There is a gift that all mothers want from their adult daughters more than anything else this Mother’s Day, and it is neither flowers nor cards.
They want uninterrupted time together!
Why not make this year’s celebration extra special by surprising mom with a girls’ getaway, be it for overnight, for the weekend, or even longer?
FOR A DAY: CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa
Located just north of Scottsdale in a quiet pocket of Carefree, CIVANA is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of regular life, offering full-day spa and wellness programs to guests and locals daily. The spa features traditional treatments such as massages and facials, which complement the resort's customizable wellness experiences. Those range from desert bathing to meditative dance.
Those who book a treatment can access the full-day spa, a 22,000-square-foot palace dedicated to relaxation, which features a communal area of hydrotherapy immersions called the Aqua Therapy Circuit. The circuit includes European-designed Kneipp hot and cold wading pools, a therapeutic soaking pool, a cold deluge shower, and the five-climate KLAFS SANARIUM. There is also a sauna, an outdoor pool complete with food and drink service, and a relaxation lounge outfitted with full-size beds and loungers.
Day pass guests also can take advantage of up to two daily classes or experiences, which include mountain biking, yoga, breathwork journeys, guided meditation, stretching, and more. CivanaCarefree.com
FOR A LONG WEEKEND: Carlsbad
Earlier this year, American Airlines announced new direct flights from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad. Now just an 80-minute flight away, Carlsbad is just north of San Diego and boasts 7 miles of pristine beaches—notably South Ponto Beach, which is secluded with high dunes, and Tamarack Beach, a popular spot for swimming, surfing, kayaking, windsurfing, fishing, and beachcombing. It is also famously home to The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.
The Flower Fields envelop more than 50 acres of Carlsbad with themed gardens as far as the eye can see as well as a 1,500-square-foot greenhouse, a butterfly encounter, and an outdoor art installation with more than two dozen larger-than-life sculptures of birds and insects made from colorful glass and steel.
Both the beaches and The Flower Fields are near ample hotels and resorts, including the newly renovated Park Hyatt Aviara Resort & Spa. The Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond resort is nestled along the Pacific and adjacent to a natural wetland preserve. The property features an eye-popping 15,000-square-foot Miraval Life in Balance Spa and fitness center; high-end shops; casual and fine-dining venues, including celebrity chef Richard Blais’ Ember & Rye; an Arnold Palmer–designed 18-hole golf course; tennis courts; and a recreation lawn complete with badminton, bocce ball, croquet, and sand volleyball.
The region is also home to some of the best food and drink on the West Coast. Beyond Blais’ must-visit eatery, Michelin star–winning Jeune et Jolie is a breathtaking option. Ultra- feminine, the space offers a palette of pink and palate of French delicacies. Newly opened by the team behind Jeune et Jolie, Wildland is another hot ticket. The all-day restaurant, bar, and bakery takes its inspiration from the creative culinary culture across California and offers a diverse menu of homemade breads, pastas, pizzas, ample vegetables, and more rustic fare. VisitCarlsbad.com
FOR EVEN LONGER: Snow King
Ever gone roaming in Wyoming?
Accessible by flying from Phoenix to Jackson Hole Airport, Snow King is an epic mother-daughter escape in the heart of the Equality State. While the winter months are filled with skiers and snowboarders from around the world, as the ice melts, the region’s 3.4 million acres of Bridger-Teton National Forest and jagged peaks of the Teton Range and Grand Teton National Park reveal themselves.
Snow King Mountain and Snow King Mountain Resort serve as the epicenter of the region and are completely enveloped by majestic natural wonders in every direction. The mountain itself comes alive in the spring and summer with scenic gondola rides, guided hikes, and the only mountaintop observatory and planetarium in the United States. If you’re feeling adventurous, there is even a treetop ropes course and ziplining.
At Snow King Resort, comfort is the true king. In 2023, the resort added its 9,000-square-foot spa, boasting an infrared sauna and the first and only halotherapy salt lounge in Wyoming, in addition to a private outdoor hot tub with mountain views, a steam room, and ample therapies. The rest of the property is also freshly renovated, offering multi-room luxury vacation condominiums, as well as large rooms and suites, award-winning dining, and an adventure center that can curate tours through Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. There is also hiking and mountain biking, fly fishing, rafting and water sports, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing. SnowKing.com
It is also famously home to The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort & Spa is nestled along the Pacific.