Striking Balance... at the Red Mountain Spa

I head to the Red Mountain Spa outside St. George, Utah in search of energy, adventure, pampering, and time with my daughter. A spa holiday can be so many different experiences. Which would I find the week before Christmas at this desert retreat?

The two-hour drive from Las Vegas begins the transition: from clamor to quiet, blaring to muted, brassy to timeless. The gates of the Red Mountain Spa swing open to a series of red clay buildings barely discernable from the landscape. I wonder briefly if the interiors will be equally modest. Then an attentive staff member leads us to our villa the discovery of balance begins.

A seemingly endless resource in the desert is space. At Red Mountain, space becomes a component of luxury. Ceilings are high, floors stone tiled. Oversized rooms provide an escape from heat or a cozy refuge complete with gas fireplaces in bedroom and living area - - depending on the time of year. Light filters down on the massive Jacuzzi tub and the floor of the shower is set with individual stones that massage the feet. My daughter considers the bathroom the third room - - easily her favorite!

Our first (all-inclusive) meal is dinner so we follow the path past the outdoor pool, around the fitness complex, and past the Outfitters store to the dining facility. Here too the décor highlights local products, drawing from and giving back to the community. I'm also amazed at the use of kerei board. The look is similar to woven bamboo but is made from sorghum stalks and reflects the Spa's commitment to sustainability.

Dining room tables accommodate groups of varying sizes and while breakfast and lunch are buffet style, the evening meal is ordered from a menu. A soup and salad bar offer starters and guilt-free seconds. My daughter is thrilled with the beef entree and I'm pleased with my vegetarian option. Dessert offerings are creative and scrumptious. Who can feel deprived when the choice is between a banana split and pumpkin cheesecake?

We are up early the next morning hoping to take our first hike, but a rare storm has blanketed the desert with snow. We head to the Adventure Center (located next to registration) in search of alternative activities and find the guides excitedly unpacking snowshoes. A local canyon has already been scouted and a potential disappointment is transformed into a unique opportunity. Immediate camaraderie develops in our snowshoeing group of about eight guests and information is exchanged about activities, spa treatments and staff. All receive rave reviews.

The afternoon brings the classic spa dilemma. Pilates class or a facial? Yoga or Chi ball? I even consider a nap followed by an outdoor hot tub in the snow - - the purpose is, after all, revival! My daughter chooses the Canyon Warm Stone Message in honor of our morning trek. When I see her two hours later she is relaxed almost to the point of incoherence. I decide on the Desert Gem Hydrating Body Facial. I carefully note that the spa facility is elegantly decorated and spotlessly clean. Then I surrender to what I can only describe as combination message and cocooning. It is pampering par excellence!

The next morning, we appear at the Fitness Center bright and early - - perhaps the self-imposed price for yesterday's indulgence. At Total Body Conditioning, we discover we are one of three mother-daughter pairs in the class. We learn that another guest has come with her dog because there are two dog-friendly rooms available. We tell her that we are signed up for the Pound Puppy Hike this afternoon. It's a program set up by a former Red Mountain Spa adventure guide who runs the only No Kill shelter in Utah.

The hike is scheduled for after lunch when we are taken by van to the nearby town of Ivins. The shelter is in need of renovation but the animals are well cared for and have clearly arrived at a safe haven. The Animal control officer Linda, who leads the hike, matches us each with an eager canine companion and off we go. The dogs fall into line (the alpha dog is a pit bull named Duke) and the bonding process begins. Linda explains that each walk teaches the dog to trust a new human and ultimately makes the dog more adoptable. From the human perspective - - well it made my day.

As we pack up to return to Vegas, I'm reminded of my initial question: what experiences would I find at the Red Mountain Spa? I could list activities, but more important is my renewed sense of balance. I'm happy to have eaten well and healthfully. I'm pleased to have snow shoed and napped. I'm glad I chose a property that is respectful of the environment. And I found my dog walk and my hydrating wrap equally rewarding. Balance means many things. The Red Mountain Spa makes it possible for each person to strike his or her own.