The Boulders Golden Door Spa

While the landscape is otherworldly, you won’t feel truly transported until you step into the Boulders Golden Door Spa.

This spa has a comforting blend of casual Southwestern atmosphere with a Zen garden serenity and Native American accents.

We loved the ambience here so much that we wished we had a house just like it!

The spa has lots of lavish amenities that will make you want to stay the entire day.

The Golden Door Spa at The Boulder Resort

A remarkably diverse spa treatment menu offers everything from Watsu to Thai massaage to Native American rain drop therapy, making the Boulders Golden Door Spa a true destination spa.

This top-rated Arizona spa is on the grounds of The Boulders Resort – considered to be one of the finest Arizona spa resorts in the state.

The Boulders is on the southern edge of the town of Carefree, Arizona, about a 45-minute drive north of central Scottsdale.

Out here, there is still a sense of rural Arizona with ranch style homes on large parcels of scenic desert.

Compared to the Old West flavor of Carefree, The Boulders property is definitely deluxe.

Guests stay in adobe casitas that were sensitively integrated into the surrounding Sonoran Desert landscape.

Although it has a relaxed atmosphere, The Boulders Resort has all the amenities you could ask for including pools, tennis, gourmet restaurants and the championship Boulders golf course.

The entrance to the Boulders Golden Door Spa combines Southwestern style with Zen-like influences

He designed the resort to harmonize with and reflect its stunning desert surroundings.

The Boulders Golden Door Spa reflects this foresight and incorporates it into the original Golden Door philosophy.

In 1958, Deborah Szekely founded the first Golden Door Spa in Escondido, California.

Her vision was to create a spa that mimicked the ancient Honjin inns of Japan – a place where travelers could stop to rest and rejuvenate from their journey with massage, good food and attentive personal service.

The Boulders Golden Door Spa combines this concept with the healing traditions and ambience of the desert.

All aspects of the spa are meant to help you restore mind, body and spirit.

Though Japan may have been the inspiration for the spa, The Boulders Golden Door Spa’s treatments span the range of healing traditions, incorporating Native American, Chinese, Japanese, Ayurvedic and Western therapies.

Treatments include:

• Traditional Ayurvedic treatments ($165 - $285) from the 5,000-year-old East Indian health tradition, which addresses the body, mind and spirit to help you achieve balance and health,
• Shiatsu – a traditional Japanese body work that stimulates and stretches the meridians of the body without the use of oil,
• The Horse to Heart Experience – a unique program that helps people recognize the obstacles in their lives and discover how to overcome them through their interaction with a horse.

Though you can find the facials and massages common to most spas, the Golden Door’s menu offers an eclectic mix of treatments that are truly therapeutic.

A stream runs through the garden at the Boulders Golden Door Spa

You sense it from the moment you drive up.

The spa is at the entrance to The Boulders Resort and some distance away from the casitas and lodge, so it has a private, secluded feel.

The Boulders Golden Door Spa has one of the most scenic spa settings in Arizona.

The adobe pueblo style building sits at the base of a magnificent pile of boulders, gracefully harmonizing with the desert.

Streams flow both inside and outside the spa, providing the soothing sound of gently flowing water.

Inside, the rooms reflect their desert surroundings with warm tones of tan, brown and ivory and splashes of color here and there.

Exposed wood beam ceilings, plants and natural light bring the outdoors in.

There is a comforting, Zen-like calm to the place and an open, uncluttered feel.

The spa is quite spacious and rooms are divided according to activity level.

The men’s and women’s locker rooms, the co-ed circular Tea Room and the treatment rooms are in the east wing, a place for rest and relaxation.

The co-ed Tea Room where gusts relax before their appointments at the Boulders Golden Door Spa

The west wing holds the yoga studio, fitness center and movement studio – the areas of activity.

Between the two wings are the spa lobby and café.

After your treatment, we recommend taking some time to explore the lovely cactus- and flower-filled gardens.

A large patio has plenty of places to relax and enjoy the boulder views or just take a nap.

The sinuously curved pool has a lap lane down its center for those who want a vigorous swim. A whirlpool is set off to one side.

A small stone labyrinth – modeled after Hopi medicine wheels - is tucked away from the pools for quiet, meditative strolls.

One of the features that we really liked about the Boulders Golden Door Spa was all of the spaces – both indoors and out - where we could just sit and enjoy the desert views.

The spa pool at the Boulders Golden Door Spa

Very slowly, I began to glide and swirl, my limbs blissfully free of the pressures of gravity.

Deep booms of thunder rumbled overhead, reverberating off the jumble of boulders behind me.

