The Ever-Changing, Vibrant Desert: Tucson's Glittering Gems

You're Too Old to Spend the Rest of Your Life on the Couch: Let's Adventure!

A long time ago I came to Tucson and saw my first handful of snow. Now snow is in my hair…

…and while Tucson has changed a great deal, I can appreciate it so much more.

In 1963, family friends picked me up at the Phoenix airport on a February evening. On our way to their home in Tucson, we stopped by the roadside for this Florida-born girl to handle her first small bit of snow, muddy with dirt and rocks. Nevertheless, for me it was magic.

Tucson, while much changed, is still full of magic.

For the sake of contrast, I have been doing adventure travel all over the world for the better part of twelve years. That has meant dirty, buggy tents, horrific weather, freezing toilet seats and every kind of sensory deprivation imaginable, to the point where any truck stop motel on the Interstate is like the Taj Mahal by comparison.

I’ve also stayed at plenty of resorts over the years. I’m pleased to report that while many of the upscale amenities remain much the same, the subtle and not-so-subtle need to be more environmentally and locally-connected has begun to weave its way into better properties.

That change was quite evident where I stayed in this magical city.

I spent time at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa this past week. Here are some impressions of this sprawling, thoughtful place, and some of the options to enjoy yourself in the area.

The sun rose spectacularly, slowly, gracefully in the east, right alongside the picturesque, tall saguaro cactus which is so emblematic of these deserts. I sat alongside Larry Redhouse, a local Navajo Indian, as he began the morning ritual.

Standing facing the first cardinal direction of East, he took out his wooden flute and played a haunting, evocative tune. Tears sprang to my eyes unbidden. Larry began the thoughtful morning reconnection that is available to all guests every day at the Marriott on Star Pass Road in Tucson.

The combination of burning sage, quiet flute music and the folding and burning of the sage packet is the kind of ritual that reminds all of us of our connection to the earth, its elements, animals and evolutions. It was a perfect way to begin the day, and you can do it every day here.

It’s just one of three quiet but important rituals that the Marriott offers its guests as a way to gently introduce themselves to the local culture. The night I arrived, there was a flavored tequila toast which has a story attached (I’m not telling, you have to be there to appreciate it, and yes, it’s worth it).

Here at Star Pass is an integration of local lore as well flavors of the cuisine of this UNESCO World Heritage City of Gastronomy. That’s nearly five thousand continuous years of evolving cooking traditions, flavors, some of which I’ll also be sharing with you in another article.

The other aspect I found appealing was that every angle, room and balcony took advantage of the shimmering desert light, no matter what time of day. Part of what makes this corner of the world so lovely is that light, and the architecture takes every advantage of landscape feature and local flora to maximize the visuals.

Perhaps one of the best features of this particular Marriott is the amount of care given to maximize not only the view but also the light. At any given time of day, particularly in such a sunlight-drenched place such as Tucson, light and how it plays upon the landscape is part of the charm.

You can sign up for hikes and bike rides through the meandering nearby hilly trails, or immerse yourself quite literally in the pools. There’s plenty of Caribbean blue water for tubbing slowly around a winding “river,” a water slide or for serious swimmers, a lap pool.

t’s a nice feature for those who aren’t mobile to be able to be lowered into the pool and still thoroughly enjoy the water. I found this chair in several places, which for those with disabilities or who are, as I have been, recovering from injury or illness, will appreciate:

For more serious workout enthusiasts, and that would be this writer, there’s a top-notch weight room with exercise machines, with lots of options to do your cardio while facing the view. If working out doesn’t appeal ( out does, but the working part might have become tiresome), there are endless options to sit, soak in the sun, sleep in a cabana and let the dry desert air lift both your worries and your soreness away.

In an overworked, overstressed culture, finding a place which not only invites deep rest but also eases you into an equally deep appreciation for the indigenous culture is a treat. You can find both at the Hashani Spa. The name means saguaro in the local language, and is also the inspiration for much of the products. Hashani in Sanscrit also means laughing, laughter, something you’re invited to do often here.

I found the small details immensely appealing. For example, here are two: a pair of inviting seats, and a bar where you can make your own sachets for memories, fragranting your pocket and your dreams:

Interestingly, the definition of resort also touches on the word repair. Many of us will retreat to a resort to repair ourselves, if you will forgive the play on words. However there is great wisdom here.

From the start of my stay, which involved a ritual toast in the evening, to the morning celebration which marked an emotional beginning to my last day here, I was invited to repair my sacred relationship with the natural world. Repair, if necessary, my connection to myself with kindness, exercise, exploration and good company.

Rituals remind us to do these things, to reconnect with the earth, the sun, the sky each day, to give thanks and to acknowledge the beauty around us.

When a place integrates the natural beauty, the wisdom of the local people and the richness of the cultures that surround it, that’s a fine place for a retreat.

If this story took you somewhere special or invited you to think differently, please consider

If you know someone who could do with a little renewal or travel inspiration, kindly also consider

Either way thanks for spending a few minutes with me today.