Scottsdale, Arizona: A Desert Getaway

Last year, if you had told us that our new favorite weekend getaway location would be in the middle of the desert, we would have probably laughed out loud. Arizona has never really been on the top of our travel list and yet, when we found ourselves in desperate need to get away and just relax, Scottsdale kept popping up in our search results. On a whim, we decided to test it out and boy, are we happy we did! We were so pleasantly surprised at how awesome this little desert town is that we find ourselves daydreaming of the place A LOT.

We booked last minute trip after seeing a killer deal at The Saguaro Hotel on Guilt Travel, which ended up being the perfect base for our Scottsdale adventures. One of the greatest parts was how easy it was for us to get there. Usually, flights out of our local airport are super expensive but this direct flight was amazingly affordable! We left at 6:00 am, took a quick 1.5-hour plane ride, grabbed a taxi from Phoenix, checked into our hotel, and were at brunch sipping mimosas by 9:30 am!!! Both of these deals made it perfect for our spontaneous trip to Arizona. We have put together our favorite places to eat, drink, stay and play. 

xxx Ivy & Eve

Stay

The Saguaro Scottsdale- $$-$$$ This hotel screams fun! With bright colors everywhere you look, it's impossible not to be in a good mood. We chose to stay here because of its central location, super fun vibe, and great price! This hotel was the perfect place for our weekend getaway. We definitely recommend this place for a girls weekend or bachelorette party (Eve actually planned one of her friends bachelorette weekends there last fall!). We found this hotel on one of our favorite travel sites Guilt Travel. We wouldn't recommend this hotel for someone looking for a very quiet relaxing weekend since there were quite a lot of screaming girls (in bachelorette parties) but if you are visiting Scottsdale with friends it's ideal. The hotel offers bikes you can take for a spin, two pools, and a spa facility where you can choose from a number of treatments. 

TIP: It obviously get REALLY hot in Scottsdale in the summer and come July monsoon season hits and lasts until the end of August where you'll get torrential rainstorms out of the blue. these storms don't last long though so it isn't too bad if you don't mind getting a little wet. We recommend going End of September-June for the best weather. June gets HOT (100+) though so be warned! 

Eat

Diego Pops- $$ This trendy Mexican restaurant is located in downtown Scottsdale. Their menu includes the typical tacos, and burritos you'd expect but it also includes a few poke bowl options. And if your not hungry just their drinks are worth a visit. The menu features a variety of tropical cocktails, a tequila flight or even a fun snow cone margarita! 

Saguaro Restaurant- $$ Located at The Saguaro Hotel this was the perfect place to grab breakfast or lunch before or after our pool time. they also have a smaller poolside menu with similar options for lunch. We loved their guacamole, nachos, and street tacos alongside a pitcher of frosé! 

Arcadia Farms- $$$ Located in old town Scottsdale this classic brunch place is perfect for any girls weekend. This was our first stop on the trip and helped get us into vacation mode. (All the mimosas we consumed may have helped.)  We also recommend heading next door to the Arcadia Farms Marketplace. This is an awesome place to grab food to go or purchase some fun gifts!

The Montauk- $$$ This place was amazing! With lots of fresh food options, it was the perfect lunch spot to sit under the misters and enjoy the hot Arizona weather. We loved their frozé and a refreshing rose cocktail. Eve went back for brunch and can tell you it is equally good then!

The Original ChopShop- $ We grabbed a quick breakfast here early one morning before wandering around old town Scottsdale. With the slogan "just feel good food" this place was the perfect place to fuel up before a day of pursuing shops and laying by the pool. For the morning menu, they specialize in superfruit bowls and parfaits that look good and taste great, along with fresh juices and some tasty breakfast sandwiches. 

Prado- $$$-$$$$ This restaurant is located in the Omni Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley which is a little ways outside of Old Town (10-minute taxi). We enjoyed a leisurely dinner of Spanish wines and many tapas-style dishes on the patio and enjoyed the sunset views of Camelback Mountain. 

We brought Mom along for this fun weekend!

The Henry- Also located in Paradise Valley, The Henry is a perfect place for a larger group because this place is HUGE! There's a large patio, lounge, and expansive dining room. They have a good wine list and tasty dishes. Our favorites were the short rib potstickers and the grilled branzino fish. 

Berdena's- This cute coffee shop is perfect for an afternoon pick me up. They have a tasty selection of freshly baked bars, cookies, and pastries as well as delicious coffees. Eve tried their cherry cold brew and tonic drink and she still dreams about it to this day!

Play

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art- $$ Enjoy a bit of culture and escape the heat! This museum has great contemporary art exhibitions and a beautiful sculpture garden.

Shopping in Old Town- (Free) Right outside the Saguaro Hotel, Old Town is a great place to enjoy a leisurely stroll in the morning or afternoon when it's not too hot out. With dozens of cute boutiques and some fantastic southwestern shops within a few blocks, you can have a blast without working up a sweat.  

Scottsdale Fashion Square- (Free) Just around the corner from Old Town this indoor mall is a great place to cool down and indulge in some serious retail therapy.

The Saguaro Hotel Spa- $$$ The perfect addition to any vacation. We all had a massage treatment in the morning to start our days off on the right foot. Be sure to look on their website for spa deals. 

Hike- (Free) Scottsdale is known for a number of great outdoor activities, hiking is one of the most popular. However, depending on the time of year you go, you may have to wake up really early to avoid the 100+ temperatures that are regular some parts of the year. We recommend hiking Pinnacles Peak Park for its views of the Valley. 

