SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (April 11, 2023) – There is so much more to summertime in Scottsdale than triple-digit temperatures. Think: living in the lap of luxury for less, re-balancing with rejuvenating wellness programs, gaining new perspectives at the latest art exhibit, and ending a day-long escapade with a delectable meal and cocktails. Read on for all the ways to savor the season.
RESORT ROUNDUP
THE BIG NEWS: Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch will re-open as Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort & Spa in late 2024, marking the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Arizona. The $110-million renovation will include enhanced guestrooms, pools, food and beverage outlets, Spa Avania, and upgrades to other key public areas and amenities, including the expansion of the hotel’s indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces.
Scottsdale-based real estate investment company Walton Global announced a multi-year plan to redevelop the shuttered Smoke Tree Resort, originally built in 1954, to bring a new 82-room boutique hotel to Paradise Valley, which will feature a bistro helmed by renowned restaurateur Matt Carter, a centralized pool and amenity area, and five guest casitas with private plunge pools. Walton Global will be working with Allen & Philp on the project, an architectural firm based in Scottsdale, whose impressive local hotel portfolio includes Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa; the Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale; and the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.
SIZZLING SUMMER PACKAGES
- Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale offers a tranquil stay in a desert oasis. The “Truly Boulders” package includes accommodations, daily dining credit, complimentary parking and 20% off spa services. Travelers can try the new Essential Escape Wrap, with an herbal mix of custom-blended oils and a soothing scalp massage ending with a Vichy Shower and an application of healing and restoring cream.
- Make a summer escape with JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa’s “Casitas & Ritas” package. Enjoy two handcrafted margaritas each night, a $50 general resort credit, along with a stay in a plush resort casita.
- The Hermosa Inn stays cool for the summer with its “Summer in Paradise Getaway” package. Guests who book two nights in a Deluxe Casita get a third night free, as well as a $25 food and beverage credit for each night, poolside treats, and two drink tickets. Take a break from sunny skies at a special five-course tasting dinner at LON’s in the perfectly chilled, private underground wine cellar – an ideal place to beat the heat.
- Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia kicks off the summer season with rates starting at $229. Chill out by the pool with live music, poolside grilling, a gelato cart, and glow-in-the-dark fun for evening entertainment in and around the resort pools. Then, unwind at Joya Spa with buy one, get one 50% off, Sunday-Friday.
WELLNESS IN THE DESERT
- The award-winning CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa’s latest program, “Habit of Happiness,” encourages guests to dive into brain health with curated programming encompassing emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. Offerings include an emotional intelligence workshop, aromatherapy-based spa treatments, and iRest meditation.
- ADERO Scottsdale Resort has expanded its holistic portfolio of fitness offerings with the introduction of Double Queen Conditioning Rooms with Peloton bikes. In addition to the in-room equipment, amenities include a bottle of essential oils, workout towels, and special access to The Spa at ADERO’s relaxation room.
- Scottsdale Fashion Square is bringing back its popular sunset rooftop yoga sessions as part of a new “Monday Mixers” series. On the last Monday of each month, from now through Nov. 2023, a parking garage roof transforms into a captivating outdoor yoga studio with spectacular views of Camelback Mountain and magnificent sunsets that energize participants, while fostering connections between the mind, body, and soul.
ART + ATTRACTIONS
- Witness The Musical Instrument Museum’s exhibits come to life with diverse music and iconic musicians. Experience melodies of the Middle East (April 22 & 23), the Caribbean (May 13 & 14), and France (July 15 & 16), as well as celebrate the mother of American music, the Blues (June 10 & 11).
- Wonderspaces Arizona welcomes a new exhibit, “Gamelatron Gandaberunda” by Aaron Taylor Kuffner, on April 20. Designed after the Hindu two-headed mythical bird creature, the artwork features 36 mirror-polished, hand-forged bronze gongs, and two Balinese-style cymbal arrays called ceng-ceng, tuned to a non-standard 6-note scale.
- The Museum of Illusions – the latest addition to Arizona Boardwalk as of March – mystifies all who enter with more than 60 visual and educational displays. Holograms, stereograms, and optical illusions teach visitors about vision, perception and the human brain, and the science of how the eyes can trick the mind. Walk on walls in the Rotated Room, defy gravity in the Tilted Room, and appear to grow and shrink in the Ames Room.
- There is always a place to “par-tee” with Puttshack and Trevor’s Liquor opening locations in North Scottsdale. Puttshack is bringing a two-story entertainment space to Scottsdale Quarter featuring glow-in-the-dark mini golf courses with patented Trackaball™ technology that keeps score for guests, plus an innovative dining menu and full cocktail bar. Practice the perfect swing at the new Trevor’s Liquor, with golf simulators, among a wide selection of wine and beer, an artisanal pizza kitchen, and a full-service bar with expertly crafted cocktails.
- Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) presents its latest exhibit, “Language in Times of Miscommunication,” filled with artwork that uses various forms of language to critically examine the relationship between opinion, fact, and fiction, within the construct of collective reality.
- For the entire month of May, Wilde Meyer Gallery will present various works of art that capture the spring spirit of May, adding to its fine collection of contemporary and innovative paintings and sculptures. Media at the gallery includes paintings, bronzes, sculpture, glass and more.
SIP + SAVOR
- LDV Winery's Old Town Tasting Room debuted a Wine + Chocolate Tasting comprised of four house-made chocolates specifically designed to pair with the “Taste of LDV” flight. Pairings range from white chocolate peach essence with white wine, to rich dark chocolate with a bold red wine.
- STK Steakhouse has expanded its deluxe dining experience with the recent grand opening of the STK Rooftop. Located in the heart of downtown in the Scottsdale Waterfront district, the rooftop offers guests the opportunity to enjoy STK’s craveable menus for dinner and weekend brunch with incredible views of the Arizona Canal.
- Pour Decisions Patio and Kitchen opened in March and joined the Scottsdale nightlife scene with an outdoor patio and stage for live music, and an expansive rooftop with views of Camelback Mountain. Tailored to a more mature crowd with discerning tastes, the menu includes craft cocktails, elevated bar food, and even a dog menu for furry friends.
- Desert Ridge Marketplace is a one-stop shop for those with a sweet tooth. The newly added Dirty Dough offers super-stuffed, mouth-watering cookies and Yonutz Donuts will open its first-ever Arizona location this year, serving gourmet donuts filled with decadent ice cream.
WHAT’S NEXT
- The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie a 215-room, 20-acre new-build slated to open late 2023 – will have it all; exemplary service, views of Camelback Mountain, modern and sleek interiors, a 16,000-square-foot spa and a prime location.
- Slated to open in Feb. 2024, Caesars Entertainment Corporation will launch Caesars Republic Scottsdale, its first non-gaming hotel in the United States. The 11-story glass structure will house 265 rooms, a bar and coffee shop, two signature restaurants from Chef Giada De Laurentiis, a rooftop pool, and a fitness center.
For more Scottsdale travel news and story ideas, visit www.ScottsdalePressroom.com.
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Laura McMurchie, Vice President of Communications
480-429-2253, lmcmurchie@experiencescottsdale.com
Christina Dicksen, Director of Communications
480-889-2709, cdicksen@experiencescottsdale.com
Emily Lawrence, Senior Communications Manager
480-424-1958, elawrence@experiencescottsdale.com
Emily Holdaway, Communications Coordinator
480-424-1980, eholdaway@experiencescottsdale.com
