While it may not offer the seclusion of a honeymoon hideaway, Pointe South Mountain Resort offers young families the perfect blend between upscale amenities and family fun. Nestled on 220 acres, the all-suites resort features an award winning 18-hole golf course, a six-acre water-park (with three waterslides), and of course, a 'kid-friendly' spa.
After a long day of traveling to Phoenix, we arrived at Ponte South to find the large complex magically illuminated by thousands of tiny white lights. As we gathered our belongings from our car, we were captivated by the sight of a giant movie screen overlooking one of the large pools, and a crowd of happy children floating on inner tubes while enjoying Monsters Inc.
That night, we were treated to a five course tasting meal at the Phantom Horse Grill. Our chef was happy to showcase his latest creations, which he described as local cuisine with a Mexican twist. Our favorite dish was steak filet that was seasoned with spicy - but not overpowering - Mexican peppers. In our view, this unique preparation is a 'must order'.
Our suite was homey and spacious, with a separate living area. The kitchenette featured marble countertops, dark woodwork, high ceilings, and a patio that overlooked the waterpark.
The six acre waterpark includes three eight story waterslides, a 10,000 square foot wave pool, a 12 foot wide "Zuni Active River", and dozens upon dozens of life guards, who double as babysitters for the hundreds of happy kids playing in the park. Where are their parents, you ask? Likely at the spa, on the golf course or at the waterpark's outdoor bar and grill.
The Phantom Horse Spa offers a wide range of treatments, including two of the resort specialties: a pumpkin facial and a coconut sugar rub treatment. The sugar rub treatment is designed to rejuvenate your soul while soothing your senses with the fragrances of coconuts, pineapples, and exotic island frangipani. The spa has been recognized by Child magazine as 'kid-friendly', thanks to the wide range in youthful beauty products, which include glittery nail services and skin care sessions for teens.
I have to confess, I was too distracted by the spa's ammenities to make my way to the golf course, but I'm told the Phantom Horse links were awarded four stars by Golf Digest; not to mention that they also have Arizona's only Skill Tec 3D golf trainer, which includes video computer analysis to help improve your swing, positioning, and speed. Cool.
In addition, the resort boasts a 5-court tennis complex and Tennis magazine ranked Pointe South as one of the "Top 50 US Tennis Resorts". The resort also offers a unique and, by the sounds of it, quite intensive program called "Take 5," which comprises five hours of private lessons in a single day and covers the entire gamut of tennis play, from technical work on all the strokes to strategy, fitness, and mental toughness.
If there's one theme you should have noticed in this resort, it's that Point South is as much fun for your kids as it will be for you. We should also note that we were impressed by the staff's especially accommodating southern hospitality. While the resort probably features too many family-oriented attractions for couples seeking romance, readers with young families should definitely consider Pointe South Mountain Resort as a hub for their Arizona adventures.
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Check them out online at www.PointeSouthMtn.com
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