Why Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale Is One Of The Best Wellness Resorts

Forbes

2 days ago

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale's scenic outdoor pool
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale
Wellness is a word that's routinely bandied about these days, but it's something Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale has quietly embodied since opening in 1999. Set in the foothills of Pinnacle Peak, the scenic 40-acre resort continues to attract guests from all walks of life. But the best thing about this iconic destination resort is how it's always understood, from day one, that wellness is far from a one-size-fits-all concept.
I arrived on a typically warm and sun-drenched day in mid-April, feeling burned out. I'd just come off an intense, but thoroughly fun, two-week work trip to Seoul a few days prior, and was feeling weighed down in more ways than one. I'd timed my visit to overlap with the resort's Heart of the Desert spring programming, a three-month-long celebration (March 8 to May 31) of curated culinary offerings, wellness experiences, and social events to help guests like me reconnect to themselves and draw inspiration from their breathtaking natural setting.
A casita at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale
As soon I stepped into my casita, stress started melted away. Modeled after Southwestern adobe-style homes, these spacious accommodations that feel more like sleek residences are appointed with luxe touches like fireplaces, deep soaking tubs, and private balconies for gazing at the Sonoran Desert by day and stars at night. Most importantly: the casita was whisper-quiet. The only outside noises I heard during my three-night stay were the sporadic coos of White-winged Doves.
Talavera is the signature steakhouse of Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale.
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale
Whether you're in the mood for nourishment or indulgence—or as in my case, both, as I believe wellness is about balance, not abstinence—you'll cure your cravings at the resort's four restaurants and bars. Highlights included Onyx Bar & Lounge's Spanish-beer broth mussels; Saguaro Blossom's poolside creamy salmon poke; Talavera's sublime pan con tomate (the anchovies are a must); Proof Canteen's irresistible Fresno Buffalo tulip chicken wings and equally addictive bourbon-caramel sticky buns; and a private cocktail class hosted by the lovely Julie Figueras, a global ambassador for award-winning mezcal brand The Lost Explorer.
Rather than prescribing pre-set agendas like other wellness retreats, the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale meets you right where you and offers flexibility to carve your own path. Though I appreciate the dry desert heat, my sensitive skin doesn't fare well under the sun's rays. Instead of hiking, golfing, and playing tennis outdoors, as many guests do, I hit up the gym; enrolled in a couple of gentle stretching and pilate mat classes; took in leisurely strolls once the sun dipped below the horizon; and clocked in as much sleep as my body craved.
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale's Spa
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale
Though all the delicious food, invigorating movement, and sound sleep helped my body shake off the heavy fatigue from travel and work, it was the Spa's Sacred Sound Therapy that really sealed in the benefits of my visit. Over 90 minutes, my intuitive therapist blended a restorative full-body massage with the grounding sounds and vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls. Though I'd experience both on separate occasions, together at this serene resort they helped me feel a whole new level of balance, calm, and as you'd guess, wellness.