If you really want to get to know a new place you must venture off the resort, you have to embrace your sense of adventure, and try new things! While on a recent Girlfriends Getaway to Scottsdale Arizona we did our best to explore the magnificent dining scene and dip our toes into just a few of the incredible adventures just waiting to be had in that exciting corner of the desert. There’s so much to see and do in Scottsdale Arizona, here’s just a glimpse into the what’s hot right now:
Where To Eat:
Scottsdale offers 800 restaurants dotted throughout the charming city. Translation – you could eat for days! Some favourites included:
Picture by Solmaz – @thecuriouscreature
Located in Old Scottsdale, The House Brasserie led by Chef Matt Carter introduces you to his menu of reimagined classic Mediterranean dishes. I could have happily tasted everything on the menu, and felt like I did! Must tries include the beautiful charcuterie board and the Maine Lobster Gnocchi.
Ruze Cake House This lovely little stop is a must do for macaron and tea lovers alike. Come for the instagramable moments and stay for the adorable treats!
Citizen Public House – Craft beers, contemporary cocktails, exceptional service and mouthwatering dishes. Citizen Public House is a bustling restaurant bursting with locals and tourists alike offering upscale American cuisine in a relaxed casual environment. Be sure to try the Original Chopped Salad!
Wine lovers must make a stop at Carlson Creek Wine Tasting Room. This trendy hot spot offers the opportunity to try some of their winery favourites such as the Sweet Adeline Riesling and the store’s flagship blend Rule Of Three.
ZuZu – A trendy neighbourhood restaurant located inside the Hotel Valley Ho.
This hidden gem is your must stop for dessert. Warning. You will want to bring your appetite, a friend, or both so you can indulge in their famous “Showstopper Shakes”. This little number is the Strawberry Shortcake and is worth every single calorie.
Where To Adventure:
Picture by Solmaz – @thecuriouscreature
When was the last time you pushed yourself outside your comfort zone? Adventure keeps you young and is an incredible way to get to know the area you are visiting. While in Scottsdale we packed in a whole lot of adventure in just a few days.
Hot Air Ballooning.
Early one morning, in the quiet of the early dawn, we headed into the desert for an adventure like no other. I was about to climb into a wicker basket and allow myself to be flown into the air at over 6000 feet. To say I was a little nervous would be a gross understatement. The expert pilot of Hot Air Expeditions was jovial and relaxed and quickly put all of us at ease. Our group of “flyers” consisted of everyone from first-timers to the truly experienced. Before I knew it we were drifting off into the sky and flying over the Sonoran Desert. The experience was nothing short of magical. The view from above the ground, looking down on cacti, roadrunners and even cattle – breathtaking. All too soon it was time to land…with a little bump….and a little cheer from all! As the crew packed up the balloon and basket we enjoyed a champagne toast and breakfast, served right there in the desert. Was this real life? A flawless ending to our hot air balloon adventure.
Desert Tour.
I’ve been picked up outside of hotels in cars, limos, and cabs. On this trip, I had the unique pleasure of being picked up in a humungous Hummer all tricked out for the desert.
Stellar Adventures provides you with a ride from your hotel to the Tonto National Forest where you begin an adrenalin packed desert tour like no other. You are bumped down seemingly impossible roads, rolled past wild cattle, have the opportunity to learn about the different kinds of cacti and even stop for photos.
Throughout your travels, the incredibly knowledgeable guide answers any question you can come up with and if you are lucky may even give you a chance to taste some cactus. For the record, it kind of tastes like a melon. My only regret, that I didn’t have my entire family with me for this adventure. I guess I will have to go back!
I’m sure there are a lot of ways to explore the desert, but for me, the only way is in a Hummer.
Kayaking.
Picture by Solmaz – @thecuriouscreature
What makes an adventure memorable? Sometimes it’s the location, sometimes it’s the people, often it’s the experience itself – on the very rarest of occasions it’s the combination of all three.
Picked up in the early morning hours by Arizona Outback Adventures we were ready to embark on a new adventure, but not quite sure what lay ahead. As the sun was just peeking out behind the wispy clouds we were prepped for what to expect from the Class 1 river and instructed on how to use our kayaks.
Picture by Solmaz – @thecuriouscreature
What we could never have been prepared for was the jaw-dropping beauty and unobstructed views of four different mountain ranges. The random spottings of red-winged blackbirds and majestic blue herons, the quiet, the pure beauty and the surreal experience of witnessing wild horses drinking from the fresh water. There were moments on this trip that I will never forget.
Picture by Solmaz – @thecuriouscreature
Our tour guide was not just skilled in how to use his kayak (and make us feel like we were skilled in ours) but knowledgeable in everything we saw up and down the river that day. No matter your level of expertise, a kayak tour along the Lower Salt River with Arizona Outback Adventures is a must do while in Scottsdale.
Once you get the wild water adventure, hot air ballooning and desert touring checked off that bucket list, don’t forget to take in a round of golf and a walk through the incredible art galleries in the Scottsdale area. There are approximately 150 art galleries, art dealers, and museums within the city, just waiting to be discovered. And for the golfer, more than 50 courses!
Scottsdale Arizona proved to be the little desert town I didn’t know I was missing in my life. Boasting more than 330 days of sunshine per year, seemingly unlimited opportunity for adventure, incredible restaurants, welcoming people and of course the cacti, I fell head over heels in love with Scottsdale. The next time you need a getaway, a girls trip, or a family vacation, have a peek at Scottsdale, it truly offers a little something fabulous for everyone.
Disclosure: Accommodations were made in order to help provide this review. As always all opinions on this blog remain my own. For more information on all that Scottsdale has to offer, click here.
Sounds like a fun time! NO way I’d get in a hot air balloon though 🙂
Scotsdale would be a lovely place to visit.
Wow, there is a LOT to do in Scottsdale! I just visited Arizona for the first time this year, but we went to Phoenix. It was great, and I would go back! I have always wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride, and the desert would be the perfect place to do it, especially at sunrise with all the pretty desert colours. I tried 3x on a trip to Australia once, but all three mornings there was bad weather, including lightning, so each morning we got up suuuuuper early only to be told we’d try again the next day, until unfortunately we had no next days left because we were leaving the outback for the coast. 🙁
Plenty to see and do!
The food looks incredible! Definitely need some help to finish one of those crazy shakes! I have never been kayaking but it looks like a calming, peaceful activity.
what an adventure! Especially the balloon ride!
This looks like a fabulous place to visit !
I would love to have the recipe for the delicious looking shake.
Scottsdale sounds amazing! I hope I get to visit one day! I’d love to go kayaking and visit that tea shop 💗
I would love to go hot air ballooning one day!! 🙂
I’m certainly game to stop at Carlson Creek Wine Tasting Room.