SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (PRWEB)
January 21, 2022
New year, new travel plans? With hot hotels, a packed calendar of events, spring training baseball and perfect weather in the Sonoran Desert, there’s no shortage of reasons to plan a visit this spring. It’s time to ditch the winter blues and follow the sunshine to Scottsdale.
RESORT AND SPA SHOVEL
THE BIG NEWS: Senna House, Arizona’s first purpose-built soft-branded hotel, opened to the public on December 15 and features six floors, 169 guest rooms, an expansive Sonora Swim Club overlooking Camelback Road and prime views of the Mountain surroundings of the valley and old town of Scottsdale. The hotel’s name comes from the Senna flower of the Sonoran Desert and is representative of the property’s desert-modern design. Built on the historic property that once housed the popular Don & Charlie’s restaurant, Senna House, A Curio Collection by Hilton, was brought to life by Opwest Partners and Argosy Real Estate Partners and is the first hotel since W Scottsdale to open in Scottsdale’s entertainment district opened in 2008.
THREE MORE UPDATES:
- On December 27, Choice Hotels announced the opening of the 108-room Comfort Suites at Talking Stick, just steps away from Salt River Fields, home of spring training for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks, and adjacent to numerous attractions such as the OdySea Aquarium, TopGolf and PopStroke, Tiger Woods’ new 36-hole putting facility.
- Stay busy and learn a new skill at Boulders Resort & Spa with new Golf Academy courses, four new pickleball courts at the Tennis Gardens and culinary adventures like a four-course wine dinner or a Herradura tequila dinner. Travelers can also reconnect with nature at the resort’s 1,300-acre grounds, which are great for hiking, stargazing, and more.
- Gurney’s Resorts recently acquired the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley. The property will remain fully operational as Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, a Gurney’s Resort & Spa, through a major renovation and property-wide renovations beginning this summer. Known for its prime locations in desirable resort towns, Gurney’s debut in the Scottsdale market highlights the development of the region’s thriving hospitality sector and further cements its appeal as a domestic oasis. Sanctuary currently offers a 12,000 square foot spa, fitness center, hiking trails, swimming pools, tennis courts, 109 casitas and suites and eight private hillside villas.
EVENTS + SIGHTS
THE BIG NEWS: Scottsdale will soon be a “field of dreams” for baseball fans as Cactus League spring training returns Feb. 26-March 29. The San Francisco Giants call Scottsdale Stadium in Old Town their home base, while the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks take the field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Not to mention, travelers can find a dozen other teams within a 30-minute drive of Scottsdale, including the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers, competing in stadiums in the Valley of the Sun.
SEVEN MORE TO SEE + DO:
- Feb 2 – Mar 31: Coinciding with Spring Training, The Gallery at Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale is hosting a new exhibition, Abstract Athlete. All of the works on display are on loan from The Abstract Athlete, founded by Virginia Commonwealth Professor Ron Johnson and industrial designer Chris Clemmer to represent former artists and elite athletes as well as military veterans.
- February 5: Led by the Scottsdale Charros – Scottsdale’s Goodwill Ambassadors – the 68th annual Scottsdale Parada del Sol Historic Parade and Trail’s End Festival will revitalize the streets of Old Town Scottsdale. Combining a traditional parade with family-friendly activities, Parada del Sol honors Scottsdale’s western roots and vibrant cultures and has been an important part of the city’s heritage for nearly 70 years.
- February 5-6: The Arizona American Indian Tourism Association (AAITA), in partnership with Arizona Indian Tribes and the City of Scottsdale’s Western Week, hosts their annual, free Arizona Indian Festival in Old Town Scottsdale featuring arts, food, dance and the all inclusive the popular Arizona Native Edible Desert Experience. This curated evening brings together Native American chefs working with ancestral ingredients in contemporary dishes, as well as contemporary artists and Native American traditionalists showcasing both art and food practices.
- Through February 21: Visitors can step back in time with Lincoln: Assassination and Honor, a new exhibit on the Arizona Boardwalk. The exhibit features a collection of authentic, verified artifacts relating to the life and death of President Abraham Lincoln, including one of the two derringer weapons carried by his assassin, John Wilkes Booth.
