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Feel the Heat
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culture
Feel the Heat Plan Your Escape for the Weekend WRITTEN BY Celece Seegmiller
Summer. Just that one word brings to mind images of road trips and sandy beaches. It encompasses that time between Memorial Day and Labor Day when we find ourselves yearning to pack our bags and hit the road. When the weather heats up, we dream of traveling to exotic, far-away destinations. But while we dream of visiting the Mediterranean coast to soak up the sun and culture, the people there dream of visiting the red rocks and blue skies of the desert Southwest. You see, we have plenty of beauty and culture right here in our own back yard. You don’t need to have a long, fancy vacation in order to relax in a world-class resort spa or take in a weekend of art and culture; it’s all right here within a few hours’ drive. And summer is the perfect time to take advantage of great weather and great values at fabulous resorts close to home.
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Photos courtesy Ravella at Lake Las Vegas. T H E T R AV E L I S S U E 2 0 1 2
Ravella at Lake Las Vegas, Nevada Did you know you could experience a taste of Italy just a few hours away? It is Ravella at Lake Las Vegas, and even though it is only 17 miles from the strip, it is far from the typical bright lights of big city Las Vegas. Ravella’s name is based on the picturesque coastal town of Ravello in southern Italy and inspired by the word “revel,” meaning “to take great pleasure or delight.” Ravella’s architecture is reminiscent of Europe’s colorful waterside villages. Ravella brings Italy to the desert with Florence’s famed Ponte Vecchio Bridge. This iconic three-story bridge includes a collection of rooms and suites with unrivaled lake views. The hotel is built around a Florentine-inspired garden, complete with a fire pit and comfortable seating in the center. The garden’s tranquil setting is an ideal spot to start the day with a cup of coffee or wind down with a glass of wine in the evening. While you won’t find The Statue of Liberty or Eiffel Tower at Ravella, you will find Lake Las Vegas, the largest privately owned man-made lake in the country. You can bask in the sunshine by the waterfall, walk along the white sandy beach, or enjoy water activities like boating, kayaking, paddleboats, stand-up paddle boarding, and fishing. The shores are lined with hiking and jogging trails. Ravella offers a resort-sized heated swimming pool, private cabanas and a poolside grill. Summer events include movies under the stars and jazz by the lake. Ravella Lake Las Vegas is the perfect summer escape to the Mediterranean, minus airline security and a 16-hour flight!
Scottsdale, Arizona Scottsdale features some of the most luxurious resorts and hotels in the country. While summer temperatures are high in Scottsdale, resort prices are low. Summer is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of reduced rates at amazing resorts and golf courses. Although there are many options to choose from, there are a few that are not to be missed and The Phoenician is one of them. While the Phoenician is home to an impressive golf course, it’s also a 250acre destination resort with nine pools, a two-acre cactus garden, flowing fountains, and beautiful flower gardens. Activities include tennis, treatments at The Center for Well Being Spa and, of course, golf – just to name a few. The Phoenician offers ten restaurants and lounges with everything from authentic Italian to classics at J&G Steakhouse or casual dining. With so much to see and do at the resort, you won’t want to check out!
Photos courtesy of Scottsdale CVB.
Scottsdale is also home to an unrivaled dining and nightlife scene. Restaurants feature something for every palate from traditional Southwest cuisine to classic steakhouses, and everything in between. No matter what you are looking for, you will find plenty of flavors in Scottsdale. Don’t forget to stop at one of the 50 wine bars, lounges or dance clubs before calling it a night. In addition to world-class golf, Scottsdale also features renowned spas, museums, performing arts, and eco-tours in the lush Sonoran Desert. There are over 125 galleries, museums, and art festivals in Scottsdale and it is known as “A City of Art.” It is also a shopper’s paradise with over 5,500 retail stores, malls and boutiques. Scottsdale Fashion Square is 2 million square feet of upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment. Scottsdale Waterfront, Old Town, and Fifth Avenue Arts District are other popular destinations for retail therapy. Southwest offers affordable flights from Las Vegas and in less than an hour, you will find yourself in the heart of the “Valley of the Sun.”
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Photo courtesy of The Phoenician, Scottsdale. T H E T R AV E L I S S U E 2 0 1 2
Park City, Utah With everything from the famous Art Festival in August to bobsledding at the Olympic Park, Park City is the ideal place to escape the summer heat. The Waldorf Astoria located near the Canyons Resort is the ultimate summer mountain retreat. Luxurious rooms range from one to four bedrooms complete with Viking kitchens, making the resort a fabulous destination for a family vacation or reunion. During the day, guests can swim in the heated swimming pool or bask in the sun surrounded by the majestic Wasatch Mountains. Evenings are spent relaxing by the fireplace on the balcony under the stars. The award-winning 16,000-square-foot Golden Door Spa provides a day of rejuvenation and tranquility. Thrill seekers head to Park City Mountain Resort every summer. While the resort is famous for skiing in the winter, summer brings another type of adventure with the Alpine Slide, ZipRider Zip Line, and the Alpine Coaster. If you’ve ever wished you could fly, then a ride on the ZipRider is not to be missed. The Flying Eagle is a new zip line that propels riders 110 feet above the ski runs with speeds up to 45 miles per hour. You can even go side by side and race your friends down the mountain! The Alpine Coaster is Utah’s only roller coaster in the mountains with an elevated track that winds through more than a mile of loops and hair-pin curves at speeds over 30 mph!
Photo courtesy of Park City Mountain Resort. Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Park City.
A Park City summer favorite is the Deer Valley Music Festival, the summer home to the Utah Opera and the Utah Symphony. There is nothing like packing a blanket, lying on the lawn and listening to wonderful music under the stars at the outdoor amphitheatre. Summer 2012 features everything from the music of Michael Jackson to Disney and Earth Wind and Fire. While Park City is best known for Sundance and the snowy slopes, it offers a cool retreat from the desert heat with a wide variety of outdoor activities, galleries, world-class resorts, and stunning mountain scenery.
Red Mountain Spa, Utah Every year, over a million people from around the globe travel to the southwest to partake of southern Utah’s magnificent landscape. Still, many locals do not take full advantage of the array of activities, breathtaking scenery and award winning resorts in our own little corner of heaven. Within fifteen minutes of St. George, you can check yourself into a peaceful retreat at Red Mountain Resort and feel like you are in another world. With the fiery red rocks of Snow Canyon set as the backdrop, Red Mountain provides a place to renew your spirit. Twenty-four luxurious villas accommodate up to six guests complete with a full kitchen and living room to make this a perfect setting for a girlfriend getaway. Villa guests have their own private infinity pool to cool off and lounge in the summer sun. Activities range from treatments at the tranquil Sagestone Spa to hiking, biking, exercise and culinary classes. In the evening, guests can venture across the street to Tuacahn for top-notch entertainment in the pristine outdoor amphitheater. Red Mountain provides a great value with reduced summer rates, girlfriend getaway packages, and day spa specials.
Celece Seegmiller is a contributing travel writer for several publications in Southern Utah and Nevada. In 2009, she combined her love of travel and more than 20 years of industry experience to launch her own agency, The Travel Connection. woman
Photos courtesy of Red Mountain Resort.
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