Hosting the holidays this year? Before you run on empty, rejuvenate yourself with a quick getaway to local hot spots that will have you breathing in the crisp winter air and getting the relaxation you need to take on the holiday season.
The Boulders Resort and Spa
An extraordinary desert hideaway, the Boulders Resort and Spa features 160 guest casitas and 61 villas, five restaurants, a lounge, two championship Jay Morrish-designed golf courses, eight tennis courts, three pickleball courts and a full-service spa.
There will be no lack of holiday cheer when you enter. Poised for the season, the Boulders Resort is keeping with its Southwestern holiday tradition by adorning the main lodge and spa lobby with Christmas trees featuring colorful ornaments from the region, luminaries strung throughout the grounds and native cacti ablaze with miniature lights.
"The Boulders continues its legendary tradition for celebrating the December holidays, but we also offer a place of unsurpassed beauty, sumptuous culinary celebrations and festive outdoor activities, and our spa offers the perfect solution to holiday stress,” says General Manager Sally Shaffer.
Privacy and relaxation intertwine when lounging in a private casita including wood-burning fireplaces and private patios that illuminate and intensify the romantic beauty of the Sonoran Desert landscape. Families will appreciate the one- to three-bedroom villas that offer great space and value for the holiday season.
Guests will enjoy an abundance of outdoor pursuits for all ages, ranging from lawn chess, bocce ball on the scenic duck pond, desert hikes, bicycling, rock climbing and desert jeep tours, hot air balloon rides, holiday horseback and breakfast rides and evening celestial offerings such as stargazing and moonlight yoga. Before heading to The Grill Kitchen & Bar for a four-course prix fixe holiday menu, stop by the spa for a Strawberry Rhubarb Facial to bring back your youthful glow.
The holiday season doesn't have to be overwhelming; a short visit to the Boulders will have you feeling refreshed and relaxed.
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
Treat yourself to a memorable getaway at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa this season, with Four Diamond service; five sparkling pools, a lazy river and waterslide; and Wildfire Golf Club, with its Palmer Signature Course and Faldo Championship Course. Children will enjoy the kids' activity center while you relax at the modern fitness centers or the upscale spa and salon. Poolside and fine dining are offered at this location with an eclectic array of cuisine options, and all of the guest rooms boast lovely views and luxury amenities.
“We are always looking at ways in which we can elevate the overall guest experience at Desert Ridge,” says General Manager and Area General Manager Steve Hart. “It’s important we stay relevant and in tune with what our guests are looking for when they travel because they have a myriad of destinations and properties from which to choose. The addition of enhancements in the last year defines our continued commitment to providing an authentic JW Marriott signature experience for our guests.”
Additions such as 12 new pickleball courts; luxury cabana cottages; a renovated splash pool bar; Griffin Bay, a luxury poolside experience; a fresh-faced fitness center at Revive Spa; a movement studio; a yoga lawn; and new pool suites are among the exciting changes that have taken place at JW this year.
If you haven't stayed at the JW lately, there is much to see and do, all set against a beautiful backdrop that will make you feel like you are on vacation, even if you're close to home.
