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Three of my closest mates and I simply got here again from an unimaginable ladies’ journey in Scottsdale, Arizona. And we had a giant motive to have a good time — this yr, the 4 of us are all turning 40!
On this journey had been me, Beth, Lisa, and Jen, and the 4 of us have been finest mates for 25 years. (Jen is a pseudonym; she requested anonymity and I’m honoring her needs.)
We used to journey collectively quite a bit after we had been youthful! Montreal at 18, the place we tasted our first authorized alcohol. Vegas at 23, the place we took selfies with Ice-T and Coco. After transferring away, we’d go to one another for the weekend in DC, in New York, in faculty cities in Pennsylvania and upstate New York.
However as we received into our thirties, the journeys slowed to a cease. I’m positive a bunch of you’ll be able to relate to that. We had been busy with marriages, infants, jobs, and levels — quickly the closest factor we needed to a ladies’ journey was an in a single day keep for a mutual pal’s wedding ceremony.
However this time, we had been decided to make up for misplaced time, and plan the last word ladies’ journey in Scottsdale, Arizona. A visit with wonderful meals, pool time, wine tasting, tradition, and a lot bonding.
Our journey was SO good that you possibly can comply with the blueprint for it and be thrilled. So I made a decision to share our blueprint for you. Be at liberty to steal it to your personal journey!
This submit is delivered to you by Expertise Scottsdale. Many due to their unimaginable workforce for organizing a visit we’ll always remember!
This submit was revealed in July 2024, primarily based on a visit taken in June 2024.
Why We Selected Scottsdale
Why did we select Scottsdale for our fortieth birthday journey? We wished to go someplace reflecting the ladies we’ve now turn into.
What we wished, general, was VARIETY. A vacation spot that would provide tradition, rest time, nice meals, and nightlife. However not a spot overrun with twenty-somethings or hard-partiers.
Additionally on our listing: direct flights or driving distance from Boston, and respectable climate in late June.
After analysis, dialogue, and nameless voting, we narrowed it down to a few finalists: Scottsdale, Bermuda, and distantly behind the opposite two, Newport, Rhode Island.
We axed Newport for being too shut and “same-y” to our dwelling, the North Shore of Massachusetts, and commenced debating the deserves of Scottsdale vs. Bermuda.
Actually? Scottsdale supplied way more selection in issues to do, a totally totally different feel and appear than Massachusetts and was a lot extra fairly priced than costly Bermuda. Scottsdale it was!
Quickly afterward, I reached out to Expertise Scottsdale and pitched them a marketing campaign. They cherished the fortieth birthday thought — so we determined to work collectively!
Step One: Discover the Good Lodge
If you happen to’re round my age, you in all probability have recollections of cramming 4 individuals onto two queen-sized mattresses in a single room to maintain bills down. The 4 of us have accomplished that SO many instances through the years.
However on the cusp of 40, we wished one thing higher — a pleasant lodge that felt like a vacation spot itself, fairly than someplace simply to go out each night time.
In my analysis, I saved wanting on the Lodge Valley Ho, and in a beautiful coincidence, the lodge supplied to host the 4 of us on our journey. The Lodge Valley Ho is a mid-century fashionable marvel with a ton of historical past — and it’s additionally positioned a stone’s throw from Outdated City Scottsdale, making it a lot extra handy than the further-away motels.
And as an alternative of 4 individuals in a single room, we booked one of many Tower Suites and an adjoining Tower Room, splitting a king mattress and two queens between the 4 of us.
Now, in case you’re happening any form of ladies’ journey at this level in your life, I can’t advocate this setup sufficient. Simply having actual locations to take a seat that aren’t beds makes all of the distinction on the planet. And having a number of rooms makes it simpler to have one room be the sleeping room and one room be the hanging out room.
(Added plus: the kitchen sink was appreciated by our pal who was breast pumping and was glad she didn’t have to wash all her tools within the rest room sink.)
The Lodge Valley Ho additionally places on occasions for locals and guests, and we received to take pleasure in a Sip + Store Summer season Market Collection, a free occasion that includes numerous free samples of drinks to strive. Additionally there was Chef Peter McQuaid, current winner of Chopped, who served up probably the most scrumptious scallops!
