A few weeks ago we took a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona with my husbands family. The weather was perfect and we had such a wonderful time. Today I put together a little travel guide to share where we stayed, where we ate, and what we did while on our trip.
WHERE TO STAY: BOULDERS RESORT AND SPA
If you’re traveling with a big group then this is your spot! They have the most beautiful grounds with lots of restaurant and swimming pool options. They also have a nice golf course and a world-renowned spa.
We had 9 people in our family and rented the most amazing 4 bedroom house with a huge kitchen, dining room, living room, and big backyard. They had full maid service daily and a shuttle and golf cart service that took us around to all the different areas of the resort. Also, if you don’t have such a big group, there are smaller casitas available.
Since we had a kitchen and grill we were able to make breakfast daily and grill out a few of the nights. They also provided a crib and highchair for our home, which was great for Elle. We also loved the food and enjoyed dining at all the restaurants on property {more on that later…}.
WHERE TO EAT: SPOTTED DONKEY
This is a fun Mexican restaurant that was located within The Boulders. It’s actually rated as the top Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale. It’s extremely family friendly and has a vibrant vibe. My husband and I both got the fish tacos which were delish. See the full menu here.
WHERE TO EAT: AZ/88
This is a great spot located right in downtown Scottsdale. We went for lunch, but I would recommend it more for dinner. They have a beautiful outdoor dinning area overlooking a pretty park as well as amazing food. If you do go, it’s fun to walk around the Old Town of Scottsdale either before or after dinner. We loved their sandwich selection {they have great cheeseburgers}, as well as their salads and of course waffle fries.
WHERE TO EAT: UNCLE LOUIE
This restaurant was about a 10 minute drive from our resort. It’s a cute little Italian spot with a huge menu. They’re known for their pizzas, but have great appetizers, pastas, salads, and entrees too! It’s fun to go with a big group and split a bunch of stuff.
WHERE TO EAT: THE GRILL KITCHEN & BAR
This is a cute + casual restaurant located within The Boulders. It overlooks the golf course where you can watch beautiful sunsets while you dine. We ate here for both lunch as well as dinner {twice}. It was really convenient for us, but also delicious. See the lunch menu here and the dinner menu here.
WHERE TO EAT: SPA CAFE
Even if you aren’t staying at The Boulders, I still recommend that you check out their amazing spa. I spent a morning there with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and had the best time. They have a beautiful outdoor pool, a bunch of different workout classes, an organic garden, and a huge spa. We had breakfast outside at their cafe which offers a wide variety of healthy balanced meals.
WHERE TO EAT: TOP MARKS CAFE
This was a super cute gelato place located in downtown Scottsdale. They use organic ingredients and have not only ice cream, but also crepes, sandwiches, and coffee. It’s fun to stop in if your strolling around and great for kids!
WHAT TO DO: OLD TOWN SCOTTSDALE
You need to check out the downtown at least once while you’re in Scottsdale. It’s super cute and filled with fun kitchy stores where you can find dream catchers, little souvenirs, and of course Minnetonka moccasins. They have fun sculptures and play areas scattered around too.
WHAT TO DO: SPRING TRAINING
If you’re into baseball and plan on heading to Scottsdale in the spring, then it’s fun to check out their spring training. You’re able to watch all the players practicing and even go to some games. This is another great activity for kids and baseball fans.
WHAT TO DO: HIKING TRAILS
Scottsdale is beautiful and there are a lot of amazing hiking trails if you’re into doing some outdoor activities. A few of the best ones include: Gateway Loop Trail, Pinnacle Peak Summit Trail, Lost Dog Wash, and Go John Trail.
WHAT TO DO: McCORMICK-STILLMAN RAILROAD PARK
This 30-acre park is located in the heart of Scottsdale and if you have kids then it’s a must. It’s pretty unique and filled with a variety of shops, museums, playgrounds, a carousel and of course trains. We weren’t able to go this trip, but hopefully next time.
WHAT TO DO: BUTTERFLY WONDERLAND
This was another activity that we planned on doing, but didn’t get around too. I’ve heard it’s absolutely beautiful and is the largest butterfly conservatory in the country with over 3,000 fluttering butterflies. They have amazing exhibits that connect people to nature through a sensory experience that educates and entertains.
WHAT TO WEAR:
I kept it on the casual side as I tend to do now that I have a kid. We spent a lot of days at the pool so we brought a few swimsuit options, as well as hiking gear and low key dinner options. You can see some packing tips in this post as well as shop all my styles {as well as Elle’s} below:
WHAT I WORE
WHAT ELLE WORE
Now onto some more photos from our trip…
If you want to see more of my travel guides, make sure to check out my TRAVEL category here. I recently wrote one about Newport Beach as well as Los Angeles.
I HOPE THIS TRAVEL GUIDE WAS HELPFUL AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU THINK I’M MISSING ANY GREAT PLACES SO I CAN ADD THEM TO THE LIST.