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Think there’s nothing to do in a desert? Think again, and start looking at Scottsdale, Arizona. Katherine Lawrey profiles the desert playground perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.
“There’s kayaking, canyoning, hot air ballooning, mountain biking, and more,” explained Laura McMurchie from the Convention & Visitors Bureau when we caught up at IPW in New Orleans two weeks ago.
“And the best part is you can have these experiences in a unique desert setting, and then return to our resorts for creature comforts.”
The choice of accommodation is expanding, with three new properties set to grace the Scottsdale hotel scene. These include the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa (pictured), which opens in September; Mountain Shadows, a third hotel for Westroc Hospitality, which manages Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, where Beyoncé and Jay-Z honeymooned, opening early 2017; and a Ritz-Carlton opening by the end of 2018.
These will join more established resorts, the likes of the Four Seasons Scottsdale and recently-renovated Boulders Resort & Spa. “Boulders has one of the best locations in town,” said McMurchie. “The setting is straight from the Flintstones.”
Westroc property Hotel Valley Ho was a catalyst for a renaissance of Scottsdale’s downtown area when it underwent a major renovation project 10 years ago. “Downtown has lots of independent chef-driven restaurants,” she said. “People are surprised at the focus on local bounty, assuming that nothing grows in the desert… but we are the most lush desert in the world.”
A self-guided Ale Trail steers visitors towards seven breweries and bars in Scottsdale– one of which, Craft 64, has 34 Arizona beers to try. Scottsdale also boasts four wine tasting rooms. “It really piques interest – that you can grow grapes and make wine in the desert,” she added.
With daily direct flights with British Airways to Phoenix, a 15-minute drive from downtown, it couldn’t be easier to get to Scottsdale.
There’s plenty to keep visitors entertained in the city, and the OdySea Aquarium, next door to Butterfly Wonderland, will mean there’s even more when it opens late summer.
McMurchie pitches Scottsdale as a second-tier destination, for those that have done New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles and are looking for something different.
The best value time to visit is summer, she said. “There’s 70% off peak rates in the summer,” she said.
“Yes it’s hot, but it’s a dry heat. You just reorientate your days – get up early to hike and eat outdoors in the evening when it’s cooler.”
