Perched on Scottsdale’s famed Camelback Mountain is the Sanctuary, a AAA Four Diamond Resort set on 53 sunny acres with spa facilities, dining by Iron Chef winner Beau MacMillan, and accommodations that range from suites to full private residences, all with stellar desert and mountain views. Of course, you could put me in a tent on Camelback Mountain and I would be a happy camper, reveling in the Sonoran desert oasis surrounded by the bustle of Arizona’s largest metropolitan area.
The surroundings are spectacular, and the resort is beautiful with trendy architecture and simple, elegant decor. But as beautiful as the resort and surroundings are, that’s not what put the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain on my Travel To Do List. As tempting as Chef MacMillan’s menu at elements is…as inviting as the beautiful Sanctuary Spa is…as much as I love a quiet night looking down at the millions of twinkling lights that fill the Valley of the Sun…those aren’t the main attractions for me.
The Sanctuary Spa has been listed as a Four Star Spa by Forbes Travel Guide for the past three years.
No, what attracted me is a program called Mi Casa, Mi Chef. Picture yourself and your loved one(s) in the dining room of one of Sanctuary’s private residences – in my mental image, it’s Thanksgiving – enjoying a farm-to-table fresh dinner that you prepared, from farm to table, with the chef. Chauffered trip to the farmer’s market with your chef. Customized menu with wine pairings. Interactive cooking session with the chefs. Sign me up!
I know…most people probably check into a resort to get away from everyday chores like cooking dinner for the clan! Call it my own brand of mental illness: I want to do this. (I mentioned that wine pairings are included, right?)
Our Travel To Do List is neither solicited nor compensated. (However, if anybody wants to help cross something off the list, we can talk!) You can learn more about Mi Casa, Mi Chef and everything the luxurious resort has to offer at their website, SanctuaryOnCamelback.com. If you go, or have already been, we would absolutely love to hear about your experience! We’d also love to hear your thoughts and any suggestions for our Travel To Do List. Just leave us a comment. (All images are from SanctuaryOnCamelback.com.)
