Short trip to Scottsdale

Hiking Camelback Mountain was definitely the highlight of my trip. There is nothing like getting up right after sunrise and hiking up a natural wonder.

Hiking and mountain biking are fantastic all around Scottsdale and Phoenix.

I also enjoyed walking around Old Scottsdale and looking at the Southwestern stores (although they were a bit touristy and expensive but good for a few interesting moments). This would have been much more fun if my fiance had been with me!

Running along the canal to Arizona State University and seeing some of the campus was fun. The football stadium is very cool with two rocky mountains on surrounding it.

Finally, I got to eat at one of my favorite restaurants, PF Chang’s. It is a chain restaurant but is at its best in Scottsdale.

Quick Tips:

It was a little cooler than I expected (especially at night). Make sure you bring a sweatshirt or sweater for the cool November nights.

Stay at one of the smaller hotels right outside of Old Scottsdale. They are nice, affordable and very close to what you will want to see/do.

Go to one of the many spas in the area for a world-class treatment/massage.

Best Way To Get Around:

You really need a car to get around if you are going to do a lot of exploring in the Scottsdale and Phoenix area.

If you are staying in the Old Scottsdale area, renting a mountain bike to get around is a good idea. My hotel was within 2-3 miles of everything I wanted to do, so I enjoyed riding a bike. However, it might not be such a good idea in the summer when it is blistering hot.

If you want a really nice place to stay (within a mile or two of Old Scottsdale) without breaking the bank, then you will love this hotel.

The rooms are massive and include a separate living room and kitchenette. The bed is extremely comfortable with several feather pillows and great linen.

Plus the service is great including a couple of special touches (including a rubber ducky in the tub and a delectable chocolate chip cookie every night). It's the one time I was glad my fiance wasn't with me so I didn't have to share!

A complimentary breakfast (buffet style) is provided. Plus there are several small pools and cabanas on the property as well as very nice tennis courts. You can sign up for spa services, but in a town like Scottsdale I would recommend you go to one of the more prominent spas for a massage or other treatment. The location is great (close to Old Scottsdale and Camelback Mountain) and the service at the hotel was fantastic. You also don’t have to pay a fee to dial up the Internet from your room (as long as you use an 800 number). All in all, I enthusiastically recommend this hotel.

By the way, I booked my room on www.quikbook.com. That may explain why the price was so good.

The conference was at this resort which gives you an indication of its size. It is massive and you can get lost walking around if you are not careful. I wish it were a little more intimate (or at least a tiny bit intimate), but with size comes a myriad of amenities. Fortunately this was a business trip and not a romantic adventure with my fiance.

The rooms are fairly large and the suite I stayed in had a kitchenette and separate sitting room. The bed was very comfortable and the service at the hotel was exceptional. Little touches like apples in the lobby and the valets dressed in pseudo cowboy gear were nice.

What I really enjoyed was the spa. The spa has a full gym with aerobic equipment, weights, classes and everything else you need to get a really good workout. It doubles as a fitness center for some people who pay a monthly fee. You also have a great pool, excellent tennis facilities and a championship golf course.

The location was convenient for the airport (about 10 minutes away) and right off the highway (which in some people’s eyes is also a bad thing). But most importantly for me, it was right next to some great hiking and biking (although oddly enough the resort did not rent bikes).

As I said in the overview, this is one of my favorite places to eat. I discovered it a couple of years back on my first trip to Scottsdale and have sought out other P.F. Changs at other places like Vegas and Miami. But I must say that the one in Scottsdale is the best. It is located on the edge of a very upscale mall and it attracts a nice crowd. The décor is very nice and the food is great (especially considering it is a chain restaurant). Don’t be afraid to go alone because you can eat at the bar and feel right at home. The food is Chinese with a twist. The choices are fantastic and whatever you order you will enjoy. Don’t forget to get the lettuce wrap appetizers (my favorite item). The only down-side is that it can get crowded and you may have to wait awhile to get seated.

If you want a cool bar with good drinks and good food, then you will like Madison’s. It is in Old Scottsdale, but a little off the main drag so that you get a good mix of locals and tourists. I actually saw more locals than tourists while I was there. The martinis are great, the atmosphere relaxing and the bartenders very attentive. I had the mini barbecue sandwichs appetizer (that’s not the real name but that is what they were) and enjoyed it very much.

If you don’t enjoy your meal at Sanctuary, then you just don’t like good food. I had an absolutely delicious meal and a wonderful dining experience here. This is definitely a special place to dine. Appropriately, we were celebrating and I can’t think of a better place in Scottsdale to do this at over food.

The setting is absolutely beautiful. The restaurant is set against Camelback Mountain and looks down on a scenic portion of Paradise Valley. There may not be a more romantic spot at sunset (certainly for a restaurant). We ate inside because it was a windy night, but usually there is outdoor seating. The patio where you eat overlooks a gorgeous pool.

As you would expect, the décor of the restaurant is quite attractive. It is a very hip place, but not in an over the top way. In fact, I thought it was a very soothing atmosphere, particularly if your table has a nice view.

Most importantly, the food was spectacular. I had the sea bass and it practically melted in my mouth. The crab salad appetizer was also heavenly. Of course, I saved room for dessert and savored the chocolate cake (with a creamy melted chocolate center). The wine choices are excellent--no matter what you choose, you will have a wonderful meal.

I enjoyed the meal so much that I am not going to wait for a special occasion to go back next time.

