The Melissa Lifestyle Travels: Palm Springs Edition
A big part of my self-care routine is partaking in one thing that I love, travel. I’ve always been a wanderlust to the point that if I don’t fulfill it, my mood is way off. I also honestly forgot how great it felt to travel without a baby in tow. It feels more like work than a vacation when they are with you. The hubby and I really needed a major getaway . Palm Springs was top on our list for a parents only trip!
The Road Trip
Palm Springs is a quick 4-hour road trip from Phoenix. Thanks to Toyota who lent us a sweet and comfortable ride! The 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid blew our minds. There were so many amazing features that made our trip one to remember. First of all, this is the most quiet car I've ever driven. When I pressed the Engine Start button, I didn't hear the normal rev of the engine. I was scratching my head thinking that it wasn't starting. When I finally got going, the amount of outside noise is limited in the vehicle. We were super impressed with the gas mileage. We only had to fill up three times during the trip which was a money saver. We thoroughly enjoyed the panoramic sunroof and smart tech such as Apply CarPlay.
The Hotel
It wasn't difficult to find a cute hotel in Palm Springs. They have an array of chain, luxury and boutique hotels. We chose a boutique hotel. The Movie Colony Hotel was perfect for us in many ways. The central location was a quick car ride to restaurants and walking distance to shops. The hotel is also adult only so the silence was GOLDEN. We loved the complimentary continental breakfast, which was steps away from our room. The room (queen size bed) was cozy and the perfect size for a couple. We were actually surprised that we had an outdoor patio which had some privacy because of high walls. Overall, we would definitely stay here again and recommend it to our family and friends.
The Eats
Cheeky's was our first stop before check in. I was ecstatic that this popular brunch spot didn't have a wait. This lovely restaurant focuses on transforming ordinary breakfast items into extraordinary dishes with creative additions, such as French toast with red currants and mascarpone. Their farm to table menu also changes every Wednesday. I had the
La Bonita's was our dinner choice later that day. I had high hopes for this place but was quite disappointed. The beef taco I had was mediocre. My husband had the taco salad and felt the same. Don't expect much at this restaurant as far as the interior. It's a true hole in the wall. I also got bit several times by a mosquito inside the restaurant.
Lulu California Bistro was chosen by my friend and man did I regret letting her choose. On a Saturday afternoon, this place was poppin'. I was impressed that we got a seat even though it looked packed. I ordered the Curry Chicken Salad which was disappointing because the only dressing on it was what the chicken was marinated in (dry). Hubby ordered the Half Roasted Chicken which was nothing special according to him. Overall, we were unimpressed with the food and the wait which was at least 30 minutes before the food came to our table.
Il Giardino was a hit in my books. I am not a big dinner person but this place hit the spot.
My friend and I shared the RAVIOLI DELLA NONNA AL RAGÙ and the SALMONE ALLE ERBE AROMATICHE. Amazing! We also polished off a bottle of their reds. The ambiance is relaxing and the service was excellent.
Wilma & Freida's gets my highest recommendation. They do breakfast comfort food like no other. I haven't had food like this since I lived in Georgia. It was difficult to choose just one dish so my friend and I shared a few dishes. Mark's Short Rib Eggs Benedict is by far the best benedict I've ever had. The short ribs just melted in my mouth! We also tried Kim's Banana Caramel French Toast. It was decadent and so tasty!
This was the first trip without baby and it was a blast. As you can probably guess, there was a lot of eating involved. The weather was still pretty hot so we didn't do much sightseeing or spending any time outdoors. I hope you enjoyed reading about our trip and hope you follow along for the next one.