92 2009 GREATER PHOENIX ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIVING HERE recreation by Lisa Kasanicky A sk a crowd of locals which spas rank as their favorites and you're likely to get answers as varied as the colors of an Arizona sunset. With the Valley area alone claiming stake to more than 30 world- class resort and hotel spas, the Grand Canyon state has become the hot seat of leisure and relaxation. What makes the Valley such a highly sought spa destination? The answer lies in the unparalleled treatments and transformational spaces that define this spa- rich landscape. Healing treatments With a host of indigenous healing herbs and customs at their fingertips, Valley spas have set the bar for weaving native traditions into unique and unrivaled treatment offerings. Agave, The Arizona Spa at the Westing Kierland Resort pays tribute to their namesake with the signature Blue Agave Mud Wrap. Extracts from the desert agave plant play a key role in re- hydrating skin during this nourishing journey, which includes an agave nectar sugar scrub, agave oil application, and a crowning blue agave mud wrap that penetrates skin with moisture ( 80 minutes, from $ 205). Agave, The Arizona Spa at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa 6902 East Greenway Parkway Scottsdale 85254 ( 480) 624- 1500 www. kierlandresort. com Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess 7575 East Princess Drive Scottsdale 85255 ( 480) 585- 2732 www. willowstream. com The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North 10600 East Crescent Moon Drive Scottsdale 85262 ( 480) 515- 5700 www. fourseasons. com Joya Spa at the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa 4949 East Lincoln Drive Paradise Valley 85253 ( 480) 627- 3200 www. joyaspa. com Aji Spa at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa 5594 West Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler 85226 ( 602) 385- 5759 www. wildhorsepassresort. com Golden Door Spa at The Boulders Resort 34631 North Tom Darlington Drive Carefree 85377 480- 595- 3500 www. goldendoor. com TOP/ INSET: Agave, The Arizona Spa at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa Valley of the Spas Discover bliss and tranquility at a luxurious retreat near you Contact Information: photoS: Westin kierland resort & spa

2009 GREATER PHOENIX ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIVING HERE 93 recreation What's Your Pleasure? W ith such a plethora of top- notch retreats, deciding where to " indulge" can leave you scratching your head. Here are a sprinkling of insider tidbits to help you decide. Best men's hideaway: Spa Avania at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort, ( 480) 483- 5558/ www. spaavania. com. Tucked away inside this sprawling indoor-outdoor retreat is a private men's suite complete with a flat- screen TV and mini bar. Most browse- worthy boutique: The Spa at the Arizona Biltmore Resort, Phoenix, ( 602) 381- 7632/ www. arizonabiltmore. com. Brimming with resort- style yoga wear, poolside reads and skincare remedies, this spa boutique inspires you to slow down and smell the aromatherapy candles. Coolest retro vibe: VH Spa for Vitality + Health at Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale, ( 480) 248- 2000/ www. hotelvalleyho. com. From its perch on the second floor of the " Ho," this petite spa radiates with a cool, crisp charm that captures the glamorous past of the 1950s property it overlooks. Hippest big city transplant: Bliss Scottsdale at the W Hotel, ( 480) 575- 0164/ www. blissworld. com. True to its NYC roots, this boutique retreat has a clean urban vibe and " tongue- in- chic" spa menu. Tastiest spa cuisine: Sprouts at the Spa at Marriott's Camelback Inn, Scottsdale, ( 480) 596- 7040/ www. camelbackspa. com. With massive windows that frame the pool and mountainside backdrop, this café tames the appetite with flavor- packed entrées, inventive appetizers and a full bar. Most secluded pool: Revive Spa at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, Phoenix, ( 480) 293- 3700/ www. jwdesertridgeresort. com. Flanked by private spa cabanas and framed by the scenic McDowell Mountains, this placid pool invites you to lose all sense of time and place. Top spot for kindling up romance: Alvadora Spa at the Royal Palms Resort, Phoenix, ( 602) 840- 3610/ www. royalpalmshotel. com. Equipped with two heated stone tables and French doors that overlook a private garden, the spa's Acqua Dolce Villa is a perfect place for sharing a treatment for two. — Lisa Kasanicky At the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Willow Stream Spa spins the sights and aromas of traveling deep into the Grand Canyon into their signature Havasupai Body Oasis Experience. Inspired by an oasis of waterfalls and sacred Native American land hidden in the canyon, the treatment starts with a waterfall massage in the outdoor oasis pool and is followed by a soothing eucalyptus foot bath, a warming desert tea, a chamomile full- body exfoliation, an herbal bath, an aromatherapy wrap and a final massage with warm oils ( 120 minutes, $ 319). There's nothing prickly about the Jojoba & Prickly Pear Polish at The Spa at Four Seasons Resort. A marriage of two native desert plants, this experience feeds skin a rich complex of jojoba and plant anti- oxidants. Following an invigorating prickly pear sugar rubdown, skin is rinsed under a warm Vichy rain shower. The treatment wraps with a deeply hydrating dose of prickly pear and jojoba body butter ( 50 minutes, $ 155). Inspiring surrounds The visually stunning architecture and purposeful decor that shapes the Valley spa experience is as diverse as the Sonoran desert landscape. At the newly opened Joya Spa at the InterContinental Montelucia Resort, the exotic vibe of southern Spain transports you to a warm, breezy interlude punctuated by Moroccan accents, exotic melodies and treatment rooms draped in vibrant hues. The centerpiece of this two- storied retreat is an authentic Hammam, a warm room with a reclining bench of pearlescent tiles. From the intricate tiled floor mosaics to the paintings that adorn its walls, every picture tells a story of the land marked by Aji Spa at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort. The dome- shaped spa has been thoughtfully designed to capture the stories of the Gila River Native American community who shaped the area's his-tory. A trickling replica of the Gila River winds through the resort grounds, while an authentic Olas'Ki in the pool area rep-resents the dwellings of the native people. Marked by towering granite boulders, the Golden Door Spa at the Boulders Re-sort merges a Japanese Zen- like style with Native American influences like rounded corners and kiva ceilings. The harmonious merging creates an air of calm that mean-ders through the treatment rooms, the cen-tral tea room that spills with natural light and the spacious Niwas ( or locker rooms). Outdoors, a labyrinth, meditation tipi and affirmation rock are among the reflective amenities unique to this property. photo: Westin kierland resort & Spa