Summer vacation has been great for hanging out with the family. But with the kids back in school, how about a quick getaway just for the adults? Here are a few of our favorite adult escapes close to home.
FOUR SEASONS
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North (FourSeasons.com/scottsdale/) sits only 30 minutes east of North Peoria but feels as if it’s a world away. The contemporary Southwestern resort blends into the Sonoran Desert, adjacent to Pinnacle Peak and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
This is a peaceful retreat where you can do as much or as little as you want. There are 25 separate casita buildings, each either two- or three-stories tall. As you step into your casita, with views of either the Valley of the Sun or Crescent Butte Mountain, you can feel the world slow down just a bit.
If you want to arrange a tee time, you can head to nearby Troon North Golf Resort, where your stay at Four Seasons affords you special privileges. A complimentary shuttle service whisks you five minutes down the road to the world-renowned, Tom Weiskopf-designed course.
A favorite hang-out is the bi-level pool, where you can simply float along and forget the outside world. There is a large main pool, a small children’s pool and a delightful adult pool. For something even more special, reserve a cabana for the day. Deluxe cabanas are ideal for a couple, with shade all day long and misters to keep you cool when you’re out of the water. Enjoy complimentary water, frozen treats, iced teas and chilled towels. Take it up a notch with a luxury cabana rental, which includes a private bar stocked with waters, sodas and iced tea, a welcome fruit amenity, unlimited chips and salsa, a personal entertainment system with flat-screen television and a sun kit amenity. In both cabana options, you can order poolside cocktails and snacks.
No visit to Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale is complete without a visit to the spa. Choose from a variety of massages, facials and body treatments in a relaxing retreat.
EAT & DRINK
TIP: Ensure you book a night that includes a Thursday through Sunday when Talavera is open for dinner.
Talavera: There are no better views anywhere in the Valley than those from the patio at Talavera, the resort’s signature Spanish steakhouse. Dramatic sunsets when the nighthawks take flight are the perfect backdrop for a selection of unique bites with incredible flavors. The signature dish is the Talavera Paella, piled high with clams, mussels, lobster and prawns.
Proof: Satisfy your cravings for great American comfort food. Choose the patio for breakfast and sample the short rib skillet or the Proof Avocado Toast. Lunch offers up salads and sandwiches. Try the traditional Maine lobster roll. For dinner, opt for the smoked short rib served over grits.
Saguaro Blossom: Enjoy light bites poolside from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ceviche is tasty and there is plenty to share. Order a cocktail, cold beer or a chilled glass of bubbles.
Onyx Bar & Lounge: Situated between the lobby and Talavera, this beautiful space serves up tasty, hand-crafted cocktails and small bites. The bruschetta is incredibly fresh, and somehow no margarita tastes better than one sitting on the patio as the sun sets.
SANCTUARY CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, a Gurney’s Resort & Spa (GurneysResorts.com/scottsdale), is an Arizona favorite, named Arizona’s #1 hotel in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Hotels.
Tip: Ensure you plan a stay Monday through Saturday when you can dine at elements, but take time before dinner to grab drinks at jade bar.
Resort Setting: The 53-acre resort sits on the side of Camelback Mountain. The casitas and suites, situated around the property, offer a serene retreat where you feel a part of your surroundings.
Drinks at jade bar: The views are incredible, as are the hand-crafted creations from bar chef Christiaan Röllich. Röllich and his team use premium spirits with farm-fresh local fruits, herbs, vegetables and juices.
Dining at elements: You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at elements. Flavors rely on seasonal foods, organic produce and sustainable seafood. There is an exceptional wine list and the sommelier can help you find the perfect choice. Plan your meal for sunset, when you can watch the colors burn across the sky and the shadows grow long across Camelback Mountain.
Sanctuary Spa: The destination spa has indoor/outdoor rooms and a Zen meditation garden. Book a treatment to rejuvenate your soul.
WIGWAM ARIZONA
You can feel the history when you stay at Wigwam Arizona (wigwamarizona.com). The 440-acre resort opened as a small lodge in 1929. It now offers 331 rooms and suites, three golf courses, nine tennis courts, three swimming pools, a fitness center, a spa and three restaurants. The only West Valley resort option on our list, Wigwam Arizona is about a half-hour southeast of North Peoria.
You can book a room, casita or suite in traditional territorial Adobe style, or book an upscale room in the Oasis Collection, situated around a quiet gated pool. If you prefer a golf-focused getaway, book one of the Fairway Collection rooms or suites overlooking the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed Blue Course.
