by Jim Servin
It’s event season in Scottsdale, an ideal time to experience “the West’s most Western town,” one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.
From January to March, Scottsdale’s calendars are packed with cultural and recreational activities, including Scottsdale’s Western Week, a spirited celebration of the Old West and Native American culture. Check out the PGA tour’s golf tournament, and the WM Phoenix Open. The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, devoted to the breed’s heritage and history, is the largest of its kind in the world, with some 2,000 horses and 1,300 owners represented. The MLB Cactus League Spring Training brings 15 teams to 10 stadiums, playing over 200 games. Scottsdale Stadium hosts the San Francisco Giants, and the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies compete at Salt River Fields.
Long a popular vacation destination, Scottsdale offers top-tier accommodations, resplendent with luxury features and extras. The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, nestled in the foothills of Pinnacle Peak, set on 127 acres, is close to the stunning 36-hole Troon North Golf Club. The Grand Hyatt Scottsdale features a 2.5-acre outdoor pool oasis. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess delivers a luxurious pet-friendly resort experience. The JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa is situated on 125 pristine acres between Mummy and Camelback Mountains. For your convenience, private jets can fly into Scottsdale Airport.
In between events, rejuvenate at over 50 luxury resorts and day spas offering treatments and wellness therapies inspired by the Sonoran landscape, Desert Botanicals, ancient Native American healing techniques and curative traditions from around the world. The menu at the Four Seasons includes sound bathing, Turquoise Sage Renewal, Gold Repair Facial and Troon Pedicure. The Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess takes a holistic approach toward wellness, with fitness classes and spa treatments such as CBD-oil massage and oxygen-infused facials. At the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort’s Spa Avania, enjoy hot stone massages, CBD trigger point therapy and reflexology. Joya Spa at the Omni Resort & Spa at Montelucia offers an 80-minute ginger and white tea tree body treatment that includes a body polish, a body wrap and a warm stone foot massage.
You’ll savor locally sourced food and flavors, as well as culinary inspiration from chefs across the globe. From a variety of award-winning cuisine concepts, try Maple & Ash for its classic wood-fired dishes, exceptional sushi at Uchi Scottsdale, and Fat Ox for modern takes on authentic rural Italian. Classic and casual fare includes Hand Cut Burgers and Chophouse and Cien Agaves Tacos & Tequila.
Old Town Scottsdale is a cultural center, packed with 30 artist-owned galleries and over 100 restaurants. From its founding in the late 1800s to the present, Scottsdale is a magnet for creatives and innovators, including Frank Lloyd Wright, who purchased 600 acres of land here in the late 1930s; many of his structures can be found throughout the city. Shop at Scottsdale Fashion Square, the largest mall in the Southwest, with offerings ranging from vintage stores to chic boutiques. There are more than 2,500 luxury retailers in Scottsdale.
A walker’s dream, Scottsdale offers extensive trails for strolling and sight seeing: Try the Gateway Trailhead in McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Hike, mountain bike, ride horseback or swim laps in a resort pool. The options are endless in a city that claims 330 fair weather days—it’s almost always sunny in Scottsdale. experiencescottsdale.com