#157 Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa

The Arizona Biltmore is the only surviving hotel in the world in whose design Frank Lloyd Wright participated.  It opened in 1929, and was built by Albert Chase McArthur (an apprentice to FLW).  FLW was only credited as a consultant, but his influence is prevalent.  Just looking at it, I thought, “This is so FLW” – down to the chairs in the tea room.

Driving up to the hotel was crazy.  First of all there are the Biltmore Estates where all the rich people live surrounding the golf course.  There was an open house going on in the Estates and I half thought about stopping.  I also took a wrong turn and ended up driving all around the Estates and woo-boy – rich people be crazy, y’all. 

When I finally figured out which turn I needed to take to get to the actual hotel it was super busy and chaotic. There were a ton of people, TV cameras, security services (with K-9), and just generally “what is happening here today-ness”.  I found out from my tea host that the NFL annual owners meeting was also going on at the Biltmore.  I did not see anyone I knew.  (And by that I mean, Jerry Jones is the only owner I might be able to recognize, and if I did recognize him it would probably be to kick him in the shins.)

This is one of those things on the list, that yes, it would be nice to spend a week in a luxurious resort, but some of us are on a budget, so I decided to indulge in Afternoon Tea.

They have a variety of tea programs, but I’d read a little about it and decided to do the 2-course tea.  It’s a lot of food.  I’d also advised of my shellfish allergy which meant I didn’t get any seafood at all in my presentation.  #winning

One of the accouterments to the tea are the jams, preserves, cream.  I had a kumquat preserve (it was sooo good), a berry preserve (seriously just smashed berries – part was too liquid and part was too solid, but it tasted good – just drippy), some sort of lemon curd maybe (it was gross, I tried it once and then stuck mostly with the kumquat), and of course, Devon cream – which they import from Devon, England.

1^st Course:

Tea: Mad Hatter’s Tea Party: Velvety, bright, and flowery Ceylon with passionfruit, pomegranate and vanilla.

1^st Tier: Elderflower, Champagne, Berry Jelly and Raisin Scone

2^nd Tier: Yellow Mustard Deviled Egg Salad, Roast Beef and Brie on Cracked Parmesan Bread, and Chicken Salad in Puff Pastry

3^rd Tier: Chocolate Layer Cake, Lemon Meringue Tart

2^nd Course:

Tea: Organic Pear Tree Green: Estate China green tea, perfumed with the essence of freshly plucked ripe pears.

1^st Tier: Vanilla Blueberry Verrine, Kumquat Scone

2^nd Tier: Turkey BLT, Avocado on Grainy Bread (2) and Avocado Pickled Onion Toast (normally you’d also get a Lobster and Shrimp Roll or a Salmon Puff of some kind but I doubled up on the turkey)

3^rd Tier: Green Tea Almond Cake, Pecan and Fig Tart

Everything was good, but my favorites were the chicken salad (I would literally eat an entire 3-tiers of them), and Kumquat Scone.  I thought the pecan and fig tart was good as well, but I didn’t get enough fig, personally.

Definitely would recommend if you’re even in Phoenix and want to feel all kinds of fancy.

#156 The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa

I thought The Boulders was fine.  I don’t think it compares favorably to either Canyon Ranch or Ten Thousand Waves. 

I got a manicure and pedicure and both were great. I love how soft my hands and feet are; I love the color; I love that it hasn’t chipped yet; my technician was super fantastic. And yet….

I have a cousin who lives in Phoenix (hey, Erin!) and I was able to connect and visit with her and meet her wonderful little family on Friday (Boulders was scheduled for Saturday and Arizona Biltmore on Sunday).  

She also invited me to dinner on Sunday before I headed out to Flagstaff.  When I got there her husband asked how I liked the spa, and to be honest. I’d forgotten I’d gone.

So yeah, this is one that maybe you have to spend the big bucks to appreciate, but I can’t add my recommendation. 

#155 Canyon Ranch Health Resort

Canyon Ranch opened in 1979 and has because one of the most famous health and wellness resorts in North America.  Most of the folks are there for at least a week, some stay for 1-3 months.  It is insane. I did a single spa day. 

Whenever I’m around the super-rich (you know, the ones with more dollars than sense), I’m always totally amazed at how warped their view of everyday reality is.  I also play this game where I wonder if I won the lottery (or was otherwise suddenly independently wealthy) how long it would take me to become one of them. 

I’m not saying they aren’t nice or good people, just that it is obscene to spend $500 dollars on a tiny face cream like you’re ordering off the dollar menu.

Anyway, for the spa day you get a $160 service allowance, lunch at one of their restaurants, and access to basically the whole Ranch.  Any classes, lectures, etc. are up for grabs – as much as you can cram in between 8am-5pm.  (Spoiler alert: I did not arrive at 8am.)

