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.
