This past April, my mother and I took a trip with Visit Phoenix to Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Mesa Arizona. I personally had never been to the area, and had only stepped foot in Arizona twice before this trip. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I instantly fell in love! The food, the history, the culture is completely different from what I am accustomed to being from the East Coast, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Here are some of the things that we got into!
LODGING
During our trip we stayed at the beautiful Hotel Adeline within walking distance of Old Town Scottsdale. The location was perfect because we could walk to Old Town if we wanted but not be in the thick of it (it can get busy at night from what I understand). The hotel also has an outdoor pool with a poolside bar, a whiskey bar, and a restaurant. We had breakfast at the restaurant and I really enjoyed their breakfast fried rice!
ATTRACTIONS
Taliesin West: One of my favorite stops of the trip was our visit to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and desert laboratory built in 1937. Not only is Taliesin West a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark, but they were also hosting a Dale Chihuly exhibit! As a big fan of FLW and Chihuly, this visit was very special. If you’re planning a visit to the area, I suggest adding this to your list! Taliesin West is open 7 days a week and reservations are highly recommended.
Desert Botanical Garden: Taliesin West wasn’t the only place that had a Chihuly exhibit. The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix was also hosting “Chihuly in the Desert” and it was truly spectacular. I loved seeing how the Chihuly pieces worked with the beautiful desert landscape of the botanical garden. Exhibit aside, if you’re a fan of nature, desert landscapes, and botanical gardens, the Desert Botanical Garden needs to be on your list. Keep in mind that advanced tickets are currently required!
Heard Museum: the Heard Museum in Phoenix is a museum that is dedicated to the advancement of American Indian art and presents the stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective. It was one of my favorite places that we visited. The exhibits were truly beautiful and enlightening. The Heard is open from 10am-4pm and is easily accessible via the Valley Metro Light Rail.
Queen Creek Olive Mill: the Queen Creek Olive Mill is a family owned farm and mill and is the only working and operating olive mill in Arizona! You can take a tour and learn how they make Extra Virgin Olive Oil from blossom to bottle, as well as shop, dine, and enjoy a spa day! My mom and I took the tour and I learned SO much about olive oil including how it’s supposed to taste and how it’s supposed to be stored. Long story short, I’ve been wrong about Extra Virgin Olive Oil my entire life! Go for the educational tour, stay for the delicious food! I recommend getting a cup of gelato and trying it with a little splash of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The Olive Oil 101 Class is $7/person, free for 12 and under.
FOOD + BEVERAGE
Wine Girl Scottsdale: Before dinner on our first night we stopped at Wine Girl Scottsdale for a glass of wine and an appetizer. I had a “winetail” made with rosé, rose extract, and rose petals and we shared a mushroom flatbread. Both were great! This spot is perfect for girls’ night and is incredibly instagrammable!
CALA Scottsdale: After Wine Girl, we went to the brand new CALA. It’s a mediterranean-inspired restaurant with beautiful decor and ambiance. The flaming saganaki is a must-order, but we loved everything we had!
Lylo Swim Club: Located in the Rise Uptown Hotel, Lylo Swim Club is a Japanese-Hawaiian restaurant on a beautiful poolside patio. I don’t know about you, but I think food and drinks are best enjoyed outside so this place was perfect to me. Don’t skip out on the drinks (almost all can be made non-alcoholic) and definitely get the fries and the musubi!
Palma: This might be one of the coolest restaurants I’ve ever been to (and the food was fantastic!), and if you know me you know that’s saying a lot. Palma recently opened and features a menu of Asian-inspired dishes including sushi. My favorite dish was the popcorn chicken, which doesn’t sound special but it’s fried with the chicken skin still on so it’s crispy and juicy and just absolute perfection. Dine inside with a very cool desert projection that changes as the night progresses, or dine outside amongst palms and fire pits. For extra fun, make a reservation for pin bowling next door at Châm Pang Lanes or grab a tequila or mezcal night cap at Ghost Donkey.
Overall my trip to the Phoenix area was fantastic and it will not be my last time there! Keep in mind that in the Spring and Summer months it can get VERY warm (the high was around 97ºF every day that were there), so plan accordingly! I can’t wait to get back and visit, so comment below with places that I must visit next time!