Step Two: Make a Plan to Thrive within the Warmth
If you happen to’re visiting Scottsdale between spring and fall, you’ll be coping with warmth a minimum of a part of the time — however in case you go to in the summertime like we did, that you must be ready for very excessive temperatures, regardless that it’s a dry warmth.
Listed here are some methods to organize for and handle the summer season warmth in Scottsdale:
Perceive that you just gained’t have the ability to do as many out of doors actions in summer season. Scottsdale has SO many nice out of doors actions, however in the summertime, it is best to keep on with being exterior very early or late. DO NOT HIKE MID-DAY.
Make plans for the most popular time of day. what’s nice to do in Scottsdale when it’s actually scorching exterior? Museums. Spas. Eating places. And whereas they’re open air, pool events are nice when it’s scorching, too!
Deliver solar safety. I like to recommend a wide-brim hat and a few light-weight however lengthy sleeves — assume linen. And naturally, sunscreen and sun shades!
Take it simple. If you happen to’re a power speed-walker, SLOW DOWN within the Arizona summer season. You may’t stroll as quick as you often do when it’s over 100 levels exterior. Your physique will thanks. Even for us avid walkers, we didn’t need to stroll longer than three blocks or so through the day.
Deliver a reusable water bottle and make the most of water dispensers. They’re EVERYWHERE in Scottsdale, and I cherished that! Particularly after they had spa water with fruit inside it, like within the Lodge Valley Ho foyer.
Know that visiting in summer season has main benefits! Summer season is off-season in Scottsdale, and you’ll take pleasure in low lodge charges, no massive crowds anyplace, having the ability to get into eating places with out a reservation, and many particular packages and offers at motels, eating places, spas, you identify it.
Step Three: Head Out to the Desert!
One motive why my mates and I selected Scottsdale is that the setting is so totally different from Massachusetts, the place we’re from. We had been more than pleased to commerce fishing villages for desert landscapes with tall cacti!
And a terrific place to benefit from the desert is the Desert Botanical Backyard, proper between Scottsdale and Phoenix. There are strolling trails educating you about totally different sorts of vegetation, all set in opposition to mountain views, together with a cactus backyard and a succulent backyard (sure, they’re very various things).
Whereas I hit up this backyard earlier than the opposite ladies arrived, I actually cherished strolling these trails.
Tip: If you happen to’re visiting in the summertime, like me, stroll a path or two, then go to the restaurant, Gertrude’s, to chill down with a berry lemonade earlier than heading again out once more.
Step 4: Banter with Your Uber Drivers
After I requested my mates what they wished me to incorporate on this submit, one factor was clear — “WRITE ABOUT THE UBER DRIVERS!” Scottsdale is a pleasant metropolis, and we had enjoyable with so a lot of our Uber drivers!
Every drive would begin with the identical query: “Bachelorette celebration?” “Nope.” After which we’d inform them about our journey and ask about them. Nearly all of them got here to Scottsdale from someplace else.
There was the younger man barely out of his teenagers who beneficial the cinnamon bun pancakes on the Every day Dose, as a result of “They’re my mother’s favourite.” The twenty-something man who beneficial karaoke at Ernie’s for a extremely native night time out.
However our favourite was our Armenian driver from Lebanon, who heard we had been all turning 40, laughed like The Depend, and roared, “Over the hiiiiiiill! Oh noooooo!” We couldn’t cease laughing!
Step 5: Grow to be A part of the Artwork
One of many highlights of our journey was Wonderspaces — an artwork expertise that believes artwork is for everybody. You enter the venue, get a drink in case you’d like, and also you get to wander the wacky, great, and interactive works, which change ceaselessly.
In a single room, we walked by way of an iridescent tunnel main to photographs of the Grand Canyon, Arizona reflecting round us in each course.
In one other, we posed for a digicam in entrance of flipping metallic disks, which become our portraits.
And in one more, we sat on bean bag chairs in a darkish room, watching colourful lights make patterns throughout the ceiling — and practically fell asleep. (We came upon afterward that fairly a number of individuals have fallen asleep right here!)