Cactus wrens chattered among the gracefully arched, leafy green branches of a mesquite tree.

A soft wind carried the first tantalizing hint of water to the desert – the resiny fragrance of creosote bushes touched by raindrops; a scent every desert dweller craves.

All the while, my body stretched and opened, arcing through the water in a graceful pas de deux of movement and meditation.

Just what was I doing? Watsu, of course.

Watsu is a unique aquatic therapy combining elements of massage, muscle stretching, joint mobilization, acupressure and dance.

Each person experiences Watsu differently.

For some it will be the physical sense of letting go that is most noticeable.

For others, the sense of nurturing and safety may be foremost.

Releasing of old emotions and an enhanced sense of personal awareness and insight are also common features of the Watsu experience.

The mediation labyrinth at the Boulder Golden Door Spa

The Boulders Golden Door Spa is one of the few Arizona spas that offer Watsu ($150 for 50 minutes).

Their Watsu pool is outside and has a large shade cloth over it to protect from the sun.

The water is heated to body temperature. It’s similar to a whirlpool but without jets.

The Watsu therapist cradles the bathing-suited client, rhythmically moving limbs and body while using pressure point massages and stretches to achieve a deep release of the muscles and joints as well as a state of deep relaxation.

The warmth of the water and the gravity-free environment allows for a freedom of movement that’s not possible in a traditional massage environment.

My therapist was a wonderful man with a calm and kind demeanor.

He led me out to the Watsu area – a large, spacious patio made completely private by an enclosing wall.

I stepped into the pool and sat down on the steps while he stood, immersed in the water up to his neck, in front of me.

He inquired about my health and why I had chosen the Watsu.

He then fully explained what he would be doing and why.

My role was to completely relax and let go, allowing him to manipulate my body.

As the water warmed and loosened my muscles, he deepened the stretches of my hips, legs, arms and shoulders.

Pressing acupressure points helped relieve chronic tension in my neck and back.

The Boulders Golden Door Spa has plenty of places to sit and enjoy the scenery

I loved how I was swirled around and stretched such that I had the deepest release of muscles and joints that I’ve ever experienced.

I hadn’t felt so limber and flexible since my early ballet training.

I found the Watsu experience to be powerful and healing. However, Watsu is probably not for everyone.

Watsu is like a ballet pas de deux between the therapist and the client.

And, if you’ve ever watched a pad de deux, then you’ll understand just how close the contact is.

I was held and cradled against my therapist’s body in what most would consider a very intimate manner.

Another thing for a potential Watsu client to consider is the nature of the movement.

I think that the floating and frequent circular movements could trouble those prone to vertigo or motion sickness.

At times, the back of the head and ears are in the water, so you will be offered the use of ear plugs.

But if you suffer from ear problems, you might not want to try the Watsu.

If you can get past those factors, I think you’ll find Watsu to be an intensely relaxing and rejuvenating experience.

The staff is attentive but not intrusive.

The pool at the Boulders Golden Door Spa

They’re quick to assist but also to give you your privacy.

Everyone seemed genuinely friendly and not just because they have to be.

One item of note for those new to spas, the Boulders Golden Door Spa does not have the attendants give you a tour of the facilities.

We’ve found this practice to vary from spa to spa.

Though the spa is large, it is not difficult to find your way around and the staff is always ready to help; all you need do is ask.

My therapist was wonderful. He is also an acupuncturist, so he was extremely knowledgeable and astute.

Without my saying so, he had surmised that I had had extensive dance training.

He also gave me recommendations specific to my health concerns to incorporate into my daily routine.

How high is the level of service? Jeff was scheduled for a treatment too.

As I went off to my appointment, he continued to wait in the Tea Room.

After about 5 minutes past the hour and no sign of his therapist, the spa attendant went to make inquiries.

That morning a severe monsoon thunderstorm blew across the eastern Phoenix/Scottsdale area, causing flash floods and numerous road closures and traffic accidents.

We were lucky to make it to the Golden Door Spa just ahead of it.

Jeff’s therapist had been caught in this deluge and was unable to reach the spa in time.

The Spa Director offered to arrange a different treatment later in the day or to give us a complimentary breakfast at the Golden Door Spa Café.

Because we had other things scheduled for the afternoon, we opted for the breakfast.

Looking towards the patios of the Tea Room and the café at the Boulders Golden Door Spa

However, the Golden Door Spa Café was one of the highlights.

Yes, it is spa food, which means smaller portions and minimal amounts of fats and carbohydrates.

But after having such rejuvenating and detoxifying treatments, it doesn’t feel right to go out and have a pizza anyway!