Dining at Wigwam offers a culinary treat. Litchfield’s, named for Goodyear executive and Litchfield Park’s founder, serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. The historic restaurant is an ideal setting for a romantic dinner. It holds a 2022 Wine Spectator Award and hosts The Wigwam Wine Dinner Series (the next event is August 27th). Red Allen’s Bar & Grill has great patio seating looking out over the golf course, serving lunch and dinner daily. Try the burgers or the seared salmon bowl with roasted yams. Wigwam Bar serves food all day. The best spot is in the open-air courtyard under the canopy of the trees, giving it a European café vibe under brightly colored umbrellas.
Recreation is non-stop at Wigwam. Along with the golf courses and tennis courts, there are three outdoor pools where you can book a poolside cabana and order bites and drinks. The Tower Pool includes a 25-foot water slide.
In addition to the tennis courts and lawn games, you can also escape to LeMonds Aveda Salon + Spa. This is a healing sanctuary offering up some of the best treatments across the Valley. Choose a custom massage, body treatment or facial and escape for the day. Book a treatment and spend the day relaxing at the spa or poolside in the courtyard.
LeMonds Spa hosts a wellness retreat twice a year, which includes a weekend of spa treatments and interactive workshops. The next wellness retreat is on October 7th and 8th and you can sign up online at LeMondsSalonSpa.com/events/.
Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale
Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale (MountainShadows.com) is a boutique property that opened in 2017 in Paradise Valley. It features 183 modern rooms and suites facing Camelback Mountain. The resort is a unique combination of modern and mid-century design that has a definite artsy flair. It consistently ranks in the Travel + Leisure Top 500.
Guestrooms: Personal sanctuaries feature floor-to-ceiling glass and have either private patios or balconies. The Cabana Guestrooms sit poolside and feature expansive patios. If you want a quiet oasis, try the Garden Guestroom with a private 130-square-foot patio looking out over the desert landscaping. An Immerse Guestroom includes a freestanding, luxurious bathtub looking out over Camelback Mountain from the resort’s third floor.
Dining: Executive Chef Charles Wiley and Chef de Cuisine Alfred Muro serve modern American cuisine at Hearth ‘61. Enjoy the patio or the massive floor-to-ceiling windows while you dine. The hamachi crudo is an exceptional starter. Recommended entrées include the Niman Ranch tenderloin or the Duroc Farm’s pork chop. After dinner, make your way to the Bar + Living Room for hand-crafted cocktails (and coffee drinks in the mornings).
Golf: Book a tee time on 18-hole, par-3 The Short Course. Originally designed in 1961 by Arthur Jack Snyder, Forrest Richardson updated it to bring a modern experience. Holes play from 60 to 200 yards.
Pools: Relax by the two 75-foot pools connected by a waterfall. They offer great views of Camelback Mountain, cabanas for relaxing and a shareable pool menu at the Citizens Club.
Art: The Gallery features museum-quality exhibitions that change every two months.
HOTEL VALLEY HO
Hotel Valley Ho (HotelValleyHo.com) is an Arizona classic. It opened in downtown Scottsdale in 1956 and, over the years, hosted Hollywood’s A-Listers. After a massive revamp, the main hotel reopened in 2005 and the Tower reopened about two years later. The hip, mid-century modern vibe of Hotel Valley Ho makes this an ideal adult escape.
Hotel Guestrooms: A Cabana Guestroom features an entire wall that opens to a patio, all just steps from the pool. A Studio Guest Room opens to the quieter side of the resort, featuring a large patio and your own free-standing bathtub. The Terrace Suite features a bright living area with a 900-square-foot wrap-around patio.
Tower Guestrooms: The Tower rooms and suites have beautiful views of Camelback Mountain or Downtown Scottsdale. Book a guestroom or opt for a one- or two-bedroom suite. Suites feature a modern, full-size kitchen. There is also a magnificent two-story Tower Loft Suite or chic two-story Presidential Loft Suite. Both feature full kitchens and mid-century modern design.
VH Spa: The small spa is a quiet sanctuary in The Tower. Book a hot stone massage and enjoy chromotherapy in the sauna.
Pools: There are two pools at Hotel Valley Ho. Relax and chill at OHasis Pool or join in the fun with cabanas, cocktails and weekend entertainment at OH Pool.
Dining: ZuZu is a neighborhood favorite and worth the drive and the stay. Enjoy brunch or dinner daily. The menu, designed by Executive Chef Russell LaCasce, features fresh flavors that blend comfort with modern techniques. Try the pan-seared diver scallops or slow-braised pork shank.