photography courtesy of Talavera

In the tradition of "Seinfeld," this is a travel story about doing nothing.
To be clear, that doesn't mean we didn't go anywhere. In fact, we traveled to Palm Springs. But unlike many of our outings centered on hiking, biking or camping, the purpose of this trip was simple relaxation. In other words, doing nothing - or close to it.
Palm Springs in summer is the ideal destination for doing as little as possible. With triple-digit temperatures being the norm, the heat serves as a natural limit on your ambition. Plus, rooms are easily available and heavily discounted. So, whether you prefer a large resort or a boutique-style hide-away, you'll have your pick of venues in which to do nothing, especially if you book mid-week.
Talavera Palm Springs falls into the latter category and was perfect for our slow-speed outing. It sits on a quiet side street about three blocks west of Palm Canyon Drive in downtown's historic Tennis District. Its 11 suites and two pools are set among lush grounds and surrounded by a wall of greenery that emphasizes separation and solitude.
The suites themselves are private retreats. Ranging in size from 700 to 2,000-square-feet, each is distinctly named, decorated and outfitted with different amenities, such as fully-stocked kitchenettes, separate soaking tubs in the bathroom or even an indoor-outdoor shower. All include private patios and hot tubs tucked away behind fences and foliage. Our patio included a shade cover, plus a grass area with two padded chaise lounges and a large umbrella.
The larger of the two pools was right outside our suite. The looming San Jacinto mountains behind the hotel combine with a wall of bamboo to bring shade to the pool in the early evening. So, after checking in, we slipped into the water to float in the twilight.
After starting the next day in the pool, we sought a way to escape the mid-day heat. Lunch and a nearly three-hour movie did the trick.
Talavera is within walking distance of downtown shops and restaurants. But we drove. The car's air conditioner barely had time to cool off the interior before we snagged a parking spot on La Plaza between Palm Canyon and Indian Canyon drives. The street's covered walkways invite strolling and browsing in more temperate seasons. We quickly ducked into The Front Porch, however. We discovered it is a smaller offshoot of the larger and busier Farm, a French bistro with rave reviews.
The service was efficient, so our tuna salad wrap (me) and ahi lettuce wraps (April) arrived quickly, leaving us with extra time before the movie. We ventured outside briefly to visit The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs and the Birkenstock store across the street. But the heat smothered any thoughts of further exploring.
After returning to the hotel from an IMAX screening of "The Odyssey" in Rancho Mirage, we poured cool drinks into plastic cups from our suite and returned to the pool to do nothing more than sip, float and watch the palm fronds overhead be ruffled by the breeze as daylight faded.
Fully relaxed, we weren't inclined to leave the property again. We had packed some snacks for our trip, so we counted those as dinner and finished the evening in the pool.
There was talk of ending our stay in Palm Springs the next day with a ride on the aerial tram, where cooler temperatures awaited at the top of the mountain.
But in keeping with our goal of doing as little as possible, we opted instead for a leisurely lunch. We considered a few restaurant options. But why make things complicated? Farm had great reviews, an intriguing menu and we knew where to find it. There was nothing else to do but drive there and eat.
Talavera Palm Springs
talaverapalmsprings.com
The Front Porch
frontporchpalmsprings.com
Farm
farmpalmsprings.com

Eric Harnish lives in Castaic.