Time Richly Savored in the Catalina Foothills, just North of Tucson’s Edge

Written by Owen and Founder of 1 2 3 Go Solo, Lisa Saper-Bloom

All photos taken by Lisa Saper-Bloom

Taking some much needed and very unexpected time off, my instinctive Solo Travel and Adventurer wheels started churning! This time of year, I find it hard to leave the desert as this is why I brave the blistering heat of three-degree temperatures throughout the summer.

While whale watching was tempting, and a show in Vegas sounded great, but my heart remained here in the desert. My love for spas had me searching and ultimately I ended up choosing the Catalina Foothills, the northern edge of Tucson. I have lived in Arizona for over thirty-six years. I have made it down to Tucson less than a handful of times. This is an area that never grabbed my attention or soul. In fact the furthest I have been south in the last couple of decades was Eloy, where I jumped out of a plane on my fiftieth birthday!

Skydive Arizona in Eloy, between Phoenix and Tucson

Something felt right this time. Tucson MY WAY sounded right this time! More accurately than Tucson, it was the Cataline foothills beyond the northern edge of Tucson that grabbed me!

Being a woman in my mid fifties, the physical exertion and athleticism my body used to handle like a champ, has become a new challenge. Many menopausal women can relate to feeling like “everything hurts” or that they are “broken”. As I journey through this phase of life, and find myself still seeking nature and adventure, I gravitated to horseback riding. How cliche of the old desert, I know! But that’s where my head and heart led me.

Fortunately I found Rancho de los Cerros, where they take pride in pairing you with the perfect horse! When making my reservation, I noted that I now experience some stiffness from arthritis in L5 and S1 and that I request a horse with a smooth gait and extra padding to prevent any injury from this one-hour of sublimity that I would be embarking on.

Ava was my guide and Rolex was my horse! Ava paired me with Rolex as he is a seventeen-year-old, angel-of-an-old soul, who works with the most delicate and anxiety-filled to the most experienced riders.

Rolex truly was an angel, his mane reflected angel wings to me, and he was able to point out the most beautiful photo (OK, selfie) I took that day! Yes, he, the horse, made sure I captured the moment by turning his head as we nearly passed by. I followed his vision while turning my head to capture what he was looking at. When I spotted his message, I quickly grabbed my camera and took the shot. He was so good about this woman on his back who was worried about her low back and yet able to twist and maneuver to capture these memorable moments.

I am grateful to both Ava and Rolex for showing me a new-to-me part of Arizona on what was a perfectly beautiful day in the Catalinas!

If you have been following my blogs at all, or have received Coaching from me, you already know that most every time I travel, locally or globally I almost always schedule time for the spa. I have been to wellness retreats, with all-inclusive spa treatment in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua. I have spa-ed in multiple states, including Hawaii. Tucson has access to both world-renowned spas, Miraval and Canyon Ranch. But instead of paying OUTRAGEOUS prices, I found Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort Spa and I am DELIGHTED I did!

The literature at the spa describes the history and the grounds perfectly:

…”Past the gated, mission-style entrance, you’ll find botanical gardens as well as the unspoiled desert landscape that serves as refuge for native wildlife. Just beyond the lobby, a small library has been kept intact, right down to books from the 1930s. It becomes apparent that this is no ordinary inn. This place is a story to tell.”

…”As a guest ranch, it became a favorite hideaway for legendary personalities such as Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, John Wayne, Clark Gable and Howard Hughes.”

The spa, now a separate part of the resort, welcomes you with more of their story. Veronica, a Spa Services Coordinator, loves to share how the spa was once a private residence. She truly exudes joy as she shared some of the historic nature and architecture with me.

Within this intimate, true Sonoran, six-therapy-room spa is Jet, a Massage Therapist who 

I fortunately spent an hour and forty-five minutes with. While Jet has only been with Hacienda Del Sol for three months, she has been doing massage work for six years and it shows! She is extremely attentive to both the needs the client expresses and better yet, what the body is expressing! 

The spa offers a few different packages, including “The Essentials Package”. Included in this package is a sixty minute, Customized Massage. It also includes a thirty-minute Magnesium Leg and Foot Melt, and your choice of Hot Stones or Nourishing Scalp Treatment enhancements. You have access to three different pools throughout the day as well as a fitness center.

The hot tub is located right outside their quiet area with the Catalina Mountains as their backdrop. Their quiet area consists of a nice array of both herbal and caffeinated teas, strawberry lemon water, and vegan and paleo friendly banana nut bars.

This quaint little spa is a true hidden gem in the desert.

Speaking of gems, Tucson is world renowned for the Gem and Mineral Show. In my thirty-six years of living in Phoenix, I have spent MANY Februarys questioning whether or not I should make the drive. This year, I finally satisfied my curiosity with a stop at the Tucson Convention Center on my way out of town.

This show is in its seventieth-first year and attracts gem and mineral enthusiasts from all over the world! 

The venue, the Tucson Convention Center, it is exactly as you would expect… rows and rows of table after table with gems and minerals that have been sourced from all over the world.

When getting to know some of the “dealers”, you get a rich sense of their passion and their explorations. The pricing varies. You can find something anywhere from a $20 price tag to tens of thousands of dollars! The only dollars I spent were the $15 entry fee and the $12 parking fee. 

In my two hours there, I saw many beautiful and interesting specimens. In satisfying my curiosity about the show, I realized there was a reason for not fulfilling my curiosity in years before. It just wasn’t my thing. Instead, I enjoy a place like Vision Quest Psychic Bookstore. 

Vision Quest has been a part of the valley for as long as I can remember and is currently located at 32nd Street and Indian School Road, right down the street from me! There you will find gems and minerals that SPEAK to you, new age books, music, astrology charts, jewelry, tarot cards, and my favorite…tarot card and psychic readers!

Tucson MY WAY essentially turned into reflective and soul-fulfilling time in the Catalina Foothills, just north of Tucson’s edge. The people there are still down-to-Earth, take pride in their unincorporated community, and celebrate their history. When I plan to return to the southern part of Arizona again, the Catalina Foothills are now at the top of my list.

If you are a woman who desires Solo Travel, but needs support moving through your fears, please contact me for a FREE, 15 minute "Are We a Good Fit" consult!Simply click this link and scroll down to schedule!