March 2013
Arizona is the perfect getaway in the middle of winter for us Vancouverites. I escaped Vancouver just before a rainfall warning hit the westcoast. After a quick 3 hour flight I arrived to Phoenix, a destination with 330 days of sunshine a year! I rented a car for the week and travelled around the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and then headed north into the areas of Jerome, Carefree and Sedona. The Scottsdale area is home to many luxury resorts and I was able to visit 7 Virtuoso Properties.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a larger resort, about 650 guestrooms and has many activities to keep everyone busy. The resort offers two golf courses, five swimming pools, seven tennis courts, and a new innovative wellness program.

The Four Seasons at Troon North is located in northern Scottsdale and nestled into the foothills of Pinnacle Peak. This resort is a great family resort with a kids and teenager club. A great preferred partner amenity offered by the resort is usage of a Mercedes vehicle for the day. All you need to do is bring it back with a full tank!

The Royal Palms Resort & Spa is paradise in Phoenix. This boutique resort was opened in 1929 and is my pick for a romantic getaway. The gardens on property are lush and very fragrant. The resort has intimate outdoor fireside seating areas great for couples to talk into the night.

The favourite part of my trip was my time in Sedona. It is just a 2 hour drive north of Scottsdale. I travelled to Arizona as a child and Sedona left a lasting impression on me so I had to go back! I stayed at the Enchantment Resort and Mii Amo Spa. The resort is located about a 10 minute drive out of town and is nestled next to the red rocks. Sedona is known worldwide as a spiritual hub and there are 4 energy vortexes located in the area. There is an energy vortex located on property and I found myself meditating there in the morning. The earth energy is so strong at the vortexes that the Juniper tree trunks end up twisted. At Enchantment there are about 150 included activities available. I was able to hike and mountain bike the local trails, hula hoop, swim, play tennis and enjoy the spa all in the two days I was there. In the evening, due to the remote location of the property I found myself lost stargazing. I had never seen so many stars! The Enchantment resort is also the closest luxury resort property to the Grand Canyon which is a 2.5 hour drive north.

In addition to the 108 guestrooms of Enchantment, there are 16 guestrooms located at the Mii Amo Spa. Mii Amo offers an all inclusive 3, 4 or 7 night package. This is a great choice for those looking to fully immerse themselves in a wellness journey. More information can be found in the Enchantment Resort and Mii Amo article on the wellness page.

Scottsdale is also a great destination for activities. As an outdoor enthusiast I enjoyed my time hiking the local mountains, my favourite was my spontaneous hike up to the peak of Camelback mountain just before I flew out that evening. Many people travel to Scottsdale for the world renowned golf and tennis. In addition to playing sports, one can watch the Phoenix Coyotes (tickets are much easier to get then Canucks tickets!) or a spring training baseball game.

Arizona is a great destination for singles, couples or families looking for an exciting sunny destination without the long haul travel. My future trips to Arizona will include a multi day hiking trip throughout the Grand Canyon and a wellness immersed trip to Tucson where Miraval Resort and Canyon Ranch Health Resort are located.

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