Wonderspaces was one among our favourite issues we did in Scottsdale — I extremely advocate dropping by! In addition they have exhibits in Austin and Philadelphia.
And in case you’re inquisitive about extra artwork, ensure you drop by the Scottsdale Museum of Modern Artwork (SMoCA). It’s proper in Outdated City Scottsdale, and once I visited I received to see an exquisite exhibition of native legend Dorothy Fratt, an artist I knew nothing about.
Step 6: Eat Your Means Via Scottsdale
Scottsdale’s eating scene is likely one of the issues I used to be wanting ahead to probably the most — and BOY, did we eat properly.
Right here had been our three favourite eating places in Scottsdale, and what to get:
Citizen Public Home: This upscale restaurant and native favourite serves New American delicacies in a refined-but-fun environment. The menu had so many choices that the 4 of us ended up splitting two apps, two salads, two mains, and two desserts.
What to get: The chopped salad is so well-known that everybody in Scottsdale mentioned we needed to strive it — and so they had been proper! We additionally cherished the popcorn cooked in bacon fats (WHAT AN IDEA!), the ocean scallops with bacon over grits, and the guajillo roasted rooster.
The Mission: This Latin restaurant in Outdated City Scottsdale serves the most effective guacamole I’ve EVER had, full cease. It’s THAT good. That mentioned, the restaurant is kind of loud and fairly darkish, which, being on the sting of 40, we’re beginning to notice may not be for us!
What to get: I might have been completely satisfied as a clam simply ordering guacamole and margaritas all night time, and we practically needed to bodily restrain ourselves from ordering a 3rd. However the skirt steak tacos and the grilled road corn had been additionally fabulous.
ZuZu: This restaurant is contained in the Lodge Valley Ho and serves quite a lot of American delicacies, together with big milkshakes. In addition they have superior prix fixe specials in case you go to in the summertime.
What to get: I used to be blown away by the cauliflower app with fromage blanc, capers, pickled onions, Calabrian chiles, cashews, Thai basil, and shallots. Different highlights had been the creamed corn with inexperienced chile (a should for a facet dish!). And for dessert, the brookie (half-cookie half-brownie), freshly baked and topped with ice cream, was ASTOUNDINGLY DECADENT. That brookie haunts my goals!
Different Scottsdale eating places we loved:
- Hula’s Fashionable Tiki: Hawaiian delicacies and tiki drinks! Get the crispy coconut shrimp rolls.
- The Herb Field: Inventive wholesome delicacies. Get the Korean fried cauliflower.
- Hash Kitchen (see extra on them under): Brunch with a DJ and sky-high Bloody Marys! Get the chile relleno hash.
- Every day Dose Kitchen and Bar: Yummy meals in an off-the-cuff setting. Get the cinnamon roll pancakes.
Ideas on Scottsdale eating: We actually loved our eating experiences general. However we did discover a number of issues: a number of locations in Scottsdale add bacon to all the pieces, particularly seafood dishes, which we discovered a bit stunning.
If you happen to don’t eat pork, you may need to double-check that your dish doesn’t comprise any earlier than ordering.
And I discovered that the meals wasn’t practically as spicy as I anticipated — I needed to maintain including an increasing number of scorching sauce to my dishes, regardless that I don’t love THAT spicy meals!
Although maybe that is true among the many upscale eating places that concentrate on vacationers. Perhaps at an inexpensive and native Mexican spot I may have eaten a burrito that may have blown my face off. (My pal Alex, an Arizona native, recommends the native chain Filiberto’s for fast and spicy Mexican. Subsequent time!)
A fast notice on gluten-free Scottsdale: One of many ladies is gluten-free, so we received an opportunity to see how Scottsdale handles gluten. Some eating places had been wonderful, with in depth gluten-free menu choices and educated servers; others had few menu choices and clueless servers.
If you happen to’re gluten-free, I discovered that The Herb Field, The Mission, Citizen Public Home, and Every day Dose Kitchen and Bar every had diversified gluten-free choices, clearly labeled menus, and servers who knew about cross-contact and the best way to modify dishes.
And whereas the gluten-eaters cherished it, I might advocate gluten-free of us skip Hash Kitchen.
