With over 400 miles of beautiful hiking trails, a nourishing farm-to-table dining scene and tranquil desert-inspired spas, Scottsdale, Arizona, is the perfect place to kickstart 2023 with a wellness break to remember.
From its stunning landscapes and endless outdoor adventures to its five-star wellness resorts and spa treatments, Scottsdale, Arizona is a fantastic place for wellness, somewhere you can escape to and reset your body and mind, ready for whatever the year ahead brings. Below are five wellness experiences in the beauty of the Sonoran Desert.
Hike up Camelback mountain – nature’s Stairmaster
Named by National Geographic Traveller as one of the top 15 hiking destinations in the world and with over 400 miles worth of epic trails, ranging from challenging treks to more leisurely routes, Scottsdale is a hiker’s paradise.
Camelback Mountain is the desert city’s most challenging climb, and with an elevation of 2,704 feet (taller than the Empire State Building), the Echo Canyon trail is a steep climb to the summit offering an incredible sense of achievement as well as a heart-racing workout once conquered whilst taking in the stunning panoramic views over the city below.
Test your fitness to the next level
Get your ‘fitness prescription’ at the iconic Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’ Well & Being Spa. The ‘nutrition for active living’ programme will enhance your training regime as wellness coaches create a personalised blueprint that aims to increase energy levels and overall well-being. Delve into the WellFit diagnostics to gain insight into your body composition with technologically accurate assessments.
For the performance-conscious, the ‘FitMate Pro submaxVO2’ highlights anaerobic threshold, maximum oxygen uptake, and cardiovascular stamina; this full body MOT is sure to leave you feeling revived, informed and motivated to push yourself to the next level of fitness.
Kayak on the Lower Salt River
For a water-based workout, head to the beautiful Salt River, just 35 miles northeast of Old Town Scottsdale, to enjoy an epic kayaking tour, cooling off on a warm day in Arizona’s desert. Spend a relaxing morning paddling along lush green riverbanks and towering red cliffs whilst keeping alert for sightings of beautiful wild horses and bald eagles.
Guided river kayak tours with REI Co-op Adventure Center are scheduled to avoid crowds and take advantage of all the river has to offer, including a refreshing dip for those that want to take to the water.
Nourish your body with farm-to-table cuisine
Travellers seeking a delectable twist on their five-a-day can head to FnB, where Chef Charleen Badman, a five-time James Beard award semifinalist and 2019 winner of the ‘Best Chef in the Southwest’ award, uses local produce and indigenous ingredients in her veggie-forward, wine-centric menu.
Known as “The Veggie Whisperer”, Badman’s unfussy yet boldly flavoured seasonal menu showcases the very best of Arizona’s abundant farming and agricultural community.
Badman is also the driving force behind the Blue Watermelon Project, formed to increase access to fresh foods for students in partner schools. Chef Charleen’s kitchen tends to be dominated by women and is affectionately known as ‘the babe cave’.
If you’re hungry for more nutritious and sustainable food, check out Farm & Craft’s seasonal ‘wellness menu’. The menu showcases the four paths to optimal health, with a focus on anti-inflammatory, probiotics, antioxidants and overall stress-reducing ingredients. Tuck into nutritional bowls, loaded flatbreads and seasonal juices to nourish the body and soul with organic and hormone-free ingredients.
Slip into serenity with a visit to Scottsdale’s luxury spas
Recharge and replenish in a secluded and natural haven at Boulders Resort and Spa. The resort’s namesake and stunning 12-million-year-old boulder formations are set among the untouched landscape, with thriving flora and fauna throughout.
Guests can restore their minds and bodies at the resort’s spa and indulge in massages using locally sourced healing clay and refreshing therapies infused with the desert environment.
The desert’s bounty is incorporated into the spa treatments, best showcased in the ‘Desert Rose Radiance’ body treatment, utilising jojoba and desert rose exfoliation and a soothing aloe mask from the succulent plants found in the surrounding landscapes.
For more information on Scottsdale and the incredible things, it has to offer, visit www.experiencescottsdale.com.
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