When it comes to location, you can’t beat Scottsdale. Situated on the brink of the Sonoran Desert, you will be captivated by its dazzling landscape. Towering mountains of terracotta and saguaro cacti can be seen for miles, creating a dramatic skyline. Don’t be fooled by the city’s ruggedness though—you most certainly have not landed in the Wild West. Scottsdale is slick and sophisticated, offering something for everyone: romantic, adventurer and cultural connoisseur.
For the Romantic
A massage pour deux…is there anything sexier? How about an entire day at the spa together? Renowned as one of the world’s spa capitals, Scottsdale has more than 25 to choose from, each seemingly more grand than the last. One of the most amazing: the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Spa, offering Asian-inspired therapies in 14 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms. Plus, there is also a meditation garden, reflecting pond, Watsu pool and complete wellness centre on-site. Once you’ve gotten into the Zen zone, take to the skies in a hot-air balloon to soak up the city and the Sonoran Desert. Launches take place at sunrise and sunset, and you’ll be welcomed back to earth with a glass of champers.
Where to Stay
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Spa & Resort (sanctuaryaz.com). Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn and Britney Spears have all laid their heads down here, and it’s easy to see why. This magnificent boutique hideaway has 98 mountain and spa casitas offering spectacular views of Paradise Valley. At the Sanctuary, you can golf, play tennis, hike and, of course, indulge at the Sanctuary Spa.
For the Adventurer
With more than 65 kilometres of shared trails (hiking, biking and horseback riding), there is much to explore. Favourite spots to explore include the McDowell Sonoran Preserve (featuring 4,860 protected hectares), Camelback Mountain, Pinnacle Peak Park and the Superstition Mountains. If you want to see the sights, but don’t want to break a sweat, book a Hummer tour that will land you smack in the heart of Scottsdale’s desert and mountains (watch for coyotes, havelinas, jack rabbits and rattlesnakes). If you really want to get into the spirit of the Wild West, enrol in cowboy school to experience life on the range first-hand. At the Arizona Cowboy College you can take a one-day or one-week course, where you’ll saddle up alongside working cowboys to learn all about “the three Rs”: roping, riding and roughing it.
Where to Stay
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North (fourseasons.com). Nestled high in the Sonoran Desert, the Four Seasons is the place for complete serenity and total pampering. The landscape is breathtaking and at night the stargazing is bewitching. The hotel offers 210 rooms, arranged in one- and two-storey southwestern casitas. There are also 18 one-bedroom suites; some equipped with a garden shower and private plunge pool.
For the Artsy
Scottsdale has become known as a “city of art.” As early as the turn of last century, artists began arriving in the area to paint and create, inspired by the Sonoran Desert. There are over 125 galleries found within the city’s Downtown Art and Shopping Districts, an area comprised of four neighbourhoods (Main Street, Marshall Way, Old Town and Fifth Avenue), each with its own unique style, distinctive galleries, studios, restaurants and shops. One artisan who made quite an impact on the area is the great architect Frank Lloyd Wright and in Scottsdale you can see one of his legacies. Taliesin West is Wright’s opus in the desert and one of Scottsdale’s most popular attractions.
Where to Stay
The Phoenician (thephoenician.com). Luxury rules at this sprawling 100-hectare resort. Accommodations range from sumptuously appointed guest rooms to residential-style villas, and here you can play tennis, golf, spa, swim, hike and enjoy afternoon tea. The Phoenician is home to a $25-million art collection, which features Allan Houser’s life-size bronze sculptures, waterscapes by David Kessler and several rare European paintings and antiques.
For more information about Scottsdale log on to scottsdalecvb.com.
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