Let the teenagers and the 20-somethings crowd the beaches. I’ll take the best-kept secret of the Southwest any day. Plan your next girls getaway in Scottsdale’s Paradise Valley for guaranteed perfect pool weather, gorgeous setting and sunsets, delicious foodie hot spots, luxe shopping and luxury accommodations. There is literally nothing better than stealing away with a good girlfriend for a long weekend of morning hikes, poolside drinks, fireside heart to hearts, spa days and, of course, a little shopping. Sounds dreamy right?! Well, my best friend and I headed to Scottsdale’s paradise valley for a weekend girls getaway, and I am sharing all the details with you, so you can do the same!
Scottsdale was the perfect venue for two friends to meet in the middle – one coming from California and the other from Colorado. A quick flight into the delightfully easy Phoenix airport, a 20 minute drive and we arrived in paradise. Between the infamous Camelback Mountain and its lesser known neighbor, Mummy Mountain, lies the gorgeous JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa. An immaculate property designed to highlight the beauty of the Sonaran Desert with sprawling casitas and suites for ultimate comfort and privacy. We were immediately greeted by John at the bell desk who was kind enough to give us a golf cart tour of the entire property. We could see there was something for everyone. A gorgeous golf course, a family friendly pool, playground and nearby hiking trails. A full gym, Peloton bikes and all, and a gorgeous lawn and garden perfect for guided meditation and yoga offered daily. The Spa at Camelback Inn is set at the top of the property for maximum serenity with its beautiful adult only pool nestled at the base of Mummy Mountain.
There is even a super fun old west setting for cookouts or barbecues which I could see being a fantastic venue for corporate team building events, wedding rehearsal dinners, etc. shopping in the country at Scottsdale’s Fashion Square. After a full day of successful shopping, we returned to the oasis of the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa for some much needed R&R. We had to hit up Scottsdale’s old town district at least once during our visit so we headed out to the delicious Mission Old Town for dinner. After a great first day and a few Cucumber Jalapeño Margaritas we were ready to get a good night’s sleep.
We awoke on day 2 to perfect temperature of around 75, ideal for some light hiking through the nearby neighborhood of beautiful Paradise Valley homes. After a little movement of our bodies and a delicious breakfast at Rita’s Cantina, we were ready for luxurious massage at The Spa at Camelback Inn followed by a full day of lounging by the beautiful Spa pool. The service by the pool was phenomenal and included cocktail and cabana service and delicious and healthy fare from Sprouts at The Spa at Camelback Inn. It was truly a perfect day. Only one thing could have made it better and that was a spectacular sunset dinner at Lincoln Steakhouse & Bar where we absolutely indulged in the most delicious meal. From the Lobster Escargot and the Fried Cauliflower to the decadent Ribeye and the addicting herbed popovers, every last morsel was to die for. We couldn’t resist the draw of the live music and lively vibe of the fire pits outside on Rita’s Cantina patio. A nightcap and a good fireside conversation. There’s nothing better.
On day 3, our final day, after another morning walk through the neighborhood at the base of Camelback Mountain, we wanted to check out the sister property, JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa just outside of Phoenix. This expansive resort is set on over 300 acres of beautiful dessert and is Arizona’s largest luxury resort. With its lush grounds, gorgeous views, 5 swimming pools – complete with a lazy river and serpentine slide – it is truly a remarkable resort. Of course, not having our kids with us this time around, we headed straight for
The Spa at Camelback Inn and adult pool for our last bit of indulgence before we headed back home to the 7 kids, 3 dogs, 2 husbands and mountains of dirty laundry reality that awaited us. After squeezing the last bits of sunshine and serenity out of the day, we hit The Henry for our last night. A local hot spot, alive with energy, we enjoyed a fantastic dinner and a great bottle of wine and then closed out the night with one last fireside chat back at Rita’s.
We were already planning our many return trips before we left. We can’t wait to get back there just the two of us but we also know it’s the perfect spot to bring the husbands and the kids (and even the dogs if we’re feeling really adventurous). I can’t wait to go back and it all just felt so easy and so wonderful and so incredibly beautiful. It was the best girls getaway I’ve had in far too long and I can’t wait to do it again soon.
Did you love our weekend girls getaway in Scottsdale as much as we did? Let us know in the comments!