Step 7: Benefit from the Good Pool Get together for Millennials
I knew I wished us to hit up a pool celebration in Scottsdale — however I had no concept that absolutely the good pool celebration for elder millennials was going down at our lodge, the Lodge Valley Ho!
What made this pool celebration so good? The truth that everybody was of their 30s and 40s, and the DJ’s playlist was principally late 90s and early 2000s hip-hop. OUR MUSIC.
(And sure, the DJ additionally instantly performed our favourite Juvenile tune instantly after we requested it.)
As a lot as we cherished dancing within the pool to Dre and Snoop whereas sipping on frosé in our massive floppy hats, it was ALSO good to not be surrounded by 22-year-olds. We had been with our age group, and that felt so good.
Additionally amusing: after the pool, Lisa, Beth and I headed again as much as the elevator and it opened to a few women of their 70s, wearing “It’s At all times Sunny in Scottsdale” t-shirts, sipping champagne, and grinning mischievously. It was like seeing our future!
If you happen to’re staying on the lodge, you get into the pool celebration free of charge; in case you’re not a visitor, you’ll be able to pay for a day go. Cabanas and day beds can be found for hire.
Step 8: Style the Wines of Scottsdale
Do you know that Scottsdale makes their very own wines? You may hit up the Scottsdale Wine Path, which covers seven totally different wineries inside strolling distance of one another in Outdated City Scottsdale.
We’d in all probability have keeled over if we had hit up all seven (!), however we did hit up two nice wineries — Carlson Creek and Aridus.
We had a blast at each wineries, and every is dwelling to heat, pleasant workers who will train you concerning the native wines as they pour your glasses. You may go to both place and have a good time (although I like to recommend you make a reservation).
If you happen to’re a wine aficionado, although, I feel Aridus is the higher alternative — I discovered the wines right here to be actually attention-grabbing and filled with surprises, and the expertise felt extra subtle.
We additionally made a go to to Wine Woman Scottsdale, which isn’t a vineyard, however extra of an Instagrammable wine bar. If you need cute images out of your ladies’ journey, it is a good place to go. They even serve glittery “Barbie pictures” which might be a secret merchandise on the menu!
Step 9: Take a Self-Driving Automobile!
For probably the most half, we took Uber to get round Scottsdale. Whereas the Lodge Valley Ho is in strolling distance of Outdated City Scottsdale, it was so scorching in the summertime months that it was way more nice to simply get a fast Uber.
Then we received a really sudden pop-up whereas hailing an Uber: “Would you wish to strive a self-driving automobile?”
WHAT?!?!
Seems Waymo, a self-driving automotive firm, has automobiles in operation in Scottsdale! You may hail them immediately on the Waymo app, although they generally pop up as an possibility on the Uber app. (And it value the identical as an UberX, minus the tip.) Positive, we’d strive it.
Guys. We SQUEALED the entire approach! It was so trippy!
From the second the Waymo drove up with my initials on its roof (!!), to the drive the place Jen tried to have a dialog with the nonexistent driver (“So, the place’re you from?…Received any eating suggestions?”), to waving goodbye to it with real nostalgia because it drove off to its subsequent journey, we cherished each minute of it.
So in case you’re as much as see what self-driving automobiles are REALLY like…Scottsdale is an effective place to strive it out. A fast five-minute drive round Outdated City Scottsdale is a low-stakes journey.
Step 10: Plan Your Large Evening Out
Again after we had been in our twenties, the 4 of us would commonly shut Vegas golf equipment at 4 AM — after which hit up the after-hours membership till 6 AM. Yeah, on the age of turning 40, that’s not taking place.
Fortunately, Scottsdale has loads of choices for elder millennials who need to have enjoyable however don’t need to be partying till daybreak.
We began by getting hair blowouts at Primp and Blow, which is likely one of the few blow-dry spots in Scottsdale open previous 5:00 PM.
If you need some native coloration, The Rusty Spur is a enjoyable bar coated in greenback payments and that includes stay music. I really visited each round noontime and on a Saturday night time, and most well-liked the extra low-key daytime environment.
Porter’s Western Saloon is unmissable, with its cow on the balcony — and upstairs they’ve a shark bait bar, full with inflatable sharks and bloody limbs!
