Resort at a Glance: CopperWynd Resort and Club

Located on a ridge in the McDowell Mountains, CopperWynd Resort and Club occupies the perfect setting for a serene, relaxing getaway. Fodor’s praises the resort for its “breathtaking views of mountains and the Sonoran Desert,” which the resort takes advantage of by positioning each of its guest rooms to overlook beautiful vistas. The resort’s luxurious amenities seem to harmoniously exist with these intimate natural surroundings, with desert brush and blooming cacti around two outdoor pools overlooking the mountainside.

• Where you’ll stay: Guest rooms welcome you with warm, earthy tones, gas fireplaces, and a patio that opens to views of the desert or mountains.
• Pamper yourself at Scottsdale Spa & Holistic Massage Therapy, the onsite spa where you can receive signature treatments that incorporate natural elements and Native American healing techniques.
• Eat well at Flourish, where chefs craft delectable New American cuisine served in a dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows or an alfresco area in view of the mountains. 
• Take a dip in two outdoor swimming pools.

Fountain Hills, AZ: World-Famous Fountain and Championship Golf Courses in the Sonoran Desert

Located in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, just north of Mesa, Phoenix, and Scottsdale, Fountain Hills was a sprawling cattle ranch until the late ’60s, when Disneyland designer Charles Wood Jr. helped transform it into a charming community centered around what was then the world’s tallest fountain at Fountain Park. While it’s no longer the world’s tallest, you can still watch the fountain put on a spectacular 15-minute show, shooting water about 500 feet high and casting a rainbow mist against the rugged backdrop of the McDowell Mountains.

Since the 1960s, Fountain Hills has expanded rapidly, with several public parks, playgrounds, and championship golf courses sprouting up throughout the arid landscape, including the nearby We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, with two courses that are both on Golf Magazine’s 2012 Top 100 Courses You Can Play list. There’s also a strong artistic community—take the weekly art walk to visit the local galleries and nearly 100 public sculptures reflecting the desert’s rich Native American history.

Despite the town’s recent growth, there’s still unspoiled natural landscape to explore. A day trip to Tonto National Forest is well worth the drive. At nearly 3 million acres, the forest is home to ponderosa pine groves and giant saguaro cacti that can stand up to six stories tall. The behemoth cacti also surround Saguaro Lake, a tranquil spot for fishers to cast for rainbow trout and bluegill. Along the lake, double-decker Desert Belle riverboats host educational 90-minute tours, during which you might spot bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and vultures.

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