How much have you complained about this haunting heat? I’m guilty. I complain when I burn my hands on the steering wheel, I complain at 5pm when I’d rather be hiking than holed up inside, I complain when the sun sets yet it still feels like a sauna. It’s easy to complain. It’s dang hot! But the complaints vanish when your drive just two hours north to Sedona, a haven of hiking trails, cooler temps and L’Auberge de Sedona.
I decided to drive up to the red rocks for a mini fitness escape – a solo trip to clear my head and a chance to exercise in the great outdoors (such a treat in summer!). I’d heard a lot about L’Auberge, a rustically luxurious resort tucked along the banks of Oak Creek, and it all lived up to the hype. My cozy cottage was perfecto and came with all the fixins: private porch, fireplace (not that I needed it), a huge king bed covered in Italian linens, an outdoor shower and a ton of living space. I would have moved in if I could. And the grounds were royally manicured, and oh-so green! I was beginning to forget what greenery looked like, or what water sounded like, but both were in abundance.
But I wasn’t there just to soak in the scenery; I was there to sweat and spa. Thankfully the resort has plenty of opportunity to do both. I downward dogged al fresco in the creekside class, went for a scenic jog with the GM for the weekly hosted morning run (the GM happens to be an ultra-marathoner, so you’re in good hands) and ironed out my stiff muscles in restorative yoga. The sublime spa treatment didn’t hurt either: I had the Himalayan Salt Glow, a dry skin savior that started with a mineral-rich pink salt exfoliation ended with a slathering of shea butter… and me sound asleep. Must have been the Sedona vortexes.
In short, I slept like a princess, ate like a queen and sweated like a… fit chick! And I’m already planning my next trip to Sedona.