This was my second trip to Scottsdale and I was looking forward to hiking up Camelback from the moment I knew I was going. My first trip I went up the so-called front side of the mountain (which is the easier route). This time I went up the back-side and it was a great hike (and definitely more difficult). If you want some breathtaking views, a great workout and the best possible view of the valley, then you shouldn’t miss this hike. Start at Echo Canyon Park near the intersection of Tatum and McDonald Road (about 3 miles from the Hotel Waterfront Ivy - see separate entry). You can park the car and head up the trail which starts at the parking lot. I hustled and was up and down in about 1 ½ hours, but it kicked my butt. You should probably allow about 2 ½ hours if you want a more leisurely hike with some time hanging out at the summit. You better pace yourself going up because it is very strenuous and steep. I am in good shape and a couple of times I thought about how tired I was. Make sure you bring a camera because the views are awesome. The combination of steep drops, desert landscapes and treacherous rocks make this hike very memorable. Don’t expect to be alone because this is a popular activity. You will chuckle a few times as you look at the faces of some of the hikers while they are going up and you are going down.

If you want an amazing golf challenge in a beautiful desert setting, then you have to play at Las Sendas. The scenery was breathtaking. The cacti, the rocky desert terrain, the mountains on and around the course, and the views of the Phoenix area off in the distance make this course amazing. Other courses in Phoenix don’t even approach the success of Las Sendas in terms of integrating the golf into the dessert topography. I also enjoyed looking at all of the beautiful homes next to the course.

The course has excellent range facilities and the chipping and putting areas are in excellent condition. I strongly recommend you warm up for this course. There is also a gorgeous club house and nice café/bar overlooking the golf course. The cheeseburger hit the spot after the ninth hole.

The GPS system on the carts provided all the distance information and "pro tips" to help you play the proper shot. The tips are essential because if you don’t manage the course well you can get in lots of trouble. In fact, you may hit several seemingly perfect shots that end up putting you in a bad spot.

Regarding the play, you have to keep the ball in the fairway. The brush, rocks, and ravines eat balls at a rapid rate. Plus, you are a bit hesitant to go looking for them after the warning about snakes, scorpions, and the like.

Some of the holes are downright hard. I was scratching my head on the tees wondering where I could put the ball. On the 18th tee I hit what I thought were two nice shots and ended up in the water both times. A short game is important, but don’t expect the greens to hold your ball very well. In other words, if you go at the pin your ball is off the green. The greens were lightning fast. Count on a few three putts . . . we even had a couple four putts in our foursome.

Having said all of that, I really enjoyed this course despite shooting my worst score in over 20 years. It can be frustrating when your good shots aren’t always rewarded, but the scenery and quality of the course make this a wonderful golf experience. The next time I play here I will be ready for all of the little secrets of this course.

A tip on the green fees: we got a special rate of $75 (in April) per person because we paid together as a foursome (a total of $300). If we had paid individually, it would have cost $129 per person (a total of over $500).

I really enjoyed this course. I had played at some other courses during the weeks I was in Phoenix, and think I enjoyed this course the best. First, the course is challenging but fair. If you hit a good shot, you know what to expect. Second, the green fees were very reasonable. A twilight rate (after 2pm) in April was only $65 on the weekends. Third, the desert scenery and variety of holes is fantastic.

The clubhouse and practice facilities were fantastic. You couldn’t ask for better. The practice greens were a nice approximation of the actual greens on the course.

I played from the back tees, which really make the course challenging. Even from here, the course is not particularly long, but you get some real tough holes because of the extra yardage. From the back tees most of the par threes were close to 200 yards, and there was a par four that was 495 yards. From the next farthest tees you get a pretty big break, but the course was still challenging.

If you have a woman in your group, she gets a massive break in terms of yardage on many of the holes. For a long-hitting woman, she will be able to reach the green on a couple of her drives. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are several very short holes (just over 300 yards for the par fours and a couple of very manageable par fives).

The course has a bit of elevation, so you have a couple of holes where you are way above the green and fairway. These holes were beautiful and a lot of fun. There are also water hazards on a couple of holes, but nothing too difficult. Irregardless of which hole you are playing, you have to keep the ball in the fairways because the desert terrain makes it very hard or impossible to hit out of the rough.

One funny thing--I have never seen so many rabbits. They are everywhere on this course.

If you want a perfectly manicured course then you can’t complain about, Talking Stick is it. It is a very nice golf experience. My only problem with the course was that it felt like it could be anywhere. There was very little real integration with the desert scenery, and the only thing that reminded me I was in Phoenix was the heat.

The facilities are immaculate. There is a fantastic driving range and putting green, plus the clubhouse is top-notch. I recommend you take the time to grab some food and/or drinks in the clubhouse while you are there.

Regarding the play, there are some very challenging holes. If you decide to play from the back tees there are some very long holes. But I liked the challenge and felt that the course was fair. If you hit a good shot, you were generally rewarded. I particularly liked a couple of the longer par threes that required a long iron or a short wood. The par fives were also fun in that you had to really hit it a long way to reach them in two. Be prepared to use every club in your bag, including your sand wedge (the sand traps caused me a little trouble).

Considering I wanted a desert course, I wasn’t that impressed with the course . . . and it is not the cheapest course in the Phoenix area. But I don’t want to discourage anyone from going here. It is a nice place to play as long as you know what to expect.

I want to start this review by strongly recommending Ocotillo Golf