Childhood memories of Phoenix were a place of sun tea and 110 degree weather, a place lacking in charm and devoid of my own personal passion – fashion! Hired by Bloomingdale’s, I arrived in New York City for their Executive Buyer Training program, escaping the dreariness of my childhood. But time marches on and now I look for any reason to escape the cold in the East. So, I jumped at the chance to attend my high school reunion in Phoenix and invited my 15 year-old-to be my date. Reluctantly she joined me in the adventure and we both left the cold behind us.
Somehow the Phoenix I remembered no longer resembled my youthful memories. Now I was looking at a sprawling urban evolution with numerous housing developments and multiple highways. I tried to access the landmarks but few remained, replaced by a surprisingly fresh and new perspective. Added to this, the surrounding mountains provided a scenic backdrop to the intricately planted landscape set against a desert that was serene and lovely.
On our first day, we sought out the Burton Barr Central Library to peruse old fashion telephone books in the Arizona Room (at my daughters suggestion) to look up my childhood addresses. To my surprise the library, which was built in 1995, was surrounded by a moat-like pool with high tech glass elevators and the magazine room housed hundreds of periodicals rivaling any East Coast Institution. We soon moved on to shop at No Money Pawn Shop, buying a fun piece of authentic native Indian jewelry for a song. Their wieldy stash of guns and knives intrigued us but we couldn’t imagine doing any hunting in that heat. We were hoping for heat of a different kind in authentic Mexican food so while waiting to check-out I asked a Latino woman for her suggestion of a home style restaurant. Soon my question had circulated to other folks in the store and at last one of the patrons shouted, “Go a block and a half and turn right for Juan’s Authentic Mexican Food. After guacamole, chips and salsa, enchiladas and a quesadilla, we were stuffed and pleasantly surprised that the bill totaled $15.00. As far as I was concerned my trip so far was a big success; I had at least found the food of my childhood.
Luxury of course is a nice thing to experience. As far as hotels in my hometown, the top of the pyramid is the historic Arizona Biltmore. Crowned “The Jewel of the Desert” in 1929 when it was built, its’ art deco influence is infused with the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright and today it almost seems like a living masterpiece even though it was actually designed by a student of Lloyd Wright’s. We were fortunate to stay in the gracious Ocatilla wing where the halls are graced with historical pictures of the original hotel as well as more Art Deco decoration but translated with a modern twist. A lounge on the ground level offered continental breakfast, light evening fare and complimentary beer, wine and desert and the wing had its own private pool surrounded by colorful cabanas. The resort’s gym facilities were expansive and I was even personally escorted in a golf cart and given access to the spa. Room service at the property was top notch and we swooned when we tasted their chocolate cheesecake with an Oreo crust. Spending private time with my daughter in our home away from home was the perfect bonding experience to arm me with courage to attend my high school reunion.
The reunion was far less painful than I expected but sadly, not memorable. My daughter was a little in culture shock by the experience and immediately texted her girlfriend, “My mom wants to know if she looks as old as her classmates?” She had to get in a little dig about my age but I got her back when I was awarded the “Certificate of Recognition” – for traveling the farthest to the reunion. We practically raced back to the oasis that the Biltmore had become.
The next day we headed north to Sedona for a quick day and half. I felt the pull of nature and the outdoors as we drove closer to the red rock mountains. The surrounding area is like no other in comparison to what I’m used to living the life of the hard core New York City resident. Plus, the chance to stay at the Enchantment Resort brought another dimension to the experience and our enhanced Casita Room, nestled in Boynton Canyon, was more than we could have wished for in our wildest dreams. Enchantment is surrounded by the Coconino National Forest and the Red Rock/Secret mountain Wilderness area, one of Arizona’s most beautiful nature preserves. The wilderness contains the ruins of our beloved Native Americans.
We had made reservations at Mii amo, their destination spa, and decided to experience it ahead of check-in since the drive had tired us out. The spa takes its name from the Native American word for “journey” and offers complete state of the art fitness facilities as well as 22 treatment areas. I opted for a Chakra, a vibrational massage using different oils for each Chakra; it was Sedona after all, and I decided to go with the spiritual flow. My daughter went with a more traditional Swedish massage. We felt relaxed and revived afterward and decided to channel our psychic sides so we reserved a special fortune telling session with their popular astrologist on premises. They requested our dates of birth and time, so an official chart could be devised. I wanted to know my daughter’s future, she wanted to know the present; would this school year bring a boyfriend and plentiful friends?