The café’s simple metal tables with bamboo place mats and Navajo rugs on the walls echo the mix of Japanese and Native American style found throughout the spa.

A large exhibition style kitchen let us watch while our meals were prepared.

We appreciated being able to talk with the chef while he worked.

I had an egg white omelet with tomato, spinach, portobello mushroom and mozzarella cheese($12). It was delicious and hearty.

Jeff had the breakfast burrito ($14), which was overflowing with roasted vegetables and scrambled eggs.

The food was wonderful, full of flavor and satisfying though light. It’s all organic and beautifully presented.

We sat by the windows and watched the monsoon thunderstorm drop rain on the area, which hadn’t seen moisture in several months.

It was a wonderful way to finish our spa visit.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at the Golden Door Spa Café.

• It’s recommended that you reserve your spa appointments at least two weeks in advance; allow additional time for appointments on holiday and weekends.
• Spa and salon treatments must be guaranteed with a credit card or hotel confirmation number.
• Guests of The Boulders Resort are entitled to complimentary use of all spa facilities.
• The spa pool lounges fill up fast during the busy winter-spring "in-season." Choose your spot in the morning.

Location:   On the grounds of The Boulders Resort in Carefree, just north of the Scottsdale border. About a 45 minute drive from central Scottsdale.

Address:   34631 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Carefree, AZ 85377

Google Map Directions: Click on "+" and "-" signs on Map Controls in upper left hand corner to zoom in and out on the location.

Phone:   (480) 595-3500 or (800) 553-1717

Hours:   Spa Services: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Fitness Facility: 5:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Salon: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Spa Café: Sundays – Thursdays 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Fridays & Saturdays 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Spa Pool: Sunrise to Sunset

Size:   33,000 square feet

Amenities:

• 24 treatment rooms plus the Spa Suite with its own private shower, whirlpool and patio with outdoor fireplace
• Separate men’s and women’s locker room with relaxation room, steam room, sauna and O’furo – a traditional Japanese bath
• Adults only swimming pool with lap lane and heated whirlpool
• Outdoor meditation labyrinth – a walking path designed for quiet reflection inspired by traditional Hopi medicine wheels
• Watsu Pool – for an aquatic, massage-like body treatment that offers a "back to the womb" experience
• Golden Door Spa Café: serving healthy, spa cuisine for breakfast and lunch
• Movement Studio for tai chi, yoga and Pilates classes
• Full service salon offering manicures, pedicures, hair services, men’s services and waxing

• Raindrop Therapy ($145 for 50 minutes), which uses nine essential oils applied like raindrops along the spine. From the Native American tradition which believes this increases blood circulation and detoxifies deep muscle tissue.
• Turquoise Wrap ($165 for 50 minutes) is a Golden Door Spa signature treatment based on the Native American belief that turquoise is a color of protection, self-confidence and positive energy. The treatment includes a Hopi blue cornmeal exfoliation, a warm, ionized turquoise clay wrap and a rainstick ritual to cleanse the spirit plus a full-body honey masque and steam.
• Emotional Balancing ($165 for 75 minutes) uses kinesiology – a holistic health care system that combines modern Western techniques with ancient Chinese medicine to restore the energy flow in the body’s meridians.
• Lomi Lomi ($145 for 50 minutes), also known as Hawaiian Temple Bodywork, is an ancient sacred practice that uses flowing, deep and gentle massage strokes to stimulate the life force and release tension in the layers of muscle.
• Shamanic Touch ($205 for 80 minutes) – an alternative healing modality wherein the healer (or Shaman) develops a dialogue with the ailing part of a client’s body. After identifying the subconscious cause of illness, the healer employs energy-raising treatments using sunshine or the elements depending upon whichever treatment is needed.

The Boulders Golden Door Spa also offers a wide range of health, lifestyle, nutrition and fitness classes and outdoor excursions like rock climbing and mountain biking.

Age Policy:   Children ages 12-16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. For children under 12, speak with the resort concierge about special programs.

Cancellation Policy:   Cancellations or reschedules must be made 4 hours in advance to avoid being charged for a scheduled treatment. For cancellation of a package, 24-hour notice is required.

Service Charge:   There is no service charge. A customary 20% gratuity is recommended for good service.

Facility Fee:   Guests at The Boulders Resort have complimentary access to the Golden Door Spa facilities including the swimming pool, fitness center and locker facilities. Non-resort guests’ use of facilities is included in cost of treatment or service.

There is a $25 per day charge for unlimited access to fitness classes. Otherwise, the fee is per class.

Spa Check-In Policy:   The Golden Door Spa recommends arriving at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time.

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