Exploring the Wild West
Landing in Phoenix, we were welcomed by our Scottsdale hosts who took us to our accommodation for the next two nights, the luxurious Phoenician in Scottsdale.
The five Diamond Phoenician was opened in 1988 and has been completely renovated. The main lobby, Thirsty Camel Lounge offers afternoon tea and drinks from the bar in a relaxed setting. The property boasts several restaurants, shops and a pool complex with reserved seating.
In spring 2018, the property introduced the rooftop bar, the three-storey Spa and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. An 18-hole golf course completes the offering.
The next day, we had a jam-packed programme, starting early with an Apache Trail tour that took us to the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and subsequently, via Tortilla Flat and Canyon Lake, to the Goldfield Ghost Town. The Sonoran Desert is dry and arid but of a particular beauty. The Apache Trail was Arizona’s first designated ‘Historic Highway’ and is also considered a scenic byway. The original Apache Trail was a footpath through the Superstition Mountains and is now one of the most scenic drives through the Sonoran Desert.
When the temperatures got too high to walk around in the desert, we were taken to the Saguaro hotel in Scottsdale, where we had the opportunity to briefly cool down with a yoga class on a paddleboard in the pool, followed by a leisurely lunch.
The Saguaro Scottsdale was opened in November 2011 and is inspired by the contemporary architecture of the Arizona Desert. The property is designed around the colour and light of the surrounding landscape.
After lunch, we visited the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) which features modern and contemporary art, architecture and design from around the globe. SMoCA presents a wide variety of changing exhibitions, educational programmes and special events for families and adults.
Following the Museum visit, we were taken to the Desert Botanical Garden for a behind-the-scenes tour that allowed us to discover a small portion of the over 50’000 desert plants that nestle amid the red rocks at the garden. Five thematic trails offer the visitor an opportunity to explore the beauty of the Sonoran Desert plant life, from towering cacti and alluring succulents to wildflowers and trees. The gardens offer specialised tours, seasonal exhibits, concerts and family activities and a visit is warmly recommended during a trip to Phoenix and Scottsdale.
We had been told that our farewell dinner would be at a surprise location and we were not disappointed. A one-hour drive took us from the hotel into the Sonoran Desert where we dined under the stars. We arrived just as the sun was about to set and, enjoying a prickly pear cocktail, we watched the sun go down and the scorching day turn into a balmy evening.
After enjoying a long, but relaxing evening in the desert and a beautiful dinner, we returned to our rooms to pack up and get ready for our departure the next day.
Our last day started with breakfast in the hotel’s garden. Many hotel guests around the world will have experience the annoyance of small birds that always try to scavenge on crumbs from patron’s plates if they get a chance. The Phoenician has found the solution; they hire a falconer and his falcon to guard the guest’s breakfast. The pair stand at a respectful distance from the guests, but it is enough to let the smaller birds know that they had better stay away from the food, unless they want to turn into a snack themselves. Every once in a while, the falconer walks around with his hooded falcon, so that all smaller birds can see that their nemesis is still there. A great idea.
Our last stop before the airport was a brief shopping opportunity at Scottsdale Fashion Square, just a stone’s throw away from the airport.
Before we knew it, our amazing journey through 4 states of the USA came to an end with our flight back to London and many new impressions to cherish.
The trip will live long in the memory.