By Roger Naylor
Imagine two people together on a tropical island, cut off from the rest of the world.
It’s the classic shipwreck fantasy that fuels so many romance plots. Except, instead of a tempestuous sea voyage, it only requires a drive down a lonely dirt road to leave civilization behind and discover your tropical paradise. And instead of worrying about shelter and food, the very best of both are already waiting for you and your beloved upon reaching Castle Hot Springs.
Now all you have to do is relax and savor the adventure in this sun-kissed oasis. Even in its classic desert location, Castle Hot Springs retains a tropical otherworldly feel. Swaying palm trees, citrus trees laden with fruit, and gardens filled with vegetables and flowers add an exotic touch to the peaceful resort, creating an ideal setting for a romantic hot springs getaway.
Secluded Accommodations
Castle Hot Springs is a travel experience to be shared with that special someone in your life. The boutique resort offers unparalleled luxury with its 30 standalone bungalows and cabins. Amenities include plush bedding, gas fireplaces, oversized soaking tubs plumbed with water from thermal hot springs.
Just as important is what isn’t available. There are no televisions in the guest rooms, limited cell service, and Wi-Fi cautioned only if you must. This is a chance to put down your phone. Reconnect with nature, and with each other. This is a chance to create memories—the morning walk into the desert, the lavish romantic dinner, the dark night sky ablaze with a canopy of stars that seems to exist only for the two of you. This is your chance to live entirely in those special moments. That’s very much a specialty of Castle Hot Springs.
Nestled at the base of the Bradshaw Mountains, the resort is only an hour away from the Phoenix airport. Yet it offers a level of seclusion that is the envy of Scottsdale resorts. Thermal hot springs are at the heart of the property, tucked away in a narrow rock-walled canyon. The crystal clear pools have been recognized as a source of healing since indigenous people journeyed here for the medicinal properties of the springs. In addition to the soothing heat, the romantic hot springs are rich with beneficial minerals such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonates, and lithium.
Intimate Activities
For wellness-minded couples, the restorative and stimulating waters provide soothing comfort. An idyllic way to begin your stay, a soak in the romantic hot springs helps calm the mind and relaxes the muscles. From there, choose from a lengthy menu of spa options. Enjoy a massage in an outdoor cabana while a splashy stream and a chorus of birdsong serenade you. Treat yourself to a relaxing body ritual such as a Seasonal Body Scrub using fresh ingredients grown right on the property, or the comprehensive Sonoran Desert Transformation that combines exfoliation, massage, and hydration. Sessions of meditation, yoga, and tai chi are also available.
Couples with an adventurous streak will instantly fall under the spell of Castle Hot Springs. The 1,100-acre property encompasses a picturesque swath of Arizona’s tall cactus desert framed by rugged mountains. The Old West still lives and breathes here in these wide-open spaces beneath an azure sky. Trails fan out from the resort curving across a landscape that exists nowhere else in this country.
Sign up for guided hikes to learn more about the wonders of the Sonoran Desert. Or channel your inner cowpoke and climb into the saddle for a horseback ride led by an experienced wrangler. For a real thrill, tackle the via ferrata adventure course. The climbing route employs steel cables, rungs, and ladders fixed to the face of the Bradshaw Mountains. Guides lead harnessed climbers up the route that links two mountains via a 200-foot high suspension bridge. Imagine how delicious a celebration soak in the hot springs will feel after you’re finished.
Indulgent dining
Of course, no romantic getaway is complete without an indulgence of food and drink. Every evening, the in-house restaurant serves up a five-course tasting menu based on the daily harvest. The resort grows many of the ingredients for the exquisite meals just footsteps away. To complement the culinary program, the resort’s acclaimed sommelier offers nightly wine pairings filled with innovative selections. The restaurant also serves breakfast and lunch. More casual fare and craft cocktails are available at Bar 1896. The nightly rates include all meals.
Castle Hot Springs offers the ideal blend of physical activity and refreshing indulgence. Combine that with the five-star-service, the stunning natural beauty, and the soothing seclusion—your very own island of desert—and it’s a place you’ll never want to leave. Passions are renewed here. Joy is rediscovered.
It turns out that fairytale romances are always within our grasp. They just require a fairytale setting.