Last month the fiance and I got the amazing opportunity to go to Scottsdale to celebrate both of our birthdays. He had been in the past, but this was my first time to Arizona and I was so excited to check it out! I had heard such good things about Scottsdale before we went, so I was super excited to try out all of the amazing restaurants, wineries and even hot air balloon rides!!
The first night we stayed at the super relaxing Royal Palms Resort & Spa. This resort was absolutely breathtaking (it sits in front of Camelback mountain with the most amazing views) and the staff was more than exceptional. We stayed in a Casita, which was the most romantic & charming place I have ever stayed… we even had a fireplace in the room! Built in the classic estate style, Royal Palms Resort is a Spanish-Colonial style resort with an amazing spa called Alvadora. I received an 80-minute Citrus Ritual massage and I have to say it was hands down the best massage I’ve ever received. There was also a room with a private tub and outside shower to sit and relax after your services… I could have stayed there all day! If you are in the market for a romantic & super relaxing getaway, Royal Palms Resort is definitely the place for you.
The second and third night we stayed at Hotel Valley Ho, a trendy modern-retro hotel close to downtown Scottsdale. I was told that this hotel is super popular in the summer months with locals, as they have an awesome outdoor pool with lots of cabana’s (think Vegas style.) We had the opportunity to hang out by the pool at a cabana one of the days and it was so much fun! They have delicious drinks and food that you can order directly to your cabana, and the wait staff was the absolute sweetest! If you’re looking for a party scene or a lot more “energy,” then Hotel Valley Ho is a perfect spot to vacation!
One thing I really loved about Scottsdale, was the food & drink scene. Being from Chicago, we are known to have some pretty amazing food, however, I personally thought the food in Scottsdale was 10x better! We dined at some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to and tried wine from some of the best wineries.
WHERE TO STAY:
Royal Palms Resort & Spa– Super romantic & relaxing and the perfect weekend getaway spot to get spoiled with spa services.
Hotel Valley Ho– Amazing location, modern-retro with a big party scene. The restaurant Zuzu located in the hotel is phenomenal and they make some amazing drinks!
WHERE TO EAT:
Farm & Craft– Located downtown, this place has such a fun atmosphere and everything on the menu is healthy, so that’s always a plus! What to order: Salmon Poke Bowl (so delicious!!)
FnB Restaurant– A must visit! It’s only open for dinner and it’s very vegetable heavy, but everything was amazing! The menu does occasionally rotate and the wine list is strong.
ZuZu Restaurant– This restaurant is located in Hotel Valley Ho and had some of the best scallops I’ve ever tasted. They also have a monthly rotating shake that is so much fun and sooo good! The one we indulged in was a Smoked Pecan shake that even had a piece of pecan pie! I highly suggest ordering one when you stop by.
Diego Pops– The cutest Mexican restaurant located in Old Town Scottsdale that had the most amazing brussel sprout nachos. We were told by a few people before we went to definitely order those and they did not disappoint. They also had fun drinks made into real coconuts and delicious tacos (that can also be made into a bowl!)
El Chorro– This place has been around for a longgg time (1937 to be exact), but it has the most amazing views of the mountain! We went a little too late, so we couldn’t really see the mountains by the time we got there, but if you go before sunset there’s definitely some good photo ops!
WHAT TO DO:
Carlson Creek Wine Tasting Room– Delicious wine, right in Downtown Scottsdale. The owner was extremely nice and the wine was delicious!
Aridus Wine Tasting Room– The wine tasting room is absolutely gorgeous! Everything is right out of Restoration Hardware and super modern. All of the bottles have really pretty labels and are color-coded by type. The Cabernet Sav was my fav!
Hot Air Expeditions Ballon Ride– This was SO much fun and definitely a highlight of the trip. We were supposed to originally go on Saturday morning for the sunrise fly, however, because of stronger winds it was cancelled. They were super accommodating and able to get us on the Sunday morning fly and I am SO glad they did. After the ride, you have a breakfast in the desert complete with mimosas!!
Camelback Mountain- I was super nervous about hiking Camelback, but it was so much fun! There were people of all ages hiking the mountain, so it’s definitely something that whole family can enjoy.
All in all, we had such an amazing time in Scottsdale and can’t wait to return! We already are thinking a Spring 2018 trip. 🙂 If you want more recommendations or have any questions- let me know!! xoxo