Around the Boulders and Behind the Golden Door
Resort and spa in Arizona offers a carefree exercise in relaxation
At first glance, you might almost miss the Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa (the Boulders), so cunningly does it blend with the surrounding desert environment. It almost looks as if it grew out of the rocks around it, rather than having been built by human hands.
Just north of Scottsdale, Ariz., the Boulders lies on 1,300 acres in the beautiful Sonoran desert in an aptly named town called Carefree. It offers 160 guest “casitas” and 55 one-, two-, and three-bedroom Pueblo villas that are shaped into the natural terrain and grouped in village-like clusters to the north and south of the main lodge. The rooms feature hand-hewn wood-beamed ceilings with fans, wood-burning fireplaces, wet bars, large dressing and bathroom areas, and private patios or decks overlooking the desert or golf course (which is a feast to the eyes in and of itself). Earth-tone furnishings, glazed tile, Indian artifacts, and regional art all add to the resort’s Southwestern allure.
The resort’s seven dining venues offer sumptuous taste sensations for every palate. The Latilla is the Boulders’ signature dining room, serving organic and naturally grown ingredients of the Western Seaboard. The Palo Verde combines a menu of fresh seafood with regional specialties for breakfast and lunch. The Boulders Club is within walking distance of the main lodge, and houses Bogey’s (casual breakfast and lunch fare) and Rusty’s Chop House (for lunch and dinner). Terraced seating offers panoramic views of the Sonoran foothills and the golf course. The Discovery Lounge is a popular nightspot that combines live entertainment with spectacular desert views. The Bakery Café is located at a nearby boutique marketplace. Originally conceived as an inhouse bakery for the Boulders, it has become a popular breakfast, lunch, and pastry shop.
The Golden Door Spa Café offers light meals, fresh juices, and smoothies, while Tee Box Dinners is a romantic dining experience out on the green of one of the holes of the resort’s South Course. The Golden Door Spa is a 33,000-square-foot experience in Eastern and Western influences from its design to its healing methods, treatments, and philosophies. The spa features 24 treatment spaces, a labyrinth, an authentic tipi, fitness center, movement studio, Vichy treatment rooms, Yoga studio, full-service salon, and the Spa Café.
The private guest- and members- only Boulders Club features a 7,139-yard, par 72 championship golf course and a 6,926-yard, par 71 course, both designed by Jay Morrish. The beauty of these courses is spectacular and demanding. Beginning or wannabe golfers need not feel left out – the Boulders Golf Academy offers private, one-on-one instruction with PGA and LPGA instructors, as well as a one-of-a-kind program for new women golfers to help them learn the game and to feel more at ease on the golf course. This program also ensures that all women golfers, no matter their experience in the game, get equal access to tee times, equal facilities, and plenty of personalized attention.
Eight tennis courts, four swimming pools, and rock climbing are just a few of the additional amenities to be found at the Boulders. For more information, visit www.the boulders.com or call 800-553-1717.
