Welcome to the second post in the ‘Where Bloggers Live’ series where a group of bloggers (linked below) show their homes, towns, states, and regions! Last month, I shared photos of Rocky Mountain National Park (an hour from my northern Colorado home) in all its fall glory. This month I’m sharing a travel guide to Scottsdale, where my husband and I have an apartment, and where I spend quite a bit of time. In this guide, I’m giving my recommendations for where to stay, what to do, and where to eat.

As cold weather starts to descend upon many regions, you might already be thinking about a winter getaway, and if you haven’t visited Scottsdale, you should! Not only is it sunny and warm year round, but it’s a destination where you’ll find history, art, food, shopping, and outdoor adventures, not to mention a very cool vibe.

Let’s go!

 

Where to stay

Hermosa Inn

The Hermosa Inn (pictured above) is a luxury boutique hotel located in Paradise Valley, a 10-minute drive from Scottsdale. See my in-depth blog post on the Hermosa Inn HERE.

Hotel Valley Ho

Located in historic Old Town Scottsdale and within walking distance of shops, restaurants, art galleries, and wineries, this celebrated hotel was once the place where Hollywood celebrities found their escape. With its mid-century modern architecture and ultra cool atmosphere, the Hotel Valley Ho is a historically hip place like none other.

Royal Palms Hotel

Once the winter haven of a wealthy New York couple, this Arizona landmark is a luxurious, historic, estate-style hotel with stunning grounds and beautiful mountain views.

Bespoke Inn

In the heart of Old Town Scottsdale’s Art District, this award-winning luxury Bed & Breakfast has just eight rooms and an intimate setting. They are currently offering a holiday special of 25% off any stay until December 30th, 2019.

 

What to do

 

Explore Old Town

Day or night, there’s always something to do in Old Town Scottsdale! From browsing the Fifth Avenue shops, taking a Segway tour, bicycling along the Arizona Canal, or dining on one of the many restaurant patios, you’ll run out of time before you run out of activities.

Take a Food Tour

What better way to get a taste of Arizona than to take a food tour? For about $65, give or take, you’ll visit five restaurants, enjoy a variety of food and cocktails, hear stories from owners and chefs, and get in a few thousand steps along the way! Check out these food tour operators: Arizona Food Tours and Taste it Tours.

Tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West

Taliesin West is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, National Historic Landmark, and home to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the School of Architecture at Taliesin. Even if you don’t know much about architecture, you’ll be fascinated to learn how much Lloyd Wright forever changed the way we build and live. Reservations strongly suggested.

Don’t Miss the Desert Botanical Gardens

When you visit, you’ll see why the Travel Channel named this one of the top botanical gardens in the United States. With more than 50,000 desert plants on display, the DBG in Phoenix is a must see!

Go Shopping

There’s no shortage of shopping in the area! Here’s a quick rundown:

Find boutiques, souvenir and western shops, native American jewelry stores, and more in the 5th Avenue District.

Scottsdale Fashion Square is where you’ll find everything from affordable retailers, like Zara and H&M, to luxury brands, like Gucci, Burberry and Louis Vuitton, to large department stores and everything in between.

With its beautiful park-like setting, Biltmore Fashion Park in adjacent Phoenix is home to several high-end retailers, furniture stores, and restaurants.

A little more north, Scottsdale Quarter (pictured) is where you can shop, eat, and play! This open-air center encompassing several blocks has something for everyone, including a water play area for the kids or grandkids. Just across Scottsdale Blvd. is Kierland Commons, another outdoor shopping area worth visiting.

 

Where to eat

Scottsdale is a foodie’s dream destination with a plethora of excellent restaurants! You’ll always get different recommendation from everyone, so these are a few restaurants we keep going back to.

True Food Kitchen

Founded by renowned physician, Dr. Andrew Weil, True Food Kitchen’s philosophy is, “A place where delicious dining and conscious nutrition go hand in hand—and where eating well can be the foundation for a life well lived.” Healthy eating never tasted so good!

LON’s

If you’re looking for an intimate, special, or romantic dining experience, look no further than LON’s. Located at the Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley, LON’s has one of the most idyllic patio settings you’ll encounter.

Ocean 44

Ocean 44 brings an energetic and vibrant atmosphere to the Scottsdale dining scene with its contemporary and creative decor while serving the highest-grade seafood and steaks available.

Chelsea’s Kitchen

Chelsea’s has the entire package… charming atmosphere, excellent food, and exceptional service. One of our favorites, Chelsea’s Kitchen is just 10 minutes from downtown Scottsdale. Be sure to ask to be seated in Kimberly’s section!

Olive & Ivy

Olive & Ivy is ideally situated on the Scottsdale Waterfront in downtown. Enjoy Mediterranean fare with a contemporary vibe on their tree-shaded, waterfront patio, and be sure to order a Bellini!

 

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xx, Lisa

P.S. Here’s the link to my September/October Recap.

Thanks for reading, and make sure you visit these other bloggers to see what they’re sharing on where they live!

Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Julia at When the Girls Rule

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