Miraval Resort, Tucson, AZ
Traveling to a health resort has been a dream of mine for longer than I can remember. I don’t know exactly how old I was, but as a young girl I remember making my mom promise me that if I ever got engaged she would take me on a health and fitness retreat. I’m not sure why I specifically associated it with getting married instead of any other big milestone in life but nevertheless this “post-engagement trip” has been planned in my head for quite some time. As I got older and became more committed and passionate about my healthy lifestyle, my desire to book a wellness retreat only intensified. However, I knew that one day the time would come where I would be able to hold my mom to her word. So you can bet that after the proposal, amidst the dress shopping and decor meetings, this vacation made its way to the top of the wedding-planning-priority list. It was time for the ultimate mother-daughter spa weekend.
We knew Arizona would be the destination of choice as it’s known for its luxurious and health-oriented resorts. Plus nothing seemed more appealing to me than escaping our harsh Canadian winter in February for some desert heat. After doing lots of research we chose to stay at the Miraval Resort & Spa. The resort is in northern Tucson, situated amongst acres and acres of beautiful desert landscape and the Santa Catalina Mountains. We booked an all-inclusive package that offered an abundance of hiking, workout classes, lectures, nutritious food and spa treatments. My favourite were the yoga classes in their stunning studio with a desert backdrop.
As opposed to most vacations, eating well was a no-brainer at Miraval. The breakfast and lunch buffets were filled with wholesome options and the dinner menu always specified if an option was dairy free, gluten free, etc. At any time you could head to the snack bar for a fresh juice or smoothie and there always seemed to be a jar of granola at an arms reach no matter where you were. It was safe to say that this was a health-fanatic’s haven.
What really sets Miraval apart from other resorts, however, is their focus on mindfulness. Whether you are zip-lining, eating a meal or having a massage, the staff always tied every activity back to being mindful of why you are doing something and how it makes you feel. This really forces guests to take in the moment and reflect, which is never easy to do, even on vacation! I was grateful for that reminder while we were there and felt so appreciative to be able to spend quality time with my mom. This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that I am so lucky to have experienced and that I am excited to share with you.
