This past week I spent three nights with my mom at Canyon Ranch in Arizona. If you aren’t familiar, Canyon Ranch is known as a top tier health and wellness retreat and spa. It’s been on my dream list for sometime now because of all the positive experiences I’ve heard from friends and the internet and can can confirm, it absolutely delivers.

As I dive into sharing our experience, I first have to tell you that this experience was not in any kind of partnership with Canyon Ranch. I share this because when I gave the rundown to my friend she jokingly said I sounded like a commercial for the place because I was fangirling so hard- ha! Let me also be very clear in saying if they did reach out and did want to partner up, I would trip over my own feet rushing towards them with an enthusiastic HECK YEAH because I have no chill and would gleefully return in a heartbeat.

That pretty much sets the tone, doesn’t it? But let’s talk details!

I drove to Atlanta to meet mom and ended up pulling in just behind her to The Parking Spot. Perfect timing! Getting through security was a breeze, but since we were unsure we had arrived extra early so we had plenty of time at the airport, including our hour flight delay. Thankfully the flight was smooth and we touched down in Tucson mid-afternoon. Our shuttle was waiting for us and we were whisked away for the 45 minute ride to the ranch.

Upon arrival we were given a tote bag, t-shirt, and refillable water bottle while we got the rundown of the ranch, then we were shown to our room. The grounds are absolutely stunning, full of cacti, native plants, and a small stream weaving throughout. We quickly settled in then took off for our first night’s dining experience.

The food, included in the cost, deserves its own spotlight post. The variety offered is incredible and we learned a great tip that you can order half portions to maximize the number you can try. I started the meal with a half portion of bone broth (delicious!) and enjoyed blackened salmon, nopales escabeche, tomato confit, and turmeric vegetable rice.

We dined quickly because we both had a spa appointment to end the evening. We booked the “All You Can Spa” package and we took full advantage of the offerings, so mom took off to her Hand, Scalp, and Foot Massage and I went to enjoy a hydrating facial. Needless to say, we both crashed happily and hard into bed that night.

Then next morning we had signed up for the 6AM Sabino Canyon Walk. After a brief introduction and a 10 minute shuttle ride we were walking in the most glorious 68 degree, no humidity temperatures through the Sabino Canyon. Our guides were full of great information about the local plants and wildlife but we liked that the walk was self-paced. Mom and I knocked out 4 miles in our allotted hour and enjoyed every minute!

We arrived back at the ranch ready to refuel and headed directly to breakfast. We squealed with delight at all the options – fresh juices, espresso drinks, kefir, fresh fruit, omelet station, curated options, and more. We utilized the half portion option at every meal and feasted like queens.

Feeling invigorated and satiated, we headed to the spa to clean up and prepare for our day om pampering. The All You Can Spa package has a list of included services that is quite comprehensive and truly means, as much as you can fit into your schedule, you can do. So we lined up quite an indulging day.

We began with manicures and pedicures which we enjoyed side by side. Then spent some time in the spa facilities, including the hot tub and sauna. We even spa’d (not a verb?) right through lunch enjoying a coconut sugar scrub and an 80 minute massage which we both declared to be the best of our life.

Once we felt like limp noodles we got dressed and went in search of a margarita, which we found at the Cantina. We sipped and took ourselves on a little property tour, enjoying the little signs telling about each plant (and of course snapping a picture of mom in a tree because it’s kind of her thing), before making our way to our dinner reservation.

The steak was excellent, the pad Thai black bean noodle dish was tasty, the pho was lacking in flavor, but the dessert? Oh wow, it outshined it all! The chia seed pudding with caramel, whip cream, and caramelized bananas stole the show! We both had declared ourselves too full for a dessert and yet we all but licked our bowls clean.

The next morning we signed up for a walk that started on property, wove through a nearby neighborhood, and ended back on the two mile loop around the property. I liked that they had two leaders, one that would go with a faster pace going for at least three miles, and another that would lead a more leisurely walk. It was another gorgeous morning and we knocked out another 3+ miles before breakfast. We put some extra pep in our step when we ran across two wild javelinas that crossed our path- exciting!

We returned ready for breakfast and again we delighted with the options (utilizing half portions yet again). My favorite from the meal was the steel cut miso oatmeal with a poached egg and sautéed mushrooms and baby kale. Delicious!

Following breakfast, it was another day of complete pampering a bliss. I enjoyed a full body massage, a hand, scalp, and feet massage, and an anti-aging facial.

Being that we booked under the all you can spa package, that was our focus. But I must admit that neither mom nor I fully understood all the offerings of the ranch for health and wellness and experience options. There is so much to choose from for body, mind, and soul.

One service I added in last minute* was a body composition session with the BodPod, a contraption that uses air displacement to accurately tell you you body fat percentage and lean body mass weight, among other metrics. I’m going to do a separate post on that experience because I found it really valuable.

*Using the Canyon Ranch app, you can easily add, delete, and adjust your appointments and schedule. There is even a section of “see what is still available today” for any last minute add ons. Mom and I both found this helpful to be able to tweak our own schedules at any point.

We both finished off the afternoon with hair and make up services (also included in the package). Mom got a Kerastase treatment and I had a blow out. We both enjoyed the make up consultation so much that we came home with several new products to play with.

With the light we had left, we got a glass of wine and sipped it poolside. The picture of me laughing below was a result of realizing there was a couple behind me canoodling on the lawn. Whoops- didn’t mean to snap their pic!

Our last dinner was delicious as always though we were both happily exhausted by that point, knowing we had a very early departure the next morning. We packed up and crawled into bed.

You wouldn’t think there’d be much to mention about a departure, especially one that occurred at 4:00 AM, but it’s worth noting that even at that hour Canyon Ranch had packed departing meals for us to take with us to the airport.

And even more noteworthy? Our driver, William. I’m convinced he must be an angel. Our drive to the airport together felt more like a fulfilling therapy session, discussing life and loss and purpose. Mom looked at me when we got out with wide eyes and said “I felt like Dad was in that car.” Same.

Our experience at Canyon Ranch was elite and getting to have this experience with my mom was so special. I would return in a heartbeat. One of the most impactful parts that didn’t really get mentioned in the recap is the people. Not only the wonderful people that work there (all very kind and helpful), but the other guests.

We had many conversations with the same guests we crossed paths with over the few days and everyone just seemed to exude such a positive energy and optimistic outlook of life. It was really inspiring, as there were guests of all ages, but many were 70+ and thriving, contributing it to the idea of staying excited about life- having something to look forward to, having real connection with a community of people that are uplifting, having goals, and of course, taking care of your body, mind, and spirit.

Canyon Ranch Q&A

I received a couple questions on IG but happy to answer any others if you have them. Just leave them in the comments!

We go in October! Any must do’s in your opinion?

It totally depends on how you want to curate your experience but I recommend taking advantage of the early morning walks! The scenery is gorgeous and it felt so good to get the blood pumping first thing.

Oh, and if they have that banana pudding chia seed dessert- GET TWO. 😉

Is everything ala carte?

All meals and non alcoholic beverages are included. There is also a long list of offerings, like fitness classes, hikes, mediations, yoga, nutrition seminars, and more included in your stay. There are many other additional offerings for a price (like the BodPod that I did, Mom’s personal training session, etc). You can see the current daily schedule of offerings here, and any that cost extra are marked with the dollar sign.

What was your favorite dish at the ranch?

Stand out meals in my mind were the miso steel cut oatmeal bowl, the bison short ribs, and that amazing chia seed pudding dessert!

Been on my list forever, too, but isn’t it like a bajillion dollars?

It is definitely a luxury experience with a price tag to match. However, it’s probably cheaper than going to Disney World! 😉

Ok, in all seriousness, I was very pleased that the cost was justified through the level of service provided. I also learned a couple tips from repeat guests:

• Special rates are offered in the summer time when less people want to visit the dessert.
• You can arrive and depart at any time on your scheduled days, meaning that if your check in is on Sunday, you can arrive at 8:00 AM and enjoy a full day of cuisine and classes, and do the same on the back end (leaving late in the day) to maximize your investment.
• They offer a lot of different packages and if you have a singular focus (like the spa), it’s worth booking under one of those packages.

Mom and I both said we’d return in a heartbeat and I would love to go with David, too. We met a few people there for the Longevity8 Program and they were raving about it. We’d definitely have to save our pennies for that experience, but as a health data enthusiast, it sounds incredible. A woman we met on the shuttle in (who was absolutely delightful and full of life) found us a few days in and raved to us about how amazing the program was and she found it to be completely worth it.

I’ve only been back home for two days and still feel like I’m glowing from the experience. Even David mentioned that I seem to be glowing. Maybe he means from my exfoliated and hydrated face, but I really feel it deeper than that. Hoping to continue to carry the energy forward with me and share it with others.