A weekend at the Wigwam

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When my parents told me they were retiring to Arizona, I was pretty stoked: although I haven’t spent a ton of time in the state, I’m a big fan of the year-round heat and sunshine, hiking on crazy rock formations and prickly pear margaritas. So when The Wigwam reached out to me about visiting–and I realized the resort was located just 20 minutes from where my parents were moving–I was up for the opportunity to explore a new spot in an area where I’m about to spend a lot more time.

And I’m so glad I did! I fully relaxed into the laid-back vacation vibes and enjoyed the sunshine, and can totally see how it would be the a super fun AND very easy warm-weather escape for solo travelers, couples, groups of friends or families. Without ever leaving the resort grounds, I took a tennis lesson, played foot golf (maaaaaaybe my new favorite game), had a facial, read by the pool, rode a waterslide, and ate and drank A LOT of good stuff. I already can’t wait to go back!

And unlike a lot of other hotels, I actually can. One of the particularly fun things about the Wigwam is that it’s not super pretentious about things being for “resort guests only”–not only are the incredible restaurants open to the public, but there are also memberships and day passes available for the spa treatments, tennis club, golf courses and pools. I’m already planning to take my parents for dinner at Litchfield’s, and to introduce David to foot golf on the Wigwam course (and maybe just stroll the grounds with Gert, since it’s dog-friendly!). Here are a few of the things that I loved the most during my stay:

Obviously, the #1 thing in my book was the DOUBLE WATERSLIDE. Y’all know I love a good waterslide, and this one was no exception! I get such pure unadulterated joy going down a waterslide, and I went down this one several times in a row (and several days in a row). It was the perfect way to cool off after soaking up plenty of sunshine reading by the pool. Pro tip: the covered one is a lot faster!

And, of course, a good way to make the waterslide even more fun: a poolside cocktail beforehand!

There are actually three (!) pools at the Wigwam. The Tower pool has the waterslide, cabanas, and generally, a pretty kid-friendly vibe–aka if you’re not traveling with kids, you miiiiight want to head over the Oasis pool. After Memorial Day, it becomes an adult-only pool–sometimes there is a DJ there, but in general, it has a more chill vibe than Tower.

And the spa also has a private pool: if you book a treatment, make sure to schedule in some time to enjoy the serenity of a no-kids, no-music pool. I indulged in a facial while I was there, and in addition to thoroughly enjoying the treatment, I also love relaxing by the pool. Usually, I’m big on spending time in the sauna and/or steam room–but with 90+ degree temperatures outside, I figured I’d rather soak up the sunshine than have sweat it out inside.

I started reading Castle of Water after I tore through I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. Although they are VERY different books, both were totally enthralling and excellent options for poolside reading. I didn’t want to do anything other than stretch out with my Kindle on a chaise lounge and take regular dips in the pool to properly cool off.

I’ve played tennis off and on since high school, but I’ve been trying to get back into it since moving to San Diego. We joined the Balboa Tennis Club, but I don’t get to play as often as I’d like (David squeezes in matches with friends whenever I’m out of town!) and there are definitely a lot of places where I could improve. So! I was thrilled to hear that not only does Wigwam have a tennis club, but they also offer private and group lessons. I started one of my mornings with a private tennis lesson (definitely go early–it starts seriously getting hot by 8am!) and got in some good practice swings–AND some very actionable tips to improve my forehand. It’s a pretty active local tennis club, but still a great spot to reserve a court and squeeze in a game if you’re visiting.

This was the first time I’d ever heard of Foot Golf: it’s a hybrid of soccer and golf, and it’s a really fun way to hang out with friends while doing something semi-athletic. It takes place on a normal golf course and has normal-ish golf rules (every hole has a par, etc.) but there are specific foot golf holes that are bigger (aka can fit a soccer ball). It was way more challenging but also more fun that I expected! Also, do not follow my example in the above photos: definitely would be easier in sneakers. I can’t wait to take David here to play when we visit my parents!

And after a rousing game of foot golf (or regular golf – the Wigwam has three 18-hole courses to choose from!), stop by Red’s to fill yourself up. We got to try out a paired beer and appetizer course, which is also something that will be on my list to bring David back to: deviled eggs, pretzel bites, IPAs!

In general, just such a big fan of all of the cacti and succulents and desert plants on the property! There’s a good amount of non-desert plants too, like rows of rowbushes and enormous fragrant bushes of star jasmine–but I’m always in love with those giant saguaros and prickly pears!

Can’t come to Arizona and not enjoy a prickly pear margarita!

The Wigwam is prepping to celebrate its centennial, and one of the coolest things about the resort is its history: it’s totally founded in those days of the wild west! The property is lined with incredible vintage photos, and I love the little touches like this stagecoach-esque bench. It originally opened as an outpost for Goodyear Tire when the company realized that cotton extended the life of its tires: they bought 16,000 acres in the area for cotton farming. And in 1918, the company established theOrganization House, the first building on the resort site (and still home to a fireplace and reading room in the resort’s main building),as a meeting place for its executives who, along with their families, suggested it would be a great place to spend a winter vacation.

Without a doubt, one of my favorite dining experiences was at Litchfield’s. They cook all of the entrees on an open flame in the main dining room: we got to see how with a cooking demonstration before dinner, and it made me appreciate how delectable our main course was. Everything is local and seasonal (the menu changes four times a year), and there’s even a herb and vegetable garden on the property that they regularly use for the night’s meals.

They’re also preparing to celebrate the resort’s centennial with cocktails for each century, and I looooove sampling classic cocktails. Obviously, always a big fan of the moscow mule, but I was also surprised by how much I loved the mint julep (just in time for the Kentucky Derby!) and the whiskey sour.