From the sprawling luxurious resorts to the spectacular Sonoran Desert sunsets, there are so many reasons any time of year to head to Scottsdale. As the temperatures start to cool down in New England, this year-round sun soaked destination is one of our favorite places to visit.
Located just 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Scottsdale’s untouched natural beauty is reason alone to come here and explore. Scottsdale can be easily described as Aruba of the United States for its near perfect weather all year long (they only receive nine inches of a rain a year compared to Boston’s near 40 inches).
Whether you come for business or pleasure, we recommend a stay at the ultra-luxurious Phoenician resort. The 585-room resort that sits on 250 acres first opened its doors in 1988 and has recently completed a massive more than three-year renovation. We recommend reserving a stay in a 1,200-square foot one-bedroom suite at the exclusive Canyon Suites (a private resort within the resort offering just 60 rooms) complete with 1.5 bathrooms, a separate living room with four-person dining area and plush bed with Frette 400-count Italian linens.
The spacious desert and pool view suites here received a three-month facelift in 2016 and now feature more contemporary furnishings, wood-grained entryways, plush interior carpeting, upholstered headboards, quartz stone countertops and vanities, and locally sourced artwork. Outdoor patios and terraces for each suite offer new tiling and furniture, including spacious, round daybeds.
When you arrive, you will be greeted by a personal ambassador, who is available to assist in everything from making dinner reservations or spa appointments to chauffeuring you anywhere around the property or select local destinations. The main lobby here has been completely redone and now offers The Canyon Lounge where you can enjoy daily complimentary breakfast each morning along with wine, beer and craft cocktails (available for purchase) in the late afternoon or evenings.
There is a plethora of activities available from beginner to advanced levels. Whether you opt to hike the trails of Camelback Mountain, play a round of golf on the gorgeous redesigned 18-hole course, take an art history walking or cactus garden tour or just enjoy a leisurely afternoon in a private cabana (complete with flat screen TV, restroom and shower and special amenities) at theinfinity Canyon Pool, there are so many things to do without ever having to leave the resort.
When it comes to dining, the numerous options at The Phoenician range from the upscale J&G Steakhouse to more casual fare at the golf course grill 19th Hole. The award-winning J&G Steakhouse now features a more contemporary interior, yet still offering the same beautiful desert landscape just beyond the floor-to-ceiling window walls. We recommend starting off with a chilled shellfish tower or tuna tartare before moving onto a bone-in ribeye or six peppercorn prime New York sirloin.
Mowry & Cotton, the new modern American restaurant that replaced Il Terrazzo, is also worth a visit. Chef Tandy Peterson’s crafted menu focuses on cooking techniques using fire, coal and smoke with a hearth oven as the focal point of the restaurant. Standouts dishes designed to be shared include wild mushroom flatbread, the whole roasted sea bass with ancho chili, corn, cotija and lime crema as well as the uber tender charred hanger steak.
If relaxation is on your mind, be sure to book a treatment at the gorgeous new three-story Spa that houses a Rooftop Pool, Drybar, Aroma Design Bar and Couple's Suite. Here, you can start off with a signature Sonoran scrub, massage and wrap to get you balanced and rejuvenated before finishing off your visit with a sleek and smooth blowout at Drybar to get you looking and feeling your best.
