This is not your typical review. This is not your typical accomodation. This is a true experience. Part 1….
Winding down a dirt road through groves of old Oak and Mesquite, you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. Cell service is in and out, forget about internet on the phone. It’s just you and the red dirt and trees traveling to what you hope to be an oasis. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful in this part of the country. Grasses blowing in the breeze at the foot of trees that have seen history. Every so often a grove of cacti pops up, then all of a sudden the terrain changes. There is water, springs rising from the ground. Wild flowers take the place of much of the grassland. As you come around a corner, a field of hay wheels stretches out before you. This land is fertile and the greenery speaks volumes. And then, you see the sign, “Tres Lunas” and you turn down an even narrower dirt road that runs straight through the ranch lands surrounding you. This road is hillier and wild. Just as you think you must have missed it, there she is…the gates marking the entrance to a place I can only describe as magical. Tres Lunas Resort.
The resort is small and very quiet. We pull up and first thing we notice off to the side is the little stone chapel. I comment about looking forward to wandering up there after we check in. A farm cat greets us with a lazy “meow” and we walk inside. First thing I felt is a sense of real peace. This isn’t going to be just any overnight trip I realize. This is an experience. The Tres Lunas Resort Experience. The dedication that went into creating a sacred space for guests is evident in every detail. The Resort caters to not only couples such as ourselves, but true retreats. A Wellness Retreat package, complete with yoga, massage and all your meals, is available as well as wedding packages and even a “build your own retreat” experience. A welcome letter is waiting, directing us to our room for the night. As we walk through the common room, Carol Conlee comes out from behind a curtain of beads in the far corner of the room. Her smile is warm and inviting. She greets us with such grace and explains more in detail what the letter tells us. We look forward to sitting down with her later in our stay. We walk into our room and immediately feel at home. Every detail is taken care of from pool towels, to robes, to extra blankets and even coffee, tea and wine. The bathroom is equipped with all the soaps and shampoos we need along with a stack of snow white towels and washcloths.
Immediately outside our door is the pool so we waste no time in changing and going for a swim. The infinity edge of the pool looks out across a valley of trees, cow fields and awe inspiring nature. And as if specially ordered for our stay, dragonflies dance across the surface of the water with their wings shimmering in the sunlight. A Sycamore tree shades a seating area off to one side and the wind blows through the leaves like music for the dragonflies to flit about to. It’s almost like a dream staying cool in the blue water, looking at panoramic views and no one else around. Quiet and peaceful.
After a couple hours we head inside to change for dinner. The dining area is in the same common room we passed through when we came in. As we walk in, the smells from the kitchen hit us. Something good is cooking in there and we realize we are the only ones dining in tonight. There is one other couple staying but we so far have only seen them briefly as they are out exploring. Classical music plays softly and we hear the sounds of happy conversation coming from the kitchen as the husband and wife team work together to create something tasty for us. They are obviously very content.
Craig Conlee comes out with a big grin and a cutting board with a steaming loaf of fresh baked sourdough bread. First course has arrived. He apologizes for dinner starting a few minutes late, they were waiting for the bread to finish baking. Yes, this is for real. As we sit down at the table, he comes back out with the salad. Delicate greens drizzled with homemade balsamic dressing, cohita cheese and buttery prawns. The prawns were surprisingly sweet and complimented the tang from the dressing and the richness of the cheese. I could live off this plate everyday and be perfectly happy.
The main course arrives and I think we both gasped. There, sitting majestically atop a bed of jasmine rice was a beautiful salmon fillet covered in a cilantro, tomatillo butter sauce and accompanied by a side of poblano peppers, mushrooms and corn cooked to perfect texture in a spicy vinegar sauce. The textures and spices worked in perfect harmony and each bite was better than the first.
We watched the sun set, giving our stomachs a rest before dessert. I have had the privilege of living in many places that held some of the most spectacular sunsets, this one was in the top percentile. Looking out over that valley, we learned that the resort was built in relation to the summer solstice. So on the actual soltice day, the sun sets almost dead center to the pool. Every detail…..
Dessert didn’t disappoint! Mexican bread pudding, homemade vanilla ice cream and fresh strawberries drizzled with chocolate sauce. By the time we were finished I wasn’t sure if I could even move! I was super relaxed, incredibly full and very content. The memory foam king size bed was beckoning and we slept very well that night.
Between swimming and dinner, we made a little trek to see the chapel. Tres Lunas is a destination wedding venue when not spoiling travelers such as ourselves. They cater to full service weddings as well as a romantic Elopement Retreat. The chapel is simple and beautiful. Small and intimate, I could imagine it lit up with candlelight and a beautiful night time wedding taking place in that wild land. Romance for sure! I could also feel the peaceful spirituality there. What a place to bless a new couple! I felt like we had been there before. I was amazed that such a place even existed, yet felt so at home and happy. Magic indeed! I didn’t know what the morning would bring, but I felt something good was waiting….and I wasn’t wrong…. Next post will let you know how our morning went and how friendships sometimes start with magic.
To be continued…..
The opinions and thoughts contained in this post are 100% mine. I only ever work with companies I support and think you, my readers, will like. Please read my full review and endorsement policy here.
*Photo credits are mine, Jason Locher and Tres Lunas website.
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