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The best place to be in the summer is by the water – that’s no secret. The question is, what type of splash do you want to make? A lazy ripple in the resort pool, an arcing wave with your kayak paddle, or a canon-ball plunge at the end of a curvy waterslide? Grab your sunscreen and check out these wet and wild adventures.
Nothing says wet-and-wild thrills like waterslides and you’ll find two towers of fun at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’ Sonoran Splash recreation area. This 6,000-square-foot water park boasts two of the state’s longest waterslides.
Combine two of your favorite things – movies and swimming – with summertime dive-in movies! Among the resorts offering these poolside family-friendly flicks for guests are The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch and Westin Kierland Resort & Spa.
The lower Salt River just east of Scottsdale is ideal for calm-water rafting, SUPing, kayaking and tubing. As you float along beneath towering sandstone cliffs, keep your eyes on the lush shoreline for wild horses, javelina and other desert wildlife.
Is floating along a river right outside your hotel room more your style? Grab an inner tube and take a ride down the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa’s 900-foot Lazy River. The resort’s water park also includes a 110-foot-long waterslide, children’s play area and Flowrider surfing simulator.
With upscale retailers, fabulous restaurants and lush outdoor areas, Scottsdale Quarter is a great shopping destination year-round. But in the summertime, the cool pop-jet fountains make a splash with kids of all ages.
DJ-spun music, specialty cocktails and a see-and-be-seen vibe are the hallmarks of a Scottsdale resort pool party. Three resorts known for their hot summer gatherings include downtown’s trendy Hotel Valley Ho and W Scottsdale Hotel, as well as the nearby Talking Stick Resort.
Relax with a dip at one of Scottsdale’s resort spas. Many of these award-winning dens of Zen offer water-based treatments and amenities like the Watsu Aquatic Massage at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa, Hammam Bathing Ritual at the Omni Scottsdale Resort’s Joya Spa, and Celtic Mineral Pool at Spa Avania at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa.