Scottsdale

5.15.2021 – 5.18.2021 || Scottsdale| Arizona

If you are looking to for a long weekend getaway within the United States that has modern Southwestern themed lodging, highly rated restaurants, and incredible desert views, this is the itinerary for you. Scottsdale was the most relaxing trip since we stayed at the Fairmont Mayakoba in 2019.

Where we stayed:

The Boulders Resort & Spa is a Curio Collection by Hilton property with rooms, suites, villas, and houses spread across 1,300 acres in the Sonoran Desert north of Scottsdale.

We stayed in a Southwestern themed casita with a sitting area and private patio. It was no more than a 15 minute walk from any of the on property amenities. Alternatively, you could request a golf cart to take anywhere on the property.

We had breakfast each morning at the Grill Restaurant patio located in the Boulders Golf Course Clubhouse.

What we did:

After a long morning of traveling from the East Coast, we checked into our casita and decided it was time for a late lunch and a dip in the pool near the golf course and tennis courts. We took a golf cart to the Grill Restaurant to order mahi mahi tacos and a spicy margarita to eat poolside. Of the three pools on property, this one was the least crowded, but also the least impressive view of the desert.

During our stay, we took a tennis lesson and participated in a drill and rally clinic at the tennis center. The tennis lesson with Dale was super helpful, while the drill and rally clinic wasn’t nearly as good as our experience at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.

The pool at the spa was our favorite because it was the most peaceful of the three pools and had the best views.

After taking a golf cart to the pool on the first day, we decided to walk along the nature trails to check out the the desert landscaping for the remainder of our stay.

We checked out Old Town Scottsdale one afternoon to shop for postcards and a Christmas ornament for a souvenir. This is the place to go if you are looking for a walkable area to shop, eat, and explore art galleries.

Where we ate:

We at dinner at Chef Richard Sandoval’s Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. We enjoyed the corn empanadas, Mexican Campfire Style Salmon, and Chilean Seabass.

My favorite meal was Sunday brunch at Toca Madera. I loved everything about this experience and highly recommend making a reservation for brunch to casually explore the menu and to enjoy the music and people watching.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat at the Spotted Donkey Cantina unless you are staying at the Boulders Resort & Spa. If you are staying there it is a convenient option for basic Mexican food.

I found the next two food highlights on Yelp when looking for some options closer to our hotel. We ate lunch at the Raven’s View Wine Bar located a few miles away in the town of Cavecreek. At three thousand feet above the Sonoran Desert you could see views of the mountains and the higher desert for miles. The staff was super friendly, the food was beautifully presented, and the drinks hit the spot! This would be my go to spot if I lived in the area.

The second option that I found in Cavecreek was the Tonto Bar & Grill located at the Rancho Mañana Resort. Serving Southwestern-focused cuisine in a rustic space with a great patio overlooking a golf course.