Southwest Dreaming + Desert Healing in Scottsdale

Palo Verde Spa at Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows. Photo courtesy of Exerience Scottsdale.

Long known and coveted for its abundant sunshine, high-caliber golf courses and Southwestern spin on urban art and luxury, Scottsdale is notching its spot on the wellness destination docket with dreamy desert resorts and hot-spot culinary experiences.

Step into the untamed Sonoran Desert with a twist of sophistication. Unexpected vibrancy and natural ease make Scottsdale unlike any other winter destination, especially for Coloradans seeking a mid-season thawout and a quick break from ski boots. Poolside cabanas, desert-derived spa offerings and inventive restaurants bring the energetic urban landscape to life. Here’s what’s blooming in the desert this winter.

STAY

Nopal Massage at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale. Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale.

Pleated into 23 secluded acres in the shadow of Camelback Mountain, Andaz Scottsdale is an arid retreat featuring 185 spacious bungalows and suites, renowned dining and a focus on well-being. Guests savor complimentary inhouse yoga, meditation and boot camp fitness opportunities. The onsite Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary harnesses nature’s powers in its earth-plucked services and products, while local naturalists and healers offer guided hikes, paddle boarding adventures, aerial yoga and sunset sound bowl sessions.

Those seeking a mix of desert enchantment, privacy and posh amenities will appreciate the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North. Adobe casitas tuck up to a backyard of saguaro cacti and dramatic Sonoran valleys. Spa treatments include a turquoise sage renewal body scrub, warm nopal cactus gel massage and herbal oil Shirodhara third eye and scalp massages.

Satiate cravings for buzzy downtown action at the Hotel Valley Ho, a fully renovated 1956 Scottsdale landmark built on minimalist modern Southwest style. Colorful and mid-century-cool, the iconic spot used to host strings of Hollywood actors on holiday. Today, the oasis is known for its poolside daybeds, melt-away saunas and chromotherapy (energy-balancing light therapy) along with walkability to Old Town’s alluring gemstone shops, sushi bars and art houses.

PLAY

Stretch beyond your comfy accommodations into the heart of Scottsdale. Tour the Cattle Track Arts Compound, a 13-acre artist colony tucked away in a residential neighborhood nurturing local makers and showcasing everything from pottery to photography.

Book a sunrise hot air balloon ride with family-owned Hot Air Expeditions and survey the Sonoran desert from 5,000 feet in a wicker basket. Cap your peaceful flight with flutes of bubbly and a catered breakfast.

Get your heart rate up on the Pinnacle Peak summit trail where you’ll gain 1,300 feet on a 3.5-mile round-trip trek. Keep an eye out for Gambel’s quail, jackrabbits, cactus wrens and road runners. The 4.5-mile McDowell Sonoran Preserve’s Gateway Loop Trail delivers a tranquil walk through the desert with an approachable 655-foot elevation gain.

Sip Arizona wine flights and nosh charcuterie at The Wine Collective — voted best new wine bar in 2023 — where oenophiles celebrate a smattering of the state’s 108 wineries. At LDV Winery, guests linger over interactive wine and cheese pairings and aroma therapy sensory exploration workshops that dig into the vineyard’s titillating grape-toglass varietals.

The Mission’s contemporary Latin cuisine. Photo courtesy of The Mission.

EAT

Scottsdale is home to a rising celebrity chef scene, wide-ranging food tours and more than 800 restaurants. Top picks include savory twists on tried-and-true cuisine at The Herb Box and veggie-forward dishes at FnB by James Beard Award recipient chef Charlee Badman.

Virtù Honest Craft is a stylish, Mediterranean-influenced diamond inside Old Town’s Bespoke Inn with ever-changing, chefinspired menus. The Cala inside the Senna House hotel conjures indoor-outdoor flow with its 40-foot patio bar, cabanas and rich green landscaping paired with handmade pastas and modern coastal cuisine — think Spain meets Italy on a Moroccan vacation.

IF YOU GO

Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) just seven miles west of downtown Scottsdale. While in town, take advantage of the charming free trolley circulating around Old Town’s historic gallery, shopping and entertainment districts.

Originally published in the Winter 2023-24 issue of Spoke+Blossom.

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