The Grapevine is a legendary karaoke venue in Outdated City Scottsdale, the place individuals apparently get REALLY aggressive. Saturday night time was super-busy, however I might return within the afternoon for a extra low-key expertise.
Now, if you’d like one thing REALLY native, head as much as Ernie’s Inn. This was a advice of our Uber driver — an excellent native sports activities bar that has karaoke on one facet, seven nights per week! And nearly each tune was nation!
Step 11: Witness a Frank Lloyd Wright Masterpiece
Scottsdale is dwelling to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter dwelling and studio, which occurs to be a UNESCO World Heritage Website. If you happen to’re inquisitive about design or structure, or simply wished to see one thing lovely, it is best to prioritize visiting right here.
Taliesin West is a superb instance of natural structure, constructed thoughtfully inside the desert panorama, utilizing design to information mild and warmth and wind inside the constructing.
All of us did the audio tour, strolling at leisure with our AirPods on, and we later agreed that one of many advantages of audio excursions is that you just don’t have to continuously nod and make eye contact with the information, exhibiting them you perceive.
Tip: Obtain the Taliesin West app earlier than you arrive, however it is best to ALSO obtain the tour inside the app earlier than you arrive. Telephone sign isn’t the strongest right here, and it took me a couple of minutes to obtain.
My favourite truth from the tour: Frank Lloyd Wright was born two years after the Civil Conflict ended and died two years after the Sputnik launch. Are you able to think about the adjustments in know-how he witnessed over his lifetime?!
Step 12: Construct a Bloody Mary the Dimension of Saskatchewan
After Taliesin West, we headed for breakfast at Hash Kitchen — which was so enjoyable and zany, it deserves its personal part. This restaurant has a number of areas all through Scottsdale.
This can be a restaurant that focuses on brunch — with an precise BRUNCH DJ. Sure, it’s 10:00 AM and the DJ is standing up there, spinning hip-hop prefer it’s probably the most regular factor on the planet.
That and there’s a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar — nevertheless it’s taken to an excessive degree. (A Wisconsin degree, if you’ll.) You may customise your Bloody Mary one million alternative ways, and high it with every kind of pickled greens, cheeses, meats, even jalapeño poppers!
We cherished this place as a result of it felt like a celebration — positively for a brunch worthy of a ladies’ journey! They concentrate on totally different sorts of breakfast hash, and my chile relleno hash is likely one of the finest issues I ate in Scottsdale. I solely want we had room for the cannoli donuts.
Nevertheless, as I discussed earlier, I don’t assume it is a great spot for gluten-free of us, as all the pieces is fried in the identical fryer, and the gluten-free menu choices are restricted.
Step 13: Chill Out with a Therapeutic massage
Scottsdale is legendary for its spas and rest — a lot that some individuals affiliate individuals ONLY with spas and rest. And golf.
By now, in case you’ve made it this far, you understand the town is a lot greater than that. That mentioned, we DID need to get some spa therapies, and we received some massages on the spa on the Lodge Valley Ho.
Due to it being summer season, the season of offers in Scottsdale, we received to take pleasure in Self-Care Sunday Remedies, which added on a bonus remedy to a therapeutic massage.
Whereas we loved our therapies (and multiple of us might have fallen asleep through the post-massage foot reflexology remedy), it’s not the form of spa which you could hang around at with numerous swimming pools, hammams, that form of factor.
However in case you’re on the lookout for that, you could find it in loads of day spas all around the metropolis.
Step 14: Discover Souvenirs You’ll Really Cherish
In my early backpacking days, I threw each cent I had into my journey fund and didn’t spend a lot on souvenirs (apart from the occasional low cost Southeast Asian beer model t-shirt). For years, my images had been my souvenirs, and I used to be so pleased with that.
However now that I’m approaching 40 and I’ve a house, I like to select one thing good that I’ll really use in my day-to-day life. Usually jewellery, or a print by an area artist. And BOY does Scottsdale have a very good place for that.
The Merchantile of Scottsdale is a market in the course of Outdated City Scottsdale that includes handmade works by 170 Scottsdale-area artisans. It’s like Etsy come to life.
