Scottsdale...hell yeah!
- Alison
- Nov 15, 2020
- 6 min read
Looking for an easy winter vacay where you can relax by a pool, hike and eat outdoors? Weston & I recently spent a long weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is oldtown western meets a foodie-lovers' desert oasis. Scottsdale had been on my travel bucket list for a few years now; so it was a perfect winter getaway. Flying into and out of Phoenix International Airport makes getting to Scottsdale a cinch. A quick 15-minute Uber ride gets you to downtown Scottsdale with ease. No reason to rent a car. It is a super walkable city with cute local restaurants and bars, one right after another.
Where to Stay:
W Hotel Scottsdale: the location of this hotel is amazing! It is a block from N Scottsdale Road which has all the fun bars and restaurants. The rooms are very modern and renovated nicely. The Away Spa is one of the best spas in Scottsdale, if you are looking for a little R&R. Something special they boast is having a "spa after dark" reservation allowing for a fun girls night to yourself. We were super excited to just relax on a daybed by day, and bar/restaurant hop by night. The Wet Deck, at the W, hosts some of the best/hottest pool parties in Scottsdale....Think Vegas style, but on a smaller scale. The pool is usually packed with cabanas and day beds within a few feet of one another, but due to the 2020 social distance challenges, a lot of them have been removed to allow plenty of room. Most places we went to eat and drink were super reasonably priced. Unfortunately, the drinks at Wet Deck were definitely much higher....$18 for a blended margarita. The hotel is currently undergoing a renovation, scheduled to be completed December, 2020.
Hotel Adeline: This hotel is located about 1/4 mile from the main row of restaurants. It is the home of the iconic 'WTF' sign. If you're looking for a more low key and affordable stay than the W Hotel, I recommend this boutique hotel. You really can't go wrong with its' large pool area with several cabanas and day beds. It also seems a little more family friendly than the W Hotel.
Where to Eat:
The Mantauk: This 'Hamptonesc' spot is the perfect place to grab happy hour drinks and appetizers or post up for brunch. The quintessential beach motif has you instantly feeling like you're eating in the Hamptons. We went to The Montauk for Happy Hour (Monday-all day, Tues-Fri 3-6pm) our first night in Scottsdale. Their drinks were yummy and the list was expansive. I tried their frosé, of course, and Weston had the Vieux, a whiskey-based cocktail. Their servers were so friendly and couldn't do enough for us. We ordered their Deviled Eggs, Tuna Tartare Guacamole and the Haystack Fries off their happy hour menu. All were super yummy! We loved this place so much we went back for brunch on Saturday to watch college football and drink mimosas!!
Second Story: We grabbed a drink here during happy hour Friday night. It is a super sleek liquor bar lined with dark wood tables and decorative chandeliers, mixing an old-world vibe & with a romantic ambiance. We opted to sit outside, on the narrow patio overlooking N Scottsdale Road where we could people watch and enjoy the great October weather. It's description as a liquor bad did not disappoint as it offers over 200 whiskeys to chose from and a multitude of other delicious cocktails. I opted for the skinny margarita and Weston had a Violette Reviver (gin of course). We were just popping in to grab a drink before our dinner reservation, so we didn't opt for any food.
Farm & Craft: If you are looking for a healthy spot to grab brunch, lunch or dinner this is THE place to try! This farm to table spot is super inviting from the outside. I did quite a bit of research and planning on where to eat; and this place had already made the list. I was super excited to get to write on their 'LOVE IS' chalkboard....Touristy I know! But, when in Rome.
We made a reservations at Farm & Craft knowing it would be pretty popular on a Friday night. Now, where to even begin with the rundown of the food and drinks. Weston loves kombucha and gin. So, when I picked this place I knew it was a go to because they had a Kombucha Gin cocktail that was to die for. I am not much of a gin drinker but damn was it tasty and refreshing. I can totally imagine getting that drink on a hot summer Scottsdale day. I, of course, tried their frosé....and it was AHHHMAZING! I thought the frosé I had in LA was pretty tasty, but dang this was so much better. It was a perfect balance of sweet and tart. We loved them so much we ordered a second round....and by that I mean he and I had frosé for our second round.
When it came time to order our dinner, we bounced around between so many options. Honestly, everything on the menu looked devine!!! I don't think you would go wrong with anything you order. For our appetizer, we chose the spinach & artichoke dip which normally we can't order (me being lactose intolerant). But, this one was made with greek yogurt so it was a GO-gurt. We split the salmon and the kale pesto chicken flatbread with vegan cheese. I would highly recommend both of these! We attempt to balance indulging on vacation with selecting places where we can make healthy choices. This spot fit us to a "T." We loved it so much we came back for brunch Sunday morning. I will say the brunch portions were extremely small. We were a little disappointed, but that frosé definitely didn't!
Things to do:
One of the major draws for me to go to Scottsdale was the amount of outdoor activities: hiking, biking, golf, river floats, etc.
Hike Camelback Mountain: This hike is perfect for a weekenders excursion. It's only 3.2 miles from downtown Scottsdale. Once you climb your way to the top you will enjoy panoramic views. I would HIGHLY recommend doing this in the cooler months (Oct-April) and not on a weekend. We hiked on a Friday morning and the trail was still very busy. This is not a hike for the faint of heart or those afraid of heights. Many parts of this hike are pretty straight up and what goes up must come back down. You should wear good, comfortable hiking shoes, bring plenty of water and definitely bring your camera! It was a great way for us to jumpstart our Friday morning with a workout.
Next time we will rent a car for a day so we can try some of the other killer hikes in the area. There are approximately 10 awesome hikes within a 2-hour drive of Scottsdale!
Topgolf Scottsdale: This is a must do while in Scottsdale. I know they are all over the US these days including Vegas, San Jose, etc but Scottsdale is known for having tons of beautiful golf courses. I don't golf....I used to play softball in college and that swing just hasn't translated well. But, that doesn't mean I can't go to the driving range and swing for the fences...So Topgolf was an easy choice for us our first night in town. Topgolf is an adult playground, all centered around golf, drinks and good fun. I would recommend making a reservation because it is very busy, especially on Friday/Saturday nights. We ordered a pitcher of red sangria and tee'd off. I am terrible golfer, but still had a blast!
Walk & shop in downtown Scottsdale/Old Town Scottsdale: We experimented with a different, cute coffee shop each morning. Weston even got me to try and semi-like black coffee! It's still a work in progress. On Saturday, we did some window shopping, took a stroll through their Farmer's Market, and browsed restaurants for our next trip.
Overall we had such a blast!! I would definitely recommend Scottsdale for a weekend trip with your significant other, best friend or for a girls trip! It has a little of everything for everyone. You really can't go wrong!!! Remember, life is all about balance and the adventures we take along the way. Cheers!!! Have a frosé or 2 for me!!!!
Love Always,
SlayPlayRosé
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