Bask in the quiet beauty of the high Sonoran Desert from a spacious casita at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North. Its sophisticated, Mexican-inspired design blends seamlessly with the surrounding 40 acres of desert. After a round of golf on its spectacular Troon North course, slip over to the spa, a perfect place to gaze at Pinnacle Peak. Rooms from $145, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale.
Head to Scottsdale Quarter, where fashion and housewares chains share palm-lined pedestrian promenades with local shops. Don’t miss feminine dresses and bright swimsuits at Calypso St. Barth or the beautifully edited selection of organic beauty lines at Verde Maison. For culinary inspiration check out Oil & Vinegar. At Scottsdale Fashion Square find the glamour labels like Prada, Cartier and Tory Burch, as well as Barneys, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. In Old Scottsdale, the ticky-tacky tourist shops are a lark, but at JAM, colourful retro aprons, pretty cushions and hand-poured candles decorate the historic Charles Miller House, now a boutique.
Wander through Singh Farms, a treed desert oasis and farmers’ market, where you can pick up exquisite produce and other tasty treats (like artisanal breads and freshly squeezed juices). Stop by the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art or take an informative tour of Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s serene desert retreat. There are more than 100 art galleries in Scottsdale — one of the newest is Gallery Russia, with fine art from the former Soviet Union. Explore them all on Thursday nights during Scottsdale ArtWalk. Get up early— before the heat of the day — to climb Camelback Mountain and take in the expansive views of Scottsdale, Phoenix and the surrounding desert and mountains. Visit: Experience Scottsdale.
True Food Kitchen has a seasonally inspired menu designed for balanced lifestyles. Try spaghetti squash casserole, tasty tofu bowls and fresh cucumber martinis. In Old Town, try award-winning FnB, which dishes up locally sourced ingredients in inventive shared plates, like braised-leek gratin with mozzarella and a fried egg, and an exclusively Arizona wine list. Prado serves plates of pastas made daily in-house, fresh fish and savoury gazpacho in a breezy indoor-outdoor setting. Comfort food is the latest in culinary chic throughout the city, from artisan sausage and Belgian fries at Brat Haus to wood-oven-roasted bone marrow at Pig & Pickle and buttermilk roasted chicken at Citizen Public House.
A landmark in Scottsdale’s historic district, the Hotel Valley Ho opened in 1956 with what was then a futuristic design. Back in its heyday, it was a magnet for film stars like Zsa Zsa Gabor, Natalie Wood and Bing Crosby. Now, the luxury hotel grabs guests with its nostalgic charm, combining elegant design elements from the ’50s with 21st-century amenities — think retro-chic decor in all 191 rooms, a spa, a fitness centre and an expansive pools. Rooms from $104, Hotel Valley Ho.
Don’t let the 35-degrees-Celsius (or higher) dry heat keep you inside. Get a balloon’s-eye view of the desert with Hot Air Expeditions (from $175) or explore it on foot in the company of a naturalist from Arizona Outback Adventures (from $95).
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