The Boulders
Couples and families looking for a luxurious, secluded getaway in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area should consider the Boulders in Carefree, Arizona. This five-star resort, encompassing 1,300 acres amid a fantastic boulder field about 35 miles north of PHX, offers not only the amenities one would expect, but also spacious views of the Sonora Desert with its quail and other birds, lizards, coyotes, and bobcats, and of its sculpted landscape of cacti and other native plants. Visitors almost invariably mention the beautiful natural surroundings of the resort, which even has a wildlife photographer on staff to provide guided photo tours of the grounds.
The Boulders features six accommodation classes, all of which feature exposed wood ceiling beams, sumptuous furniture, and ethnic décor. Standard amenities include high-speed Internet access, 27-inch flat-screen TV with premium cable, private patio, Egyptian cotton sheets, and iPod docks. The resort has some 160 spacious yet moderately priced casitas, grouped in clusters like small villages. Some mentioned the desert wildlife visible--especially at sunrise--from their rooms and along the resort's walkways, others the views of one of the resort's two 18-hole golf courses. At the high end, the Boulders offers private, Balinese-themed villas. Each of these features five bedrooms in two units with a connecting courtyard, a fire pit, an infinite-edge pool, Jacuzzi, floor-to-ceiling windows, gym, full kitchen, and elevator.
In addition to the two golf courses, the Boulders offers guided hiking excursions (including after dark with night-vision goggles), a climbing wall, mountain bike tours, horseback riding, hot-air ballooning, biplane flights, jeep tours through the desert, and more. Tennis enthusiasts will find three clay and five cushion-surface courts. The on-site marketplace, called El Pedregal (the scree), drew compliments from visitors who enjoyed its boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and amphitheater.
Perhaps the Boulders' most special feature is the 33,000 square-foot spa, the Golden Door. This facility combines Asian and European design elements and therapies to create a unique ambiance. It includes 24 treatment spaces, an outdoor labyrinth, a tipi, movement studio, Vichy treatment rooms, a yoga studio, and full-service salon.
The Boulders prides itself on its service, from the front desk to the rest of the staff. Management seems to realize that courteous and friendly service leads to satisfied visitors.
