Vacation is a time to sit back, relax, and decompress from the stressors of daily life. Leave every worry you have behind in your hometown, book a flight, and head to the beautiful city of Scottsdale, AZ. This paradise is home to great weather all year round, ample sunny days for you to get a tan, incredible cultural attractions, and carefree activities that will leave you feeling refreshed and energized. If this sounds like exactly what you need, keep reading to see the top five spots for relaxation and recovery in Scottsdale, AZ.
Boulders Spa
One of the must-visit places for you and your friends or family – or even if you are going on a solo retreat by yourself – is the Boulder Spa. This 33,000-square-foot day spa offers multiple packages and treatments that will have you feeling like a million bucks by the time you walk out of its doors.
Boulders has an extensive menu, featuring scrub facials, cleansing treatments, refreshing therapies, deep tissue massage, and other holistic methods. No matter what you want, like a detoxification process, sauna, soak, or sports massage, they have it all. Once you’re done with your treatment, you can then sit and decompress in the heated pool with a healthy drink.
For those who want to work up a sweat before relaxing with a massage or a facial, you can use the fitness center any time between 6 am and 6 pm. Then, book any one of a long list of spa services between 9 am and 5 pm to begin the taste of luxury.
We recommend the Desert Zen massage, which is the signature Swedish massage with hot towels, hot stones, and light strokes that can be customized to your preferences. Or try the Boulders Stone massage with pre-warmed stones, radiating heat, and gentle massage to release any tension or knots in your body.
Pair any one of these messages with an ‘Enhancement’, like the Aromatherapy Enhancement, featuring a variety of blended essential oils to help soothe your skin, relax your mind, and ease your stress.
This holistic therapy center also offers Ayurvedic Elements for your relaxation and personalized experience, such as the ‘Bindi Balancing’ package, featuring a personalized herbal application, exfoliation, circulation methods, infused oil application, and scalp and facial massages.
Lastly, we highly recommend getting one of their body treatments to walk out feeling refreshed, nourished, and healthy. The Citrus Skin Smoother is a popular choice for all guests, including a body polish with citrus and jasmine sugar, Vichy shower, and moisturizer.
Head to the Merkin Vineyard
Have a glass of wine at one of the numerous wineries dotting the lush green lands surrounding Scottsdale to relax. One of the most famous vineyards is Merkin Vineyards, a long-standing winery that is one of the most visited options in the city. All of the wines at Merkin are made in the nearby Willcox and Verde Valley, including serving local and fresh food from small-scale farms in Scottsdale.
We recommend going to both locations in Old Town Scottsdale and Old Town Cottonwood from the total authentic experience. When there, make sure you focus on sampling the Merkin flights — the French varieties, Italian varieties, and Spanish varieties.
Sip on a Merlot at LDV Winery
Another great winery to relax, sip on a few glasses of Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, and gaze out at the beautiful scenery is the LDV Winery. This easily accessible winery is right in the heart of Scottsdale, making it easy for you to get here on foot at any time of the day.
LDV Winery is right across from Merkin, meaning you can easily create your own ‘winery walking tour’ between these two spots. We recommend trying one of the tasting flights, including the Taste of LDV estate-grown varieties for just $12.
Have a Cocktail at Beverly on Main
After a long day of hiking, white water rafting, shopping, or exploring the beautiful downtown of Scottsdale, it is time for a drink. The good thing is there are no shortage of wineries, breweries, and cocktail bars to check out during your stay here.
We think that one of the best for a relaxing evening gazing out at the nearby mountains and chatting with your loved ones is the Beverly on Main. During Happy Hour, which is Sunday to Thursday from 4 to 7 pm, you can get $1 off tap beer, $2 off wine by the glass, $3 off White Claw varieties, and $4 off classic cocktails.
We recommend ordering the fresh-cut truffle fries or Cornholio bites to share with the table. Then, you can’t go wrong with any one of their spicy and strong cocktails, fresh pours of tap beer right from the spout, or even a ‘Classic AF Cocktail’ to start the evening off right.
Indulge at Inspire Day Spa
Last but not least, head back to a spa to get pampered again at the Inspire Day Spa Facial and Massage. This full-service spot offers a large relaxation area, incredible views of the lake, partner and couple treatments, and packages for you to choose from.
We recommend getting the Oxygeneo Super Facial And LeClair Skincare products to leave your skin feeling refreshed, nourished, and moisturized.
