From Five-Diamond Resorts And World-Class Dining To Breathtaking Sonoran Desert Hikes, Championship Golf, Spa Indulgences, And Unforgettable Hot Air Balloon Rides, Scottsdale Delivers A Sophisticated Southwest Getaway Where Rugged Natural Beauty Meets Effortless Luxury

Photography courtesy of Fairmount Scottsdale and Cynthia Smoot

Framed by the rugged silhouette of the McDowell Mountains and alive with the ancient rhythms of the Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale, Arizona, is a destination that effortlessly earns its reputation. Towering saguaros stand sentinel across sun-warmed trails, roadrunners dart between blooming palo verde trees, and the sky stretches endlessly over a city that has mastered the art of blending raw natural splendor with refined luxury. Whether you’re chasing golden hour from a mountain summit, spotting a Gila woodpecker in the desert scrub, or settling into a world-class resort as the warm desert air softens into evening, Scottsdale delivers on every front, as our intrepid traveler Cynthia Smoot shares on her luxe getaway.

With over 70 designated hotels and luxury resorts recognized by the city’s tourism bureau, ranging from five-diamond hideaways to boutique urban properties, Scottsdale offers no shortage of exceptional lodging. I tend to favor smaller, boutique properties when I travel, but this trip called for something grander. One stay at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess was all it took to entirely reframe my thinking about large-scale resorts.

Sprawling across 65 sun-drenched acres in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, “The Princess” is a AAA Five Diamond resort in a league of its own. Five distinctive restaurants and lounges, a collection of curated boutiques, two Tournament Players Club golf courses, including the legendary home of the WM Phoenix Open, the celebrated Well & Being Spa, six heated pools, and a brand new pickleball court round out an amenity list that borders on the absurd in the best possible way.    

A spa visit is, for me, one of travel’s great indulgences. It is the kind of restorative luxury that feels entirely justified when you are far from home. The Well & Being Spa is internationally recognized for its innovative offerings, while the Sisley-Paris Spa brings the highest level of skincare and bodywork expertise to the desert Southwest. Rounding out the wellness experience are cutting-edge fitness programs, mind-body classes including yoga and meditation, healthy dining options, cooking classes, and more.

For my treatment, I selected the 120-minute Havasupai Falls Rejuvenation, a ritual as singular as the landscape that inspired it. The experience opens with a sage smudging ceremony before progressing through a desert salt scrub, a thermal mineral magnesium soak, a jojoba body butter massage paired with a chilled Gua Sha treatment, a Sedona clay mask, and a soothing scalp massage. It concludes with a regenerating facial moisturizer that leaves your skin luminous and your spirit completely restored. Every minute is sheer, unadulterated bliss.

The dining program at The Princess is as thoughtfully curated as the resort itself. Here are the standouts from my stay:

• Bourbon Steak is the first Arizona outpost from James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina. Under the direction of executive chef Sara Garrant, the contemporary American steakhouse showcases the finest cuts of beef, poultry, and fish, slow-poached in butter and finished over seasoned wood-fueled flames. The wine program, led by Sommelier Maki Pottinger, earned a 2023 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
• Toro, tucked inside the Clubhouse at TPC Scottsdale, is a collaboration with celebrated chef Richard Sandoval. The Pan Latin menu artfully bridges the bold flavors of South and Central America with Japanese, Chinese, and Peruvian influences. With more than 105 rums and the Valley’s largest rum selection, the bar program is a destination unto itself. Reserve a table on the spacious patio for sweeping views of the McDowell Mountain range and TPC Scottsdale’s 18th hole.
• La Hacienda is a love letter to Mexican culinary tradition, marrying vibrant regional flavors with timeless European technique. Spanish architecture, wood-beamed ceilings, flagstone floors, and beehive fireplaces set the stage for an evening anchored by a tequila bar stocked with more than 200 varieties.

The Princess offers six pools, each with its own distinct personality. Sunset Beach delivers Arizona’s only true beach escape, complete with 9,000 square feet of soft white sand and swaying palms. Sonoran Splash offers two twisting 200-foot water slides and zero-entry waters for younger guests, though riders must be at least 42 inches tall for the slides. My personal favorite was Sonoran Landing, the adults-only retreat outfitted with plush daybeds, floating bean bags, two 25-meter lap lanes, and poolside libations that make it nearly impossible to leave.

Traveling with children? Camp Trailblazers keeps younger guests happily occupied with supervised games, crafts, sports, virtual-reality experiences, and a life-sized Pac-Man game. On Friday and Saturday evenings, Parents Night Out offers a dedicated childcare experience so adults can enjoy a proper dinner and cocktails in peace.

No conversation about Scottsdale is complete without acknowledging the sport the city has made its own. With more than 200 golf courses and over 300 days of sunshine annually, Scottsdale is, quite simply, a golfer’s paradise. The Princess sits adjacent to TPC Scottsdale, home of the storied PGA Tour WM Phoenix Open, and offers access to four courses, ensuring every round feels like a discovery.

