plants and herbs in terra-cotta pots, and distinctive ironwork gates,

THE TREATMENT Pamper yourself in preparation for south-of-the-border sunshine with the 'Welcome to the Sun" experience, Your therapist applies a sweet, velvety fruit gel to every inch of your body, followed by a seaweed cream and rich aromatic lotions that !nave you feeling nourished and new (110 minutes for $250).

GET YOUR GAY ON Most of toe partying takes place in mixed bars such as Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo (011-52-624143-1188). The only specifically gay venue is Mama Cabo Plazas Rainbow Bar (011-52,624-1431455),a dance dug that gets going late and claims to have Mexico's hottest bartenders.

PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE

The Valley of the Sun is where bougainvillea blooms, jackrabbits jump, javelinas roam, and towering saguaro cacti are king. Phoenix is now one of the biggest cities in the United States, but you can balance its dynamic vibe by spending some time spent in adjoining Scottsdate, full of decadent spas at every turn.

THE ADVENTURE Would you like to ride in a beautiful balloon? Wake before sunrise for transportation to the launch site. You'll gently lift off and fly up, up, and away to behold panoramic vistas of the Sonoran Desert ($160, champagne breakfast included), Between March and October, float high above the famously cinematic Monument Valley, a 4 1/2-hour drive north of Phoenix ($292, including overnight hotel and breakfast; for both trips call 800-843-5987),

THE SPA The 50-year-old Hotel Valley Ho (866-882-4484, rooms from $149) and its airy, glass-tiled Vitality + Health Spa reopened in 2005 in Scottsdale's downtown arts district, The nod icon has been meticulously restored to its former mid-century glory with its round "Oh Pool." cottage-cheese ceilings, mirrored chrome and Formica, pop-art sculptures, speckled floors, and sexy low chairs. Suites are swank with blond furniture, polka-dot wallpaper, bright red walls, gigantic patios, and (in the executive suite) a perfectly circular bathtub. The hotel's Cafe" ZuZu serves comfort food at its mac-'n'-cheese finest.

THE TREATMENT The "Red Flower Hammam Full-Body Treatment Massage" begins with a cleansing of Moroccan mint tea and silt, followed by a vigorous scrub of coffee, olive stones, and lemon. The treatment finishes with a Turkish massage with warming essences of cardamom, jasmine, bergamot, amber, and clove. You'll emerge feeling energetic and smelling spicy (90 minutes for $185).

GET YOUR GAY ON Grab your Stetson, slide into your tightest jeans, and ride 'four steed to Charlie's (602265-0224), a country-and-western men's bar with fine-dancing and two-step lessons. Not a cowboy? Amsterdam Bar (602-258-6122) with gorgeous men, designer martinis, and cushy couches.