I love cold weather favorites like scarves, fires and hot apple cider as much as the next person. But you know what else I love? A winter getaway to somewhere warm! Recently, I had the chance to escape for a mom’s weekend away in Palm Springs with one of my besties to the Two Bunch Palms Resort. Here’s why you should plan a mini warm-weather getaway with someone special, too.
Two Bunch Palms Resort is located in Desert Hot Springs, just a two-hour drive from Los Angeles. The resort is the perfect place to plan a couples trip or BFF getaway. I grabbed my bestie from high school who lives 8 hours away from me and who I don’t get to spend nearly enough face-to-face time with. With five boys between us, we were due for some girl time!
The 270-acre property at Two Bunch Palms is perfect for a relaxing getaway. It’s hidden away on a hill in Desert Hot Springs (you have to watch carefully so you don’t miss the driveway!) and is very quiet and secluded. In fact, the entire time I was there, not a single person asked me for a glass of milk or to tie their shoe! Here are my four must-haves for any good mom getaway:
The perfect place to soak
Two Bunch Palms Resort’s Grotto is one of the highlights of the resort and one of the places where you’ll undoubtedly spend a great deal of time. Not surprisingly, it was just voted “America’s Best Hot Springs” at the 2015 Wellness Travel Awards, hosted by SpaFinder 365! With two adjoining hot springs to choose from (a 99°F one that is perfect for lounging in and a hot 104°F one for truly relaxing those tight mama muscles), the mineral hot springs have been flowing at this location for over 600 years!
Besides the water itself, the ambiance of the Grotto is sublime. There is a waterfall and whisper-only policy to help you zen out, built-in seats and floaties to help you bliss out in the water, and lots of nooks and crannies in and around the Grotto to find your own personal space to finally take a deeeeeep exhale.
Get your spa on
Any good mom getaway has to include a spa treatment. Two Bunch Palms has a number of traditional treatments to choose from like massages, facials and scrubs. But, they also have a number of unique treatments to their resort like their Watsu — a pool-based treatment where your body is gently guided through warm water to encourage flexibility, relaxation and balance — or their 7 Centers Chakra experience (I tried this one!), which blends a massage-like experience with aromatherapy oils designed to correlate to each of your seven chakras. I had no idea what my chakras were, but I do know that I left my treatment relaxed, renewed and smelling divine!
Meals matter
I love healthy food that fuels your body with goodness. I also love wine. And chocolate. And chips and salsa. All things in moderation, right? So on our girl getaway, we tried to balance the healthy and the indulgent. We started off each day on a good foot with a healthy breakfast at Essence, the farm-to-table, on-property restaurant. Fresh-pressed juice blends, homemade home fries, and an omelet with seasonal veggies was the perfect start to the day. Be sure to save time for a espresso from your in-room coffee machine and some morning reading on your private patio.
While Essence is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, we opted to explore off the property for our other meals. For lunch, we ventured out Appetito, a Cal-Italian deli in Palm Springs. With a variety of snacks, small plates, pasta, salads, pizzas and more, you’re sure to find the perfect nibble to satisfy your appetite. Appetito has a great patio for outdoor seating if it’s nice, and cute, modern booths inside if you want more privacy.
For dinner, we decided to venture into downtown Palm Springs for a few more, um, indulgent meals. Chips, salsa, fresh-made guac and margaritas are a must at Las Casuelas. With an extensive menu of Mexican favorites, you can’t go wrong here. Sit outside along the street for great people watching, inside for more privacy or in the outdoor bar for great live music and dancing. Also, I can tell you from experience that the Mexican Chocolate Kahlua Fudge Brownie with ice cream is an excellent way to end your meal.
We only had drinks at the Workshop Kitchen + Bar, but will definitely be back for more. The modern ambiance inside this place and inventive menu is worth a longer visit. Our waiter recommended an off-menu cocktail called the Army Navy which I highly recommend. Next time, drinks and dinner.
Finally, we tried out Eight4Nine, a new restaurant in downtown Palm Springs set in an old design store of the same name. With tall white walls, black-and-white photography and accent pops of pink, the interior feels very chic and very Palm Springs. Try their signature Eight4Nine cocktail or their exclusive LVPolitan. The eclectic menu offers everything from fried chicken and ahi tuna poke bowls, to lobster pot pie to chile relleno. Either way, be sure to start with the Mushroom & Brussels Sprout Toast appetizer — you’re welcome. Best of all, there are a lots of different rooms at Eight4Nine so whether you are hosting a lively party of 12 or a private dinner for two, they’ll have the perfect table for you.
Feeding your soul
Sure you’ve booked a gorgeous room and a relaxing spa treatment, but Two Bunch goes a step beyond when it comes to creating the perfect kid-free getaway by including a number of daily wellness activities to round out your relaxation. Depending on the day, you can choose from a Tai Chi, yoga, juicing class, wine tasting or a guided mediation, among others.
Some of my favorites were the morning yoga in the Yoga Dome, a gorgeous, calming room and the perfect way to set the tone for the day. The afternoon Vino and Van Gogh class was also a must. The teacher is a lovely soul and no, there’s no artistic ability needed — the wine helps with that, too.
So, are YOU ready to get away? Visit TwoBunchPalms.com for more information on the resort and to plan your own getaway. See their current specials here!
SSM was not paid for this post. We were provided travel accommodations.
Comments
Looks you was spent a wonderful time 😀