Red Mountain Spa – Top Ten by Conde Nast

by guest contributor Cindy Joseph-Vogel

I have traveled all over the world and never have I been to such a wonderful resort as the Red Mountain Spa. It is in Las Vegas’ back yard, two hours away. It is a lush and beautiful paradise just north of St. George, Utah. We went for rest, relaxation, health and exercise, but we got so much more.

It is hiking at its best (leave the make-up at home and bring hiking shoes) with treks for 1, 2 or 3 levels. Exercise classes are scheduled all day long and are taught by experienced teachers. There is Tai Chi, Pilates, yoga, tours of the property, biking, horse back riding, kayaking, golf nearby, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a Jacuzzi, massage therapists and featured speakers. We attended an Iridology class, which is the study of looking into ones eyes to determine your state of health.  Be sure to take all of the classes you can.

I especially learned a lot from Chef Dale’s class in food preparation and cooking tips. I thought I knew a lot but his tips were priceless. Did you know that 1 tablespoon of liquid bleach mixed with a quart of water makes a wonderful killer of botulism and is a must when working with raw chicken? The other great tip he gave us was ask to inspect the kitchen when dining at a restaurant. The Red Mountain Spa’s kitchen is immaculate. The best is the food, geared to the healthy but will satisfy anyone’s taste. Try the variety of hummus that chef Dale presents, or be daring and have the Elk or Duck.

Breakfast and lunch are buffet style is competitive to Vegas only healthier. The evening meal is fine dining at its best and served at your table by a wonderful staff, with Chef Dale over-seeing quality and presentation. I am a seeker of good food. I love the way the vegetarian cuisine makes you feel like you are dining on sinfully rich food when it is actually good for you.

The Spa is great for groups, singles and married. There were lots of ladies and their friends meeting here, from all over the world. We extended our stay for an extra night, not wanting to leave. Kim, our concierge was very helpful in assisting us, along with help in scheduling other adventures in the nearby area, such as Tuacahn ‘Broadway in the Desert’ outdoor amphitheatre. "Cinderella" was wonderful.

This place has it all and we can’t wait to return. Note: Voted Top 10 Destiniation Spas by Conde Nast Traveller 2007 Reader Poll. Website: redmountainspa.com

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