We recommend checking out Experience Scottsdale's website for more ideas! 

A Holiday Trip: Denver

Denver, the Mile High City, is known for its sweeping views of the Rockies and the broad array of outdoor activities in its backyard. Surprisingly, even though Ivy went to college in Colorado, neither of us had spent really any time in Denver. We decided to book a spontaneous holiday trip to Denver to see what all the hype is about. We can now confirm that this city was built for foodies, beer and wine lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts!

Here are some of the best places we discovered over our quick weekend getaway…

xxx Ivy & Eve

P.S. We want to give a shout out to Hotel Monaco Denver for being such an excellent host!

EAT

Snooze $$ - When Ivy was doing her undergrad in Northern Colorado, the local Snooze quickly became her go-to brunch spot. We highly recommend their Bloody Marys and the pancake flight (3 pancakes), which you can select from an array of sweet and savory pancakes. Although the menu is continuously changing, we suggest ordering the red velvet, sweet potato, or the pineapple upside-down pancake if they are on offer. 

Denver Central Market $-$$ - This is probably our favorite place we discovered on the trip. Denver Central Market is a fantastic food hall with all kinds of great vendors from Curio - bar, Culture - meat & cheese, Tammen's - fish market, and High Point Creamery- ice cream! We noshed on tuna/salmon poke bowl, cheese and charcuterie, and washed it down with some tasty house rosé!

beast + bottle $$$ - This place is big on farm-to-table cuisine. The menu was full of perfectly crafted entrees, small bites, and tasty cocktails. We LOVED the chicharrones served with a yummy creamy red pepper dip!

Marczyk Fine Foods $-$$$ - This grocery store is located just across the street from beast + bottle. They have a wonderful selection of cheeses, meats, and bakery goods. This is the perfect spot to stock up on goodies for your outdoor adventures or even a picnic!

Venice $$$ - If you are looking for an Italian restaurant with an amazing wine list, choose Venice. It is also located across the street from Union Station. 

Mercantile $$ - Located in the Union Station, Mercantile is part coffee shop, part bakery, and part casual restaurant. They serve tasty sandwiches, salads, and delicious Bloody Marys! We recommend getting anything that will include their house-made pickles. SO GOOD!

Buckhorn Exchange $$$ - Our Dad heard about this place and has wanted to go for years, so he sent us on a mission to test it out for him. We are SO GLAD he did! The Buckhorn Exchange is Denver's oldest restaurant and is a registered National Historic Landmark. The walls are covered with taxidermy animals, old photographs, and other "wild west" memorabilia. They are known for their top-notch steaks and a few more unusual dishes. We started out the night with the rattlesnake queso - warm queso dip topped with rattlesnake meat and a 1/2 order of their rocky mountain oysters (deep-fried calf testicles). Growing up in horse country, we have had our fair share of these delicacies, and we can tell you these were some of the best! Finally, we shared the giant buffalo prime rib and washed it all down with some cold Colorado brews! Fantastic!

DRINK

Forest Room 5 $ - This hip but under the radar bar is a great place to start your evening. Grab a beer or cocktail inside and head out to their side yard for fire pits, a little stream, and even a tipi. We loved its laid back feel and the quirky western films playing in the restrooms. 

My Brother’s Bar $ - This is Denver's oldest operating bar, making it a must-visit. Just down the road from Forest Room 5, this almost secret bar is perfect for your late-night hangouts. We ordered a pitcher of beer, fries, and onion rings, but we hear the cottage cheese is worth ordering! 

Terminal Bar $$ - Located in Union Station, during the day, Terminal Bar is packed with people coming and going via bus or train. After hours it turns into a super cool lounge. After all the restaurants and shops close, The Great Hall turns into seating for the bar.  

Ratio Beerworks $$ - Right down the street from Denver Central Market, this brewery is the perfect place to enjoy your delicious lunch. We ordered their carrot beer, and it was seriously good! 

Infinite Monkey Theorem $$$ - This urban winery has a really fun laid back vibe with a variety of wines on tap, in cans, and in traditional bottles. Grab a glass, take a seat, relax, and repeat! 

PLAY

Christmas Market (free) - During the holidays, Denver hosts an adorable traditional German Christmas Market with booths offering everything from German-made ornaments to giant pretzels! Grab a mug full of mulled wine or hot cocoa and peruse the shops at your leisure. 

Parade of Lights (free) - This once a year (two nights in a row) parade is definitely worth watching before you head out to dinner. The parade begins at dusk, and each parade float and entertainer is covered in glowing lights. This is a fun event for all ages. We liked the fire dancers the most! 

STAY

The Kimpton Hotel Monaco $$$ - We called this place home for the weekend and loved it! The hotel lobby and rooms are beautiful. They have a great restaurant and bar attached, extremely attentive staff, and its location is in the center of downtown, within walking distance of everything Denver has to offer. We can't stop saying great things about this hotel. 

We got into Denver at 5am, and were able to check into our room even though check-in is usually 4pm! One of our favorite parts of staying at the Monaco Denver was the daily happy hour in the lobby daily from 5-6pm. At happy hour, they poured two wines and served a rotating beer on tap. Each drink came along with a little snack. One night they served meatballs, which were divine! We loved that the Monaco Denver thinks of the little details like a "hydration station" in the lobby and even complimentary hand warmers for the chilly Denver evenings! We can't wait to go back!

Happy Holidays!