Peaceful Retreats
Ramsey Canyon Inn
29 Ramsey Canyon Road, Hereford
520-378-3010, ramseycanyoninn.com

Fun fact of the day: Hummingbirds can beat their wings 80 times per second. But at this Zen-like retreat near Ramsey Canyon Preserve, the hummingbird capital of the United States, you can leave the fast pace to the little guys.

Owner and bird enthusiast Shirlene DeSantis has designed Ramsey Canyon Inn to be an avian magnet, setting up numerous hummer feeders, planting bird- and butterfly-attracting plants in the garden, and installing courtyard fountains that double as birdbaths. That means the feathered friends will flock to you, and you need only lift a finger to sip the inn’s eco-friendly coffee or munch on daily home-baked pies made with fruit from the inn’s orchard.

Pick up the pace (slightly) on a three-hour, 1.5-mile guided bird walk, offered every Friday at 7:30 a.m. through October. Then join other birders in the inn’s Great Room for bird-book consultation and avian conversation, or retire to your own sunny room, where you can gaze out your window at more birds, and if you’re lucky, deer, coatimundi and black bear.

Rates: Rooms range from $135 to $150 per night, including full breakfast. Three additional private cabin suites can be rented for $150 to $225 per night for up to four guests (two-night minimum stay).


The Sanctuary at Sedona
2675 W. Hwy 89A, Ste. 1115, Sedona
928-639-1300, thesanctuaryatsedona.com

Whether you’re battling a drug addiction or simply need a little downtime this summer, The Sanctuary helps you disconnect from the outside world and find some much-needed solace.

One-week, two-week or month-long programs aimed at healing the mind, body and soul include traditional activities, such as daily yoga, meditation and massage, but also offer some unconventional therapies that require an open mind – think prayer circles, vortex building, labyrinth walking and one-on-one energy work with Sanctuary founder Dean Taraborelli, who ditched his hectic life as a CEO to study energy medicine at sacred sites around the world.

Throw in three hearty meals daily from gardener/chef Cynthia Montrose (who’s a wiz with vegetarian and vegan cuisine), the infectious personality of director Kelley Alexander, and the calming waters of Oak Creek, which is visible from the Sanctuary’s high mountain perch, and you won’t want to leave this rejuvenating center. In fact, some people don’t; at least a couple guests have chosen to stay onsite indefinitely.

The relaxing vibe reaches into the handful of guestrooms, which are chic yet comfortable, featuring hardwood floors, natural lighting, modern bathrooms and local artwork. It all comes with a hefty price tag (see below), but can you really put a price on inner peace?

Rates: Rates start at $4,950 per week to $19,800 per month, which includes lodging, meals, classes, energy work, meditation, massage, nutritional information, yoga and all other activities.


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