Scottsdale, Arizona Travel News: October 2013

CAMELBACK INN’S MULTI-MILLION MAKEOVER
The JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa is undergoing a makeover that will spruce up not only the signature property's rooms, but also the all new golf course, Ambiente. With a focus on conserving water, maintaining a wildlife habitat and decreasing pesticide and fossil fuel use, the 18-hole, 150-acre Ambiente Golf Course lives up to its name; Ambiente means “environment” in Spanish. Ambiente, which premieres this month, was designed by renowned golf architect Jason Straka for the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa. Ambiente will surely draw leisure and avid golf players with it’s a one-of-a-kind challenging course. Replacing the Indian Bend golf course, Ambiente culminates the seven year, $70 million renewal project at the inn. This fall, the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa completed $9.5 million in refurbishments as well. Guest rooms have been updated with new bathroom vanities, countertops, walk-in showers and carpeting. Now, you can enjoy a few games of golf surrounded by desert flora and fauna, tuck in a hearty meal at BLT Steak and relax at the casita guestrooms in the restored 1930s adobe brick resort.  

IT’S A BIRD! IT’S A PLANE! IT’S ARIZONA HELICOPTER ADVENTURES!
Move over traffic copper, there’s a new kid in town. That’s right, Arizona Helicopter Adventures is now serving the greater Scottsdale area with tours of the metro area and the city’s greatest asset, the Sonoran Desert. Whether you wish to see the luxurious homes and prime golf courses in Scottsdale’s metro area or the rugged and majestic Sonoran Desert, Arizona Helicopter Adventures has you covered. Its three different tour options take you miles above Paradise Valley and Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and the Superstition Mountains. Get a bird’s eye view of Fountain Hills’ world famous, man-made geyser or soar above the beloved Camelback Mountain. Prices range between $99 and $259, depending on the tour. 

AN ARCHITECTUAL MELTING POT
The Sonoran Desert’s dramatic landscapes have drawn architects to the desert for thousands of years. From the Hohokam Indians to Frank Lloyd Wright, Scottsdale residents have explored how to not only exist, but thrive in an environment where wide-open spaces and saguaro cacti are practically trademarks. Explore the people behind Scottsdale’s greatest architectural achievements during visits to Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, Cosanti, and Taliesin West.

Upon descending into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, few people realize that less than a mile from the airport there are replica structures of the indigenous Hohokam people’s homes. Explore the hogans in which they resided between 450 and 1450 AD during a visit to the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park. See the museum’s collection of ancient petroglyphs and walk beside the vast irrigation canals that are still used in part today.

Don’t miss the renowned Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert masterpiece, Taliesin West. A National Historic Landmark built between 1937 and 1959, Taliesin West is located at the base of the McDowell Mountains. Amidst the Sonoran Desert, Wright’s design masterfully integrates indoor and outdoor spaces. Choose one of several tours, such as the 90-minute Insights tour, and walk through Wright’s personal winter home and studio, which is still in use today as a campus for the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.

Take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours’ founder Ace Bailey for a customizable tour that highlights your favorite Scottsdale sites. From Taliesin West to Cosanti, the gallery, studio and residence of the late Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri, Bailey’s tours will provide you with insight into the people and places that have made Scottsdale such a recognizable architectural destination. Be sure to stop by one of her favorites, Hotel Valley Ho, a frequent hangout for celebrities such as Cary Grant and Zsa Zsa Gabor in the ’50s and ’60s.

DREAMING OF A SONORAN DESERT CHRISTMAS
It’s almost the most wonderful time of the year, and there’s no better way to celebrate with friends and family than partaking in plenty of festive events around Scottsdale.

Explore the breathtaking Sonoran Desert all by the glowing light of more than 8,000 hand-lit luminaries from Nov. 29 through Dec. 31 at the Desert Botanical Garden’s Las Noches de las Luminarias. Sip on hot chocolate from the Patio Café as you stroll the paths throughout the garden. Feel the holiday spirit as music from carolers, handbells, guitars and violins fills the air. With advanced reservations, you can even dine at Gertrude’s, which stays open late for the event. And a trip to the Desert Botanical Garden is not complete without stopping by the Chihuly in the Garden exhibit, which returns to the garden from November 2013 through May 2014. Only during Las Noches de las Luminarias can you witness artist Dale Chihuly’s colorful glasswork reflected by thousands of white twinkle lights against the night sky.

       Kids and kids at heart will be delighted as they wander through Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo Nov. 28, 2013 through Jan. 12, 2014. As the sun begins to set and the furry and reptilian residents at the Phoenix Zoo start to snooze, the zoo transforms into a winter wonderland. Roam the complex beneath the shine of more than 3 million colorful twinkle lights and 500 custom-made animal and nature light sculptures. You’ll likely spot a sleepy orangutan, a wide-awake coyote and even Jengo the talking giraffe throughout the festivities.

Trim your Christmas tree this holiday season with hand-made ornaments from American Indian artists during Heard Museum's Ornament Marketplace from Nov. 28 through Dec. 1. Return to the museum Dec. 26-31 for Holidays at the Heard, an annual Southwestern tradition. This event takes museum visitors on a journey through American Indian culture with exciting performances and artist demonstrations.

Literally rock around the musical Christmas tree at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’ annual winter celebration Christmas at the Princess. At the Princess tree-lighting ceremony on Nov. 21, see 65,000 lights shine brightly on a four-story tree that plays 10 holiday favorite songs. The event, which runs through Jan.5, 2014, features a 5,400-square-foot ice skating rink, visits from Santa and his elves, musical performances, the Silver Saguaro Holiday Shoppe, and lots of yummy snacks and beverages to keep you warm. And the Spectacular Lagoon Lights that shine throughout the resort are truly magical.


 
A CULTURAL FEAST FOR THE SENSES
Take in the sights, sounds and tastes of Southwest American Indian culture during the 12th season of Native Trails, presented by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and produced by the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Staged at the idyllic, grassy outdoor amphitheater at Scottsdale Civic Center Park, you’ll be invited to participate in audience-involved dances, dine on delectable indigenous snacks, and browse a wide array of artisan jewelry, beadwork and paintings during this free festival that occurs most Thursdays and Saturday Jan. 16 through April 5, 2014. Watch in awe as competitive dancers and youth performers from the Hopi, Diné (Navajo), Hualapai and San Carlos Apache tribes take the stage in traditional attire and showcase their culture’s ceremonial dances. Favorites include the hoop dance, in which performers intricately weave in and out of several hoops, and the Round Dance, an audience-participation event celebrating the connection of all people and cultures.