I got there around 9, checked in, got a quick tour, was assigned a locker – another tour of the locker room – and headed out to my first class.  It was a stretching class.  I learned so good stuff there that I can easily replicate on my own. 

After that I went to a lecture with their head of exercise science.  He was funny and it was pretty educational.  I might be checking out some of his info with my resident expert when I’m in Reno, but it sounded pretty legit.  LOL

Lunch was up next, it was delicious (although a bit spicy….that chipotle mayo).  There was a guy sitting behind me who was talking to a lady a few tables over – read they were pretty loud, so it was easy to overhear- but she was saying she was leaving for a couple of days to go to Sedona and the Grand Canyon.  But she wasn’t checking out; so, she was paying the insane rate at Canyon Ranch AND for whatever/wherever she was staying on her “break”.  See: the super-rich are crazy, y’all.

After lunch, I headed back to the Yoga Studio for a breathing class.  Turns out….I know how to breathe already.  But really I already do a lot of techniques she talked us through because I’ve read them in random articles over the years.

I was going to go to another lecture, but instead decided to check out the “relaxation” room.  A room in which I totally fell asleep. 

Cold towels and cucumbers in the rest and relaxation room.

After the nap, it was time for my spa service – I had a facial.  It was delightful.  The technician could not get over my name.  She kept saying, “I do 7 appointments every day and I’ve never heard your name before.”  I get complimented on my name quite often and I think it’s funny because a) I didn’t have anything to do with it, b) I think it’s a fine name, but not insanely beautiful or lyrical.  I have developed a new response though.

Them: Your name is so pretty.
Me:  Thanks, I got it for my birthday.

This joke kills. Every. Single. Time.

The technician also told me that I have great skin and just need to exfoliate a little more frequently.  She did not try to sell me a $500/oz. cream.

The most fascinating thing about Canyon Ranch was how they’ve anticipated everything you might need and have it available right there.  Every single women’s bathroom stall has a little crate of pads and tampons.  The sinks all have soap, lotion, after sun care, sunscreen, mouthwash, q-tips, hair ties, etc. etc.  The shower stalls are stocked with towels, shampoo, conditioner, etc.  They even have hair washing sinks if you just want to wash your hair after a treatment. Also, basically a self-serve salon with makeup mirrors, blow dryers, etc. 

Canyon Ranch was a splurge for me, but it is definitely luxurious. That said, if given the choice, I'd rather go back to Santa Fe and 10,000 Waves (#89).

#154 SXSW

Truth: I tried to “do” SXSW - I really did.  I had planned to attend two Second Stage concerts, and the Wellness Expo, but things just didn’t work out.  Did you know that traffic is CRAZY during SXSW?  I knew it would be, but I drove downtown anyway for the concert.  And as soon as I hit the roadblocks progress started being measure in inches per hour rather than miles.  It was nuts.  So I abandoned that idea. 

As for the Wellness Expo, see, I had a complete nervous breakdown the day I actually moved out of my apartment and ended up just throwing stuff in the car.  This meant that I ended up taking a bunch of stuff I didn’t need, and leaving a bunch of stuff I did.  So, instead of spending the day at the SXSW expo, I drove back to Katy and reloaded my car and storage unit. Big Fun.

The good news, though, is that the 1000 Place to See entry isn’t just for the actual festival.  It includes a bunch of local spots for live music.  AND I did go to a couple of those the first weekend I was in town.  So I’m (kinda, sorta, but not really) cheating and checking this off the list.  Maybe someday I’ll come back as an actual participant, staying in one of the downtown hotels where I can get around that nutty city.

Here’s the relevant excerpt from the book:

“Austin promotes itself as the Live Music Capital of the World. …the Broken Spoke, Texas’s premier dance hall and the last word in Texas two-step…”

They also have live music in the restaurant, so I ate the  “Best Chicken Fried Steak in Austin” and listened to a local band play.  

Interestingly enough, on my first full day of homeless wandering I overheard the lead singer tell someone that this was the last time in a while she’d be at Broken Spoke because she just decided that she should do what she wanted to do and had decided to just kind of travel around for a while.  She was getting ready to head out to Colorado, then head east to Virginia (or West Virginia) and just kind of see where the wind took her.  Basically, this thing that I’m doing isn’t totally unique. 

 

“...A combination of great food and great music – Threadgill’s (a former gas station turned diner) is where Janis Joplin got her start in 1962.” I went to their Sunday Gospel Brunch (where they keep the drinking and cheating songs to a minimum).  I really had a great time for this.  

I got there a bit before the music started so it wasn’t packed, yet, and got a table kind of midway to the band.  Since I had a 4-top and was by myself, a little old lady, who came every week and who knew everyone asked if she could join me.  

She was an old-time Austin native who remembered when Threadgill’s was a gas station and saw Janis Joplin perform there.  She told me she came every week (with her husband until he died) and now by herself, sometimes with her kids.  She was a “this used to be all fields” kind lady, and as entertaining as the music.