If you’re already feeling the winter blahs (or just anticipating them), a weekend getaway to Arizona is guaranteed to lift your body, mind and spirit.
Body: Travel to the Copper State is often associated with the Grand Canyon. But Arizona is home to a number of “hidden” canyons offering adventure and sightseeing opportunities, minus the crowds. Antelope Canyon is a so-called slot canyon – formed by the wear of water rushing through rock – that’s considered one of the most breathtaking and tranquil places on earth. Even more remote: Canyon X, which requires visitors to be accompanied by a permit-carrying guide. Overland Adventures offers tours of both.
Mind: Ease a workweek’s worth of worries with a visit to one of Arizona’s world-renowned luxury resort and spa retreats. Scottsdale’s Phoenician offers calming facials and tarot readings at its Centre for Well-Being, while the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain boasts a Zen meditation garden and a Watsu pool, both meant to promote deep relaxation. Looking for something more “au naturel?” The Verde Hot Springs near Sedona encourage visitors to bathe their troubles away in their birthday suits (but only if you want to).
Spirit: Stunning, serene … and a place of spiritual power; Arizona’s much-talked-about vortexes – spiraling pockets of energy – are said to produce some of the best spots on the planet for prayer, meditation and healing. The state’s best-known vortexes surround Sedona, and can be accessed via a guided Jeep tour , or on foot by following various marked trails (whether you believe in these sacred spaces or not, you gotta admit: looking for a vortex is a pretty fun excuse for a hike).
For more information, visit the Arizona Office of Tourism .