Other Things To Do In And Around Scottsdale…

Hike the McDowell Sonoran Preserve

If there is one experience in Scottsdale that puts the city’s extraordinary natural setting into full perspective, it is a hike through the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. This protected stretch of desert and mountain wilderness spans 30,500 acres and is laced with more than 230 miles of trails, making it one of the largest urban preserves in the United States. Saguaro cacti punctuate the landscape at every turn, wildlife appears around nearly every bend, and the silence is the kind that genuinely recharges you. The Gateway Trailhead, opened in 2009, welcomes hikers of all ability levels and includes an interpretive trail accessible to guests with disabilities. Even the trailhead building reflects the preserve’s ethos, constructed from rock and soil pulled directly from the surrounding desert floor.

We chose the Gateway Loop for our outing, a 4.5-mile trail with a 650-foot elevation gain that climbs to a low saddle before winding back to the start. It is moderately challenging but absolutely manageable, and the wildflowers and wildlife along the way make every step worthwhile. I would consider it a must-do for visitors of all ages.

PRO TIP: Book a guided hike. Having someone who knows the land intimately makes an enormous difference. I went with Cliff Creek Outfitters, and their expertise brought the entire landscape to life in ways I would have missed on my own. With nearly 40 years of experience leading hiking, kayaking, rafting, and paddleboarding adventures on the Lower Salt River and nearby lakes, they are simply the best in the business.

Spend Time In Old Town                                           

There is no better place to wile away a few hours than Old Town. Start with a tour around Old Town with JoyRidesAZ to learn about the local businesses, museums, galleries, restaurants, activities, and events. Your Guide provides a great overview of the area and shares Downtown Scottsdale’s hidden gems and secrets while giving you a local’s perspective. They will drop you off wherever you’d like in the area so you can continue your adventures on foot. Often called the finest urban center in Arizona, Old Town features 9 walkable districts packed with more than 90 restaurants, 80 art galleries, and 320 retail shops.

Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the Indigenous art and the Western spirit at the Museum of the West. You’ll find regularly changing and ongoing exhibits of Western and Native American art, rare artifacts, and cultural treasures on loan from some of the world’s foremost collectors and institutions. Docent-led gallery tours take place at 11:20 a.m., 12:20 p.m., and 1:20 p.m.

Taliesin West, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, was built by Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices in the 1930s and was continually expanded and modified by the iconic architect until his death in 1959. Wright and his apprentices literally created Taliesin West out of the desert by gathering rocks from the desert floor and sand from the washes to keep the design in balance with the surrounding environment. The site, considered one of Wright’s greatest masterpieces, was designed to serve as Wright’s personal home, studio, and architectural laboratory.

Take A Hot Air Balloon Ride At Sunrise Or Sunset  

For a perspective on the Sonoran Desert that few ever experience, take to the skies with Hot Air Expeditions. With more than 30 years of operations in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area, this is ballooning done with grace and expertise. Morning and afternoon flights drift up to 5,000 feet above desert terrain, offering unobstructed views of mountain ranges, saguaro forests, and the wildlife below. Upon landing, a post-flight celebration awaits among the cacti, complete with bubbly and catered fare. Morning flights depart daily year-round; afternoon flights are available seasonally from November through March.

Ready to experience the magic for yourself? Click here to visit Experience Scottsdale and begin planning your desert escape.

10 Standout Must-Do’s From A Scottsdale Desert Escape…

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Delivered Five-Diamond Luxury
The sprawling 65-acre resort featured championship golf, six pools, luxury boutiques, award-winning dining, and a world-class wellness experience in the heart of the Sonoran Desert.

The Havasupai Falls Rejuvenation Was Pure Spa Bliss
The 120-minute treatment at Well & Being Spa combined sage smudging, desert salt scrubs, magnesium soaks, Sedona clay masks, and Gua Sha therapy for the ultimate desert reset.

Bourbon Steak Served Elevated Contemporary Cuisine
Chef Michael Mina’s acclaimed steakhouse wowed with premium cuts, butter-poached proteins, and an award-winning wine program led by Sommelier Maki Pottinger.

Toro Offered Stunning Mountain Views And Pan-Latin Flavors
Guests enjoyed Richard Sandoval’s inventive menu and the Valley’s largest rum selection overlooking TPC Scottsdale’s iconic 18th hole.

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve Showcased Scottsdale’s Wild Beauty
Hiking the Gateway Loop trail revealed sweeping desert vistas, towering saguaros, blooming wildflowers, and unforgettable Sonoran scenery.

Old Town Scottsdale Delivered Art, Shopping, And Southwest Charm
Visitors explored galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and museums while discovering hidden gems through local tours with JoyRidesAZ.

Taliesin West Offered A Fascinating Frank Lloyd Wright Experience
The UNESCO World Heritage Site provided an immersive look into Wright’s desert-inspired architectural masterpiece and creative legacy.

Hot Air Balloon Rides Revealed The Sonoran Desert From Above
Flights with Hot Air Expeditions delivered breathtaking sunrise and sunset views of mountains, cactus forests, and Arizona wildlife.

The Resort Pools Catered To Every Vacation Mood
From the adults-only Sonoran Landing retreat to the sandy shores of Sunset Beach and family-friendly Sonoran Splash slides, every pool offered a unique experience.

Scottsdale Proved Why It’s A Golfer’s Paradise
With more than 200 golf courses and year-round sunshine, Scottsdale, including legendary TPC Scottsdale, remains one of America’s premier golf destinations.