3 Arizona Stays Worth A Spot On Your Summer Vacay Bucket List
If the summer swelter has you pining for cooler temperatures—and experiences—head to one of these three Arizona oases.
Photo: Courtesy Miraval Arizona
The Retreats at Miraval Arizona
Under the watchful gaze of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Tucson’s Miraval resort is a desert oasis rooted in tranquility. This is true of all the property’s rooms, suites and villas, but the Retreats elevate the experience in a comprehensive way. Features like indoor-outdoor showers, Tibetan singing bowls with meditation cushions, and retractable glass walls guide guests into mindfulness, while neutral colors, natural wood, woven textiles and custom furnishings inspire sophisticated serenity. Wellness, as it turns out, can be beautiful too.
Photo: Lucero Rivero
Backland Luxury Camping
Seasoned Phoenicians know to head north in the summer. What they might not know, however, is that they can experience both luxury and nature just 20 minutes outside Williams at Backland Luxury Camping. Open from March through December, this eco-resort boasts 10 “glamping” accommodations across 160 acres. Backland manages to offer an experience that is simultaneously immersed in nature and delightfully free of its inconveniences. Daily continental breakfast and nightly s’mores are included, and guests also have access to a forest spa, seasonal restaurant and local hiking trails. But the tents are what steal the show. Crafted from custom-tensioned canvas by local carpenters, the tented suites are outfitted with 16-foot windows, interior partition walls for privacy, and en suite bathrooms, with some also featuring glass skylights for stargazing. Guests have access to electricity, luxury linens and even housekeeping, but the climate-controlled tents are energy efficient in a nod to preserving the resort’s greatest attribute: nature.
Photo: Courtesy Sky Rock Sedona
Sky Rock Sedona
For those who can’t resist the siren song of the state’s legendary vortexes, head over to Sky Rock Sedona. The fully renovated 109-room property opened in March as a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott. But don’t let the big hospitality name fool you. This boutique hotel offers a holistically themed retreat, starting with the dazzling amethyst-encrusted wall at reception. The property also boasts views of Snoopy Rock and amenities like a resident pet psychic, but you’ll want to devote most of your attention to the minimalist, sanctuary-like guest rooms. They feel soulful thanks to such textural elements as woven rugs and handmade leather headboards.