I wished to purchase all the pieces on this retailer — a lot cute jewellery, garments, and homewares! I ended up shopping for a cute little coin purse with “Good Vibes” beaded throughout it.
And do you want a present to your children? Two of my mates have younger children, so we headed over to Outdated City Sweet and Toys to get them some items. This can be a nice little toy retailer with loads of Arizona-y items! They received them some little plush cacti, which the children cherished.
And in case you’re visiting Taliesin West, their reward store is OUTSTANDING. It’s stuffed with every kind of recent design items that can look so lovely in your house! Undoubtedly ensure you have time to browse the wares right here. I received a number of tea towels right here.
Step 15: Take pleasure in an Outdated-Timey Cocktail Bar
I all the time love a cocktail bar with attention-grabbing, well-crafted cocktails, in addition to a totally-themed-out cocktail bar. It’s uncommon for a spot to do each properly — which is why I so appreciated Platform 18 at Century Grand in Phoenix, simply down the highway from Scottsdale.
The theme of this place? It’s an old-timey prepare automotive from 1924! No element goes neglected, from the artwork deco lamps on the tables to blue brocade curtains to the screens exhibiting you journey by the New York skyline within the Nineteen Twenties.
Now THIS is the place to save lots of to your remaining night time in Scottsdale! I’m glad the 4 of us dressed up, as a result of it made our images so significantly better! And we received to spend our remaining night time in Scottsdale reminiscing concerning the good instances we had on our journey.
Beth really received a cocktail with a bit of parmigiano reggiano perched on high — you had been imagined to nibble it in between sips, and the flavors balanced completely! I received a Negroni with a bit of chocolate on high that, once more, was simply good.
We additionally checked out the bar subsequent door, Undertow, which is themed like being on a decrease deck on an historic ship. I’d love to return to present that one the eye it deserves. One other bar inside is Gray Hen Rx, which evokes a misty night in New Orleans.
Costs are on the upper finish right here (round $18-28 per cocktail, most round $20), and I feel it’s completely price it. In addition they have beer, wine, and a small collection of non-alcoholic cocktails. They’ve restricted snacks, however make boozy chocolate truffles.
Step 16: Do One thing Cool on the Strategy to the Airport
After we checked out of the Lodge Valley Ho the following morning, we had a number of hours to do one thing cool earlier than heading to the airport. We determined to go to the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix.
What an unimaginable museum! We first walked into the Artist Gallery, that includes well-known musicians’ devices and memorabilia — like Prince’s purple piano, Ravi Shankar’s sitar, and Taylor Swift’s guitar.
Much more attention-grabbing had been the Geographic Galleries upstairs, which had shows from EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Sure, full shows from Kosovo, Comoros, Kurdistan, you identify it. (Although Brunei, my least favourite nation, solely had a single drum, which form of made me snicker.)
And the way did we hear all of the music? We received headsets when strolling in, and each time we had been standing in entrance of an exhibit, they’d play the music.
We completely LOVED this museum and will have stayed there all day, studying about music from all around the world, dancing in place. It actually is a gem in Arizona.
So in case you want one thing to do between Scottsdale and the airport — this is a superb alternative. And the workers are completely satisfied to retailer your baggage.
Wanting Again General
Now that I’ve had practically a month to course of this journey, I’m so glad we selected to go to Scottsdale. It actually was the right option to have a good time our fortieth birthdays.
I cherished how our ladies journey wasn’t as wild as our journeys in our twenties, nor was it overly lazy. Lots of people assume ladies’ journeys are both a celebration weekend or a spa weekend — not true in any respect!
However this goes to point out you’ll be able to convey your ladies collectively, discover an attention-grabbing metropolis in depth, eat wonderful meals, get round simply, and never want a trip after your trip!
And let me add another factor — lots of people thought we had been nuts for going to Scottsdale in the summertime (together with just about all of our Uber drivers), however we actually cherished Scottsdale in the summertime! The shortage of crowds and particular offers made it really feel like we had found a secret, and the warmth wasn’t that unhealthy!
Scottsdale was a blast, and I might return anytime. I’d even repeat this itinerary once more! I hope this helps you propose your personal dream Scottsdale journey. Even in case you’re not turning 40.
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