- Through June 19: Experience “Chihuly in the Desert” at the Desert Botanical Garden and Taliesin West, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taking place in two iconic Arizona locations, this stunning, large-scale exhibition by Dale Chihuly showcases the American glass sculptor’s masterpieces, which draw on color and light from the surrounding desert.
- Wandering Heart Adventures is making it easy to explore the wonders of Arizona this spring with six different day tours departing from Scottsdale daily – from Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend to Sedona, the Grand Canyon and beyond.
- Travelers seeking romance can live out their Hallmark movie dreams on a sunset hot air balloon flight with Rainbow Ryders – available now through mid-March – by booking the new suggestion picnic package, created in partnership with Rust + Honey. After flying over the majestic Sonoran Desert and Lake Pleasant, couples can enjoy a picnic lunch along with charcuterie and champagne to celebrate the engagement.
FOOD SCENE
- Later this month, Clive Collective, a Scottsdale-based restaurant group, will open Cala at Senna House. Cala offers a Mediterranean escape, serving farm-fresh coastal cuisine inspired by the flavors of Greece, Spain, Italy and Morocco. Internationally renowned chef and Food Network personality Beau MacMillan serves as culinary director.
- The California-based Mexican bistro Mama por Díos is opening soon in Scottsdale. This 9,200 square foot facility will highlight the best of Mexico through its flavors, aromas, colors, traditions and art.
- Coming to the Scottsdale Waterfront is Buzzed Bull Creamery, an alcoholic and non-alcoholic frozen dessert concept that is the first in the US to infuse alcohol into ice cream using liquid nitrogen for a “mad scientist experiment” effect.
EXCEPTIONAL SCOTTSDALE
THE BIG NEWS: In late 2021, several Scottsdale businesses launched new, interactive experiences that invite visitors to not just shop, watch, sip or eat, but to immerse themselves in all that this city and its myriad different businesses and attractions has to offer. Find these 11 innovative, expertly curated unforgettable experiences for tourists and residents at ExceptionallyScottsdale.com.
THREE EXCEPTIONAL SCOTTSDALE ACTIVITIES:
- Experience the perfect pairing of Carlson Creeks Arizona wine and local artisan cheeses, prepared by the winemaker and winery founder, with The Perfect Pairing, a fun and accessible class for wine tasters of all levels.
- At French Designer Jeweler, visitors can discover all things sparkling with From Gemstone to Studio: The Art Of Designer Jewelry. Learn how gemstones inspire artists to create one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry as French Thompson, working goldsmith and owner of this one-of-a-kind gallery in Old Town Scottsdale, reveals the intricacies, techniques and styles of his curated collection of 15 studio jewelers at the the whole world.
- Be the Maker at The Merchantile invites guests to unleash their creativity with a workshop experience. First, browse the work of over 100 Arizona artisans before painting a desert-inspired masterpiece to take home.
WHAT’S NEXT
- The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley — a 50-acre, 215-room new build slated to open later this year — will have it all; exemplary service, views of Camelback Mountain, modern and elegant interiors, a 16,000 square foot spa and a prime location.
- In 2023, Caesars Entertainment Corporation will open Caesars Republic Scottsdale, its first non-gaming hotel in the United States. The 11-story glass building will house 256 rooms, a bar and coffee shop, two signature restaurants by chef Giada De Laurentiis, a rooftop pool and a fitness center.
- Accor, in partnership with Dakota Development and DESCO Arizona, will open the SLS Scottsdale in June 2023 with 235 hotel rooms (30 luxury suites), two floors of entertainment space, and on-site restaurants and a bar.
- Macerich, one of the nation’s leading owners, operators and developers of unique retail and mixed-use properties in top markets, and Life Time, the country’s leading healthy living brand, recently announced plans for a new luxury sports resort at Scottsdale Fashion Square. The three-story, 40,000-square-foot Life Time will open in 2023 adjacent to the mall’s Luxury Wing entrance, a dedicated luxury enclave that will feature Arizona’s only Dior, St. Laurent, Nobu, Bottega Veneta, Jimmy Choo and a plethora of others exclusive global brands.
For more Scottsdale travel news and story ideas, visit http://www.scottsdalepressroom.com.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
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, communications manager
480-424-1958, elawrence@experiencescottsdale.com
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