A highlight of our Sedona experience was Pink Jeep Tours. For more than 45 years they have provided an off- road adventure. The jeep literally leads you on the red rocks with views at Submarine Rock and Chicken point and at one point is positioned like a downward facing dog yoga pose. The descent down the “Road of no Return” is a heart pounding one and we were literally holding on to our hats. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and regaled us with stories about some of the rock formations which looked like different animals. I felt like I was learning about a whole new side of Arizona … its geography, plants and history. Afterwards, I wanted to show my daughter one of my favorite places from my youth, Slide Rock State Park, an old apple orchard. Though a little treacherous, the canyon’s refreshing cold water (65 degrees in summer) is fun to slide down as the natural rocks are smooth and slippery. Be sure to bring a pair of cut offs– a swimsuit might not hold up!
Later that night we ended up at El Rincon for dinner. The night was quite cool but the restaurant provided blankets and the patio was warmly lit by heat lamps. Opened in 1976 as a premier restaurant in the Tlaquepaque Village, El Rincon was created as a family business and serves a unique “Arizona Style” traditional Mexican meal. I had the delicious chimichangas, with a spicy prickly pear margarita. I was warned not to drink too much as the designated driver in our small party of two. I consoled myself with a sopapilla dusted with cinnamon and topped with whipped cream and honey for desert.
The moment to head back to our big city life came way too fast when we had to catch the red eye. I surprised myself speeding down the highway as typically I seldom get the chance to drive back home. Even though we’d spent a mere 3 days together it was worth the trek. I had time-travelled to share a place that had little resemblance to my youthful days there but today had so much more to offer as an adult. What a wonderful leaning experience high school reunions can be!
NOTE FROM THE TRAVELSQUIRE EDITORS:
Mii Amo, at Enchantment Resort, is offering a new 7-night Journey presented by certified health counselor, Shelagh Dwyer. Along with luxury spa accommodations, daily meals at Mii Amo Café, 14 spa treatments, and full access to the resort’s premier facilities and services, each participant will receive their own personalized healthy lifestyle program. They will gain specific knowledge pertaining to nutrition, fitness, and stress reduction techniques so they may achieve long-term wellness and continue on their road to self-renewal. The experience is great for people who are looking to begin the new year with a fresh start and what better place to find some inner peace than in the sacred sitting of Boynton Canyon.
The area code for Phoenix is 602.
The area code for Sedona is 928.
Where to Stay:
Ocatilla at Arizona Biltmore:
2400 East Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
602-955-6600
www.arizonabiltmore.com
Enchantment Resort:
525 Boynton Canyon Road
Sedona, Arizona 86336
928-282-2900
El Portal Sedona Hotel:
97 Portal Lane
Sedona, AZ 86336
800-313-0017
Where to Eat:
Juan’s Authentic Mexican Food
1516 E. Thomas Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85014
602-241-1918
El Rincon Tlaquepaque
336 Highway 179#A112
Sedona, Arizona 86336-6102
Open Monday 11 am to 4pm
Tues – Sat 11 am to 9pm
Sunday – 11 am to 8pm
928-282-4648
What to do:
Mi amo, a destination Spa at Enchantment
525 Boynton Canyon Road
Sedona, AZ 86336
Reservations 888-749-2137
Burton Barr Central Library
1221 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix Arizona 85004
Monday 9am to 5pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11:00 am to 9pm
Friday and Saturday 9 am to 5pm
Sunday 1 to 5pm
No Money Pawn Shop
1152 East Indian School Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85014
Open daily 10 am to 7 pm
602-279-4417
Pink Jeep Tours
204 N. State Route 89A
Sedona, Arizona 86336
800-873-3662
reservations@pinkjeep.com
Slide Rock State Park
6871 N. Highway 89A
Sedona, Arizona 86336
928-282-3034
