Four Seasons Resort
Scottsdale, Arizona
** Selected by FamilyTravel.com as one of the “Great Family Resorts in Arizona” (March, 2002)
Our kids fell in love with the Four Seasons the minute they stepped into the room. Have you ever seen a room that had its own swimming pool? The kids were so excited by the private pool they almost did not see their bedroom, which came decorated with balloons, board games, and videos. This alone was a wonderful welcome. But then the doorbell rang a few moments later, and a waiter appeared with three plates of chocolate chip cookies and each plate had the child’s name written on it in chocolate!
Our first impressions just kept getting better and better. In addition to a private pool, we discovered that our suite came with two fireplaces. When the sun went down and the temperature started to drop, we enjoyed the terrace, the plunge pool (comfortably heated to somewhere around 85 degrees or so) and the outdoor fireplace. Star gazing in an open desert sky is a real treat. You can pick out plenty of constellations with the naked eye, but to enhance this experience the Four Seasons has a first class Orion telescope in each room (and a star chart, for which we were particularly grateful).
The spa at the Four Seasons is as luxurious as the rooms. If you have a chance, we recommend the Four Seasons signature massage – which takes you through all four seasons of the year. After a pot of hot peppermint tea, you are guided into a spacious, candle lit massage room to experience “winter.” Your skin is exfoliated with a peppermint scrub, then you are wrapped up with cold towels under your back and feet, and warm towels on your torso. This special wrap helps bolster your immune system, while at the same time drawing toxins from your body. As the massage progresses to Spring and Summer, you’ll enjoy a sampling of Hawaiian lomi-lomi massage, reflexology and a unique Thai stretching massage. All of these are accompanied by aromatic scents and Hawaiian and Native American music—truly a feast for the senses.
If your passions go more towards sports than spas, you can take advantage of the Four Seasons lighted tennis courts or the championship golf course. Or, you can work out at the resort’s excellent exercise facility. You’ll be totally pampered whichever option you choose. I enjoyed the exercise room where, as soon as I began to perspire, an attendant appeared to offer me a clean towel and some citrus water. They also offered me private headphones so that I could enjoy a selection from their collection of CDs. I wish that working out were always this much fun.
While you’re enjoying some special time exercising or enjoying a treatment at the spa, your children can be enjoying themselves at the Four Seasons Kids Club. There is a basketball hoop (adjustable height, so great for older and younger children to play), ping pong, a pool table, air hockey, and other games. There is an outdoor play area for younger children (two to four years of age). There are also arts and crafts supplies for creative relaxation. The “Kids for All Seasons” program is available for children between the ages of five and twelve and is open from 9am-5pm. Morning activities are geared towards outdoor activities like learning rope tricks, playing croquet, or going for a hike in the desert. Then the kids return to the center during lunchtime so that they can enjoy a quiet meal while watching a video. Afternoons are usually spent at the pool, where the kids are pampered with ice water and nutritious fruit kabobs. By 4:00 pm the kids are back at the clubhouse ready to cool down and enjoy some educational craft activities, like Indian headdress making and leather works.
Two things stood out for our family during our visit to the Four Seasons. First, the quality of the facilities. This is a top flight property, perfectly maintained. Every aspect of every detail is carefully attended to by the staff. Walkways, pool areas, and landscaped areas are all beautifully cared for. We noted that the gate to the plunge pool, for example, was not only secure, but quiet and an attractive part of the terrace. My son was especially happy that the basketball available to use was not a beat-up throw-away ball, but was a very good quality ball (I will confess some ignorance on this issue, but suffice to say that he was happy and that meant a lot to me).
The entire resort was constructed with great respect for the surroundings. The resorts 180 “casitas” and 22 suites are built to blend in with the natural beauty of the area. For example, instead of plowing down the grand saquaro cacti that are indiginous to the area, some of the buildings are built around these two-hundred-year-old giants. The sandstone color of the buildings was also designed to blend in so that the visitor can enjoy the natural beauty around them without being distracted by man-made constructions.
Everything about the Four Seasons Resort—the rooms, the spa, the restaurants—is understated and elegant. In fact, we believe that the Four Seasons Resort is one of the “Top Five Family Resorts in Arizona.” We think you’ll like it, too.
While at the Four Seasons, be sure to visit the following attractions:
* Rawhide - Beyond the resort, but close by, is a Wild West Town called “Rawhide.” Rawhide offers a variety of attractions, including a wild west shootout, a train ride and a petting ranch. For more information visit www.rawhide.com.
* Out of Africa - offers a close-up view of lions, tigers, wolves and bears, among other animals. This is a wildlife park, not a zoo, and you will see different animal species sharing habitat space. There are presentations but no rehearsed shows. For more information, visit www.outofafricapark.com
For reservation information contact:
The Four Seasons Resort
Scottsdale, Arizona
1-480-515-5599
www.fourseasons.com/Scottsdale
