Finding Sanctuary at Camelback

It was still a bit cold and rainy in Phoenix and my cold was lingering, but I was not going to let any of this keep me down. I started the day with a little yoga and some breakfast in the Executive Lounge at the Arizona Biltmore, and lots of positive thoughts.

My friend and fellow travel writer Susan Campbell and I had planned this Arizona getaway to include three hotels. On day three, we left Arizona Biltmore and headed out to the Sanctuary at Camelback.  We made a stop first at the Homewood Phoenix Biltmore. It was a hotel we were going to also stay at, but in the end there weren’t enough nights. We toured there for a bit and found it to be even more comforting than many other Homewood properties I have stayed in.

We arrived at the Sanctuary at Camelback at about 2:30 in the afternoon and were instantly impressed. The main building was very contemporary, with lots of glass and wonderful mountain views. Our Casita also had great views from the balconies, and a cute little kitchen that was supplied with everything we could need.

I decided to head down to the spa to (literally) clear my head. The spa was on the other side of a welcoming pool. I was hoping the temperature would improve for the next day so I could use it. Daphne was one of the attendants there and she went out of her way to be accommodating. She put the eucalyptus in the steam room for me, made sure I had fresh water to drink, and came to check on me to see if there was anything else I needed.

After the spa, I changed quickly for the evening. I met with a friend (also named Susan) for cocktails at the Jade Bar, where the views of the mountains are as spectacular as the drinks. I had a Dragon’s Tonic, an interesting combination of Bombay Sapphire Gin, blueberries, tarragon and tonic water.

Dinner was at El Chorro Lodge with Doug McKenzie of the Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau. It was only about a mile from the hotel and looked like a Mexican villa. We took a tour of the grounds and buildings with one of the owners, Christine Moore. The property used to have rooms and cottages to rent. Many famous people came through here, in fact, Clark Gable was a frequent visitor to one of the bungalows. There were mountain views from all angles which looked especially beautiful during sunset.

The restaurant was rather large and had both indoor and outdoor seating.  We sat inside and started with some of their specialty cocktails. The Orchard drinks sounded great, but had a bit too much citrus for me. Susan enjoyed it. I had a tasty Bachelor in Paradise, with Maker’s Mark, Amaretto and cranberry juice.

While there was no doubt that the décor and property looked Mexican, the food was an international blend that started with the most amazing sticky buns instead of bread (the remaining would end up returning with us for breakfast).

For an appetizer, we shared some of the Pom Frites (little fried potato balls) and Grilled Cheese Bites, which came with three distinctly different types of mini sandwiches. They were all good, but the cheddar on cranberry bread was my favorite.

I ate a fabulous Polenta Napoleon for dinner that had some quinoa in one of the layers. It also came with a Carrot Pasta that had a bit of brown sugar and was a nice treat. Susan and I also split a twice-baked potato which was full of cheese and bacon. She really enjoyed her pork tenderloin.

The desserts arrived and I went for the Sweetheart Cake. It was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had, with lots of chocolate and a delicious cream that wasn’t too rich or sweet. It actually reminded me of a ring ding, but it was clear this didn’t come from a package.

We were back at the room early enough for a good night’s sleep and dreams about the positive weather forecast to come for our full day at the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain.

Arizona Biltmore for History, Spa and More

The morning started with breakfast in the executive lounge at the Ocatilla section of the Arizona Biltmore. The selection rivaled many restaurant buffets. I sat down with my croissant, yogurt and fruit alongside Susan Campbell, my friend and fellow travel writer, and Becky Blaine of the Biltmore.

Ocatilla was opened in 2009 as a preferred club for guests who wanted a more personalized experience. The section has its own pool and executive lounge, with access available for all staying in the building. Everyone also gets extra amenities, such as complimentary shoe shining, clothes pressing, coffee with your morning paper and a concierge available to you at all times.

I was surprised to learn just how much American history was in this Waldorf Astoria property. It had been designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and owned by William Wrigley, giving this Phoenix hotel some Chicago ties. To further the connection, the Cubs have spring training in the area and baseball fans often stay at this hotel to catch their favorite major league team in the off season.

Becky also told us about how John McCain gave his concession speech on the lawn of the Arizona Biltmore, and both Oprah and current president Barack Obama have been guests. I was also interested in the Hollywood & Wines events that give guests access to some top stars performing under the stars, like CSI’s Gary Sinisse.

The only thing that wasn’t great about our second day at the Arizona Biltmore was something no one had any control over – the weather. There was still record breaking cold, along with rain.  After taking a brief tour of the property, we decided to spend the rest of the day indoors – at the spa.

I was battling a sinus infection that was threatening to put a damper on the week. Fortunately, I discovered a temporary remedy that was readily available – eucalyptus steam baths.  The spa at the Arizona Biltmore introduced me to them and they became part of the daily ritual. There’s no doubt those steam rooms got the credit for my making it through (and enjoying) the trip, but the Biltmore also threw in a heavenly spa treatment.

The treatment was the Dreamcatcher and it was definitely a dream come true. Using a combination of hot stones, hot towels and a gentle massage, I was relaxed from the tip of my toes to my scalp by the time I was done.  I headed to the relaxation area after for a cup of tea and felt like I could just melt into a comfortable cocoon forever!

I did eventually leave the spa and get ready for dinner at Frank & Albert’s, also on the Arizona Biltmore property. This restaurant gives a new meaning to the word comfort food and Latif, our waiter, made sure we tasted a good deal of the menu.

I started off with a Prickly Peartini which had just enough fruit for a slight sweetness. It went well with the bread selection, served with a tasty pesto aioli. The Green Chili Empanada was excellent, and though I thought the Violet Flirtini was too sour, Susan enjoyed it after she finished her Wild Raspberry Ale.

The food continued to come with a sweet and flavorful meatloaf, perfectly cooked short ribs and decadent Duck Fat French Fries and mac and cheese. We also had a basket of Oversized Onion Rings that Susan said were incredible and couldn’t stop talking about.

I had a Nutty Irishman Coffee while we both attempted to get our appetite back for dessert. It took quite a while, but eventually we managed to get through the scrumptious Sundae Sampler – Cherries Jubilee, Strawberries Romanoff, Bananas Foster and Crêpes Suzette!  Other desserts on the menu included Butterscotch Pudding and Homemade Twinkie & Jam.

Despite the obvious food (and sugar) overload, I managed to sleep well my last night at the Arizona Biltmore, dreaming about massages and hoping the Sanctuary at Camelback would be just as wonderful.