When it comes to retreats, where you hold them can make or break the experience for your participants. Choosing a resort atmosphere where they can indulge their senses will most certainly refresh and rejuvenate them, bringing out their creativity and increasing their productivity. There are wonderful resorts throughout the United States that fit the bill, and some of the best are in Arizona.  Here are our top 5 recommendations:

Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa. Located in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains outside of Tucson, this 400-acre resort is ideal for your next corporate retreat or large meeting. Their all-inclusive packages can be customized to your specific group and can include a wide range of activities, such as outdoor challenges to culinary classes and wellness-focused activities. If you are looking for an out-of-the-ordinary experience for your group, consider including one of their private villas in your package for your next strategy session or mastermind.

Enchantment Resort. Surrounded by the red rock walls and panoramic views of Sedona’s Boynton Canyon, the Enchantment Resort offers a wide range of meeting facilities and group activities that will make your next retreat memorable. Known for their unique offerings of Native American activities, this is a place that will encourage team building and renew their passion. All-inclusive packages are available, making it a choice destination.

L’Auberge de Sedona. Located on the banks of Oak Creek in the heart of Sedona, L'Auberge de Sedona is one of the top resorts in the area and perfect for your next meeting or retreat. A retreat at the L’Auberge can creatively combine your meeting activities with memorable experiences ranging from spa workshops to food and beverage classes and many outdoor team-building activities. Whether you choose one of their extraordinary meeting packages or create a custom experience for your group, L’Auberge de Sedona will not disappoint.

Amara Resort & Spa. Also located on the banks of Oak Creak in Sedona is the Amara Resort & Spa, which takes a modern approach to their Native American heritage. Whether your retreat is for team-building, brainstorming, or masterminding, Amara Resort will meet all your needs. When planning your event, don’t forget to take advantage of the activities that Amara Resort offers – biking, hiking, wine tasting, or just relaxing with one of their amazing spa packages.

 El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort. Names “Best Experiential Hotel”, El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort stands out from other resorts with its unique Southwestern vibe, mixing Old West with Native American touches. Whether you are having a small intimate event or a large conference, El Conquistador Tucson can accommodate your needs. Choose from an assortment of activities for your group’s downtime – from hiking and biking, to spa treatments and 3 world-class golf courses.

 Are you ready to plan your next retreat in Arizona at one of these resorts? Give Luxury Destinations Concierge a call at (805) 236-4437.  We’re ready to help you create a memorable experience!
 

Washington is known as the Evergreen State, and it’s no wonder – lush evergreen forests, beautiful national parks and wildlife preserves and more. Hopefully your trip to Washington will explore some of these wonders as well as the traditional stops in Tacoma and Seattle. Here are some out-of-the-way sights you won’t want to miss:

Port Angeles Underground. While Port Angeles is the headquarters for Olympic National Park, there is so much more to this small town than meets the eye. One of the most interesting sights is the Port Angeles Underground Heritage Tour. At the turn of the 20th century, residents were faced with increased flooding risks in the downtown area. In 1914, they decided to raise the city by about 15 feet, which left a maze of underground tunnels and buried storefronts that are yours to explore during this 2-hour tour.

Mount St Helens. On May 18, 1980, this active volcano erupted and made headlines the world over. Today, you can tour the blast zone to see the devastation. Visit the Johnson Ridge Observatory to get an overview of the area and then hike the Eruption Trail to see how this volcano changed the landscape forever.

Leavenworth. Tucked away in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains is the picturesque Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth. After enjoying the old world charm of the city’s restaurants and shops, there are plenty to do to keep you busy. Take a hike along Icicle Ridge, go tubing or white water rafting down the Wenatchee River.  Take a tour of the Eagle Creek Winery and do some wine tasting. And when you’re back in town, don’t forget to visit the Nutcracker Museum, home to over 6,000 nutcrackers!

Fall City Wallaby Ranch. Ever want to see wallabies and kangaroos up close and personal but didn’t want to go to Australia? Then visit the Wallaby Ranch in Fall City, a USDA-certified breeder of Gray and Albino Bennett’s Wallabies and Red kangaroos. Book an appointment for your tour, learn more about these marsupials and get a chance to play with them at the petting zoo.

Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Located on the site of a former Hudson’s Bay Company trading post, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum offers visitors a chance to step back to experience life in the 1850s.

Yakima Valley. Want to know a secret? Yakima Valley is the #1 hops region in the world, beating out Germany for this important component of beer making. Take a hop tour of the area’s craft breweries, or if wine is more your style, visit some of the areas leading wine cellars for some wine tasting.

San Juan Island. If you’re ready for a laid-back trip, then San Juan Island will fit the bill. Walk around the quaint fishing village of Friday Harbor. Explore the nature trails of Lime Kiln Park. Take a whale watching or kayaking tour around the island. Visit the American and English Camps with garrisons left from the Pig War of 1859. Tour the Pelindaba Lavender Farm and immerse yourself in all things lavender. Or visit San Juan Vineyards for some wine tasting.

Are you ready to plan your trip to Washington? Give Luxury Destinations concierge a call at (805) 236-4437.  We’re happy to help you plan your vacation to the Pacific Northwest!
 

Famous for stunning beaches and breathtaking views, a trip along the Oregon Coast is a marvel to explore. Add these to your must-see destinations on your next down Oregon’s Coast Highway:

Peter Iredale and Fort Stevens State Park. The Northern coast of Oregon is infamously known as the Graveyard of the Pacific due to over 2,000 shipwrecks off its shores. While most are still under water, the Peter Iredale – a 275-foot sailing ship – sits along the shore near Fort Stevens exactly where ran aground in 1906 and was abandoned. During low tide, you can walk right up to it.  While there, take time to explore the beaches, hiking and biking trails and historic Fort Stevens at the Fort Stevens State Park.

Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock. Named as one of the 100 most beautiful places in the world by National Geographic, no trip along Oregon’s coast is complete without a stop at Cannon Beach. While there, make a point to visit Haystack Rock – one of Oregon’s most recognizable landmarks. Formed millions of years ago by lava flows, this 235-foot rock is home to a variety of wildlife that can be seen at low tide – everything from colorful sea stars and other tidepool creatures to puffins. For movie buffs, this is where The Goonies was filmed.

Hug Point. Before Highway 101 was completed in the 1920s, beaches were the main way to travel the Oregon Coast. For obvious reasons, this was a challenge even at low tide. Today, you can walk along the old road that stagecoaches took and see the wheel ruts left from their trips carved in the ruts. While there, visit the beautiful waterfall at Adair Point.

Depoe Bay. Besides being the Whale Watching Capital of Oregon, Depoe Bay is also the world’s smallest natural navigable harbor.  If you don’t want to go out in a boat to see the whales (which we highly recommend), head over to Boiler Bay to see migrating and resident gray whales, oceangoing birds or just take in the spectacular panoramic view.

Devil’s Punchbowl. Devil’s Punchbowl began as a sea cave created over hundreds of years by the ocean. At some point, the cave’s ceiling collapsed and exposed the sea’s undercurrents you see today. Visitors can stand by the edge and observe this site, and perhaps glimpse the frequent groups of seals and sea lions congregated nearby. If you are brave enough, you can take a short hike down into Devil’s Puchbowl itself during low tide and explore the tidepools and the various sea creatures that live there.

Tillamook Cheese Factory. Don’t miss the opportunity to tour the Tillamook Cheese Factory on your trip down the Oregon Coast. The self-guided tour of this dairy farm gives a close-up view of the cheese-making process and draws more than one million visitors each year. While Tillamook is best-known for its cheese, try some of its other products too – yogurt, ice cream, sour cream and butter.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse. At 93-feet tall, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse is the tallest along the Oregon Coast. Take a tour of this lighthouse that’s been active since 1873, or walk along the rocky shore to explore the tide pools, see bald eagles, the resident peregrine falcons and other sea and wildlife.

Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.  This 12-mile corridor encompasses high cliffs, stunning seastacks, beautiful beaches and secret coves. Take time to get out and explore the area as you pass through.  Visit the Natural Bridges and Thunder Rock Cove, picnic at Arch Rock, or hike around Cape Ferrelo.

These are just some of the highlights for a trip up the Oregon Coast. Looking for a more extensive itinerary? Give Luxury Destinations Concierge a call at (805) 236-4437.  We’re happy to help you plan your next vacation!

Sometimes you need a diversion away from the tried and true day trips to amusement parks, beaches and the like.  Here are some fun “alternative” day trips to take if you are in Northern California.

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park (North Bloomfield, CA). Malakoff Diggins is a park like no other.  Located in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, it’s the home to California’s largest hydraulic gold mine.  Here, you can walk back into history and experience the historic gold rush of the mid-19th century. Instead of panning for gold, miners here set up huge water hydraulics that literally washed away the mountains just to find gold.  What’s left are large cliffs that define the area.

Mystery Spot (Santa Cruz, CA). Discovered in 1939 by a group of surveyors, the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz is a gravitational anomaly where your perceptions of gravity and physics will be questioned.  Here, balls roll uphill and chairs sit on walls.  It’s one of a dozen or so places in the US where the optical illusions make visitors do a double-take.  No one knows for sure what causes it, but speculations run the gamut from UFOs and aliens to a magma vortex or a hole in the ozone layer.  Whatever the cause, this is certainly worth the trip.

Old Faithful Geyser of California. While not as big (or well-known) as Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park, this geyser in Calistoga shoots steam about 75 feet into the air every 30 minutes.  It’s also a great predictor of area earthquakes – when the eruptions are delayed or diminished, chances are good that there will be an earthquake within 500 miles in the next few weeks. While there, don’t forget to visit some of the local wineries.

Safari West African Wildlife Tours.  If you’ve ever wanted to go on safari in Africa, the Safari West African Wildlife Tours in Santa Rosa, CA may be the next best thing.  This former sheep ranch has zebras, cheetahs, giraffe, and more. The 3-hour tour led by an experienced guide takes you through the 400-acre preserve. Afterwards, you can see some animals up closer. If you are adventurous and want more than a day trip, you can stay overnight at the preserve in an authentic safari tent! Advanced reservations for the tour are required, so make sure you plan ahead.

Point Reyes National Seashore.  A visit to Point Reyes National Seashore is jam-packed with things to do.  Take a drive along the Cypress Tree Tunnel. Visit the historical Pointe Reyes Lighthouse. From the lighthouse, walk down the road to the Sea Lion Overlook and catch a glimpse of sea lions sunning on the shore. If you’re ambitious, hike to Alamere Falls where the water falls over cliffs to the beaches below. And don’t forget to take a drive down the Cypress Tree Tunnel!

Bumpass Hell and Sulphur Works. If you’ve ever wanted to explore the wonders and mysteries of volcanoes, this is the place. Located in Lassen Volcanic National Park, the Bumpass Hell and Sulphur Works areas are teaming with boiling springs and mud pots, hissing steam vents and roaring fumaroles. These are all an indication of the volcanic activity below Lassen Peak which last erupted in 1914 and is currently dormant.

Need help planning your day trip in Northern California? Give Luxury Destinations Concierge a call at (805) 236-4437.  We’re happy to help you plan a great day!