Latest news with #BlueZone-approved
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
‘I went on a wellness trip to Arizona but this activity made my heart race'
When you think about wellness, pristine white spas and fluffy towels likely come to mind. However, the mountains, cacti and desert plains of Arizona probably don't. Yet that's exactly what I discovered on my trip to Scottsdale – dubbed 'The West's Most Western Town'. Less than an hour from the city in any direction, there are serene deserts where you can engage in activities ranging from mountain climbing and horse riding to calming sound baths and spa treatments. I concluded my visit feeling as rejuvenated as I would after a weekend at a luxury spa. The first half of my journey was spent at the stunning Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, where I was immediately calmed by the peaceful, tranquil atmosphere. Despite its size, the resort's architecture and flora allow it to blend seamlessly into the stunning backdrop of Pinnacle Peak, reports the Mirror. Given Arizona's proximity to Mexico, the resort's four restaurants serve Mexican-inspired dishes alongside American classics, with a focus on authentic local flavours. For carnivores, a steak from Talavera restaurant is essential, while those who prefer something lighter shouldn't miss the avocado toast from Proof's breakfast menu. I'd also suggest ordering breakfast to your room at least once, so you can watch the sunrise over the mountains. The spa treatments at the hotel are as luxurious as you'd anticipate from a Four Seasons resort. My top pick was the nopal massage, which utilises prickly pear cactus leaves (no sharp bits, I assure you) to apply the antioxidant-rich cactus gel directly onto your skin. It's simply heavenly in the warm weather. I also gave desert bathing a go, which takes you into the nearby Sonoran desert for breathwork and grounding practices amidst towering cacti. Afterwards, I felt incredibly calm and relaxed. This is an absolute must for anyone who feels like they're constantly running at a hundred miles per hour. If you fancy a slightly livelier atmosphere, book a stay at Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale's Old Town. With modern facilities and a mid-century design, it's the perfect blend of past and present, and it's situated right in the heart of the Old Town, surrounded by shops, art galleries, bars and restaurants. When hunger strikes, make your way to The Mission for contemporary Latin cuisine in cosy candlelight or FnB for its scrumptious seasonal menu. For a nightcap, the Rusty Spur Saloon should be your first choice – the drinks are reasonably priced, there's almost always a live country singer performing, and it's so renowned that everyone from Clint Eastwood and John Wayne to Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston have popped in for a drink. Scottsdale is part of the Blue Zones project, which aims to make healthy living and wellness a priority and means certain restaurants have Blue Zone-approved dishes, centred around healthier eating habits. Everything I tried was nutritious and full of flavour. I tried out a sound bath at the Shanti Sound meditation centre, and although I was a bit sceptical about the benefits beforehand, I came away feeling like I'd just done three rounds of therapy and a spa treatment all at once. For outdoorsy types, a kayaking trip through the lower Salt River with Cliff Creek Outfitters is a must-do. You'll be fully immersed in the Arizonian landscape, as well as getting the chance to spot wildlife such as bald eagles and wild horses. In terms of bucket-list activities, there were two absolute standouts that I managed to tick off on my trip. The first was a hot air balloon ride with Hot Air Expeditions, which took us out over the desert, including over the famous Happy Valley neighbourhood. Hitting heights of 4,400 feet in just a basket may sound scary, but it was so unexpectedly peaceful and the incredible views are worth every heart palpitation. The second was a guided horse ride through Tonto National Park with Windwalker Expeditions. As an avid equestrian back home, this was particularly thrilling for me, but you don't need to be familiar with a saddle to enjoy it. There's something incredibly soothing about riding past towering eight-feet-tall cacti, desert landscapes and rugged rock faces on horseback. It's an experience that will forever remain etched in my memory. To plan your visit to Arizona, visit Experience Scottsdale.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
‘I went to Arizona for a week of wellness but this activity made my heart race'
When you think of wellness, you probably picture pristine white spas and fluffy towels. What doesn't automatically spring to mind are the mountains, cacti and desert plains of Arizona. But wellness is exactly what I found on my trip to the city of Scottsdale – known as 'The West's Most Western Town'. Less than an hour from the city in any direction there are peaceful deserts where you can do anything from climbing mountains and riding horses to enjoying calming sound baths and spa treatments, and I ended my visit feeling as rested as I would after a weekend at a luxury spa. The first half of my trip was spent at the luxury Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, where I was instantly soothed by the peaceful, tranquil atmosphere. Although it's a large resort, the design of the buildings and the plants make it blend seamlessly into the impressive backdrop of Pinnacle Peak. As Arizona borders Mexico, the resort's four restaurants serve Mexican-inspired dishes alongside American classics, with an emphasis on authentic local flavours. For meat eaters, a steak from Talavera restaurant is a must, and for those who prefer something lighter, the avocado toast from Proof's breakfast menu is not to be missed. I would also recommend ordering breakfast to your room at least once, so you can watch the sunrise over the mountains. Spa treatments at the hotel are every bit as luxurious as you'd expect from a Four Seasons resort. My favourite was the nopal massage, which uses prickly pear cactus leaves (no spiky bits, I promise) to apply the cactus gel – known for its antioxidant properties – directly to your skin. It's just dreamy in the hot weather. I also tried desert bathing, which takes you into the nearby Sonoran desert for breathwork and grounding practices as you wander among huge cacti. Afterwards I felt so calm and relaxed. This is a must for anyone who feels like they're always going at a million miles an hour. If you prefer a bit more of a lively atmosphere, stay at Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale's Old Town. With modern amenities and a mid- century design, it's the perfect mix of past and present, and it's located right in the heart of the Old Town, with its shops, art galleries, bars and restaurants. When you're feeling peckish, head to The Mission for modern Latin cuisine in cosy candlelight or FnB for its delicious seasonal menu. For a nightcap, the Rusty Spur Saloon should be at the top of your list – the drinks are affordable, there's almost always a live country singer performing, and it's so famous that everyone from Clint Eastwood and John Wayne to Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston have stopped by for a drink. Scottsdale is part of the Blue Zones project, which aims to make healthy living and wellness a priority and means certain restaurants have Blue Zone-approved dishes, centred around healthier eating habits. Everything I tried was nutritious and full of flavour. I tried out a sound bath at the Shanti Sound meditation centre, and although I was a bit sceptical about the benefits beforehand, I came away feeling like I'd just done three rounds of therapy and a spa treatment all at once. For outdoorsy types, a kayaking trip through the lower Salt River with Cliff Creek Outfitters is a must-do. You'll be fully immersed in the Arizonian landscape, as well as getting the chance to spot wildlife such as bald eagles and wild horses. In terms of bucket-list activities, there were two absolute standouts that I managed to tick off on my trip. The first was a hot air balloon ride with Hot Air Expeditions, which took us out over the desert, including over the famous Happy Valley neighbourhood. Hitting heights of 4,400 feet in just a basket may sound scary, but it was so unexpectedly peaceful and the incredible views are worth every heart palpitation. The second was a guided horse ride through Tonto National Park with Windwalker Expeditions. As a keen equestrian back home, this was extra exciting for me, but you don't need to know your way around a saddle to enjoy it. There's something so calming about riding past eight-feet-tall cacti, desert landscapes and craggy rock faces on horseback. It's an experience that will stay with me forever. To plan your visit to Arizona, visit Experience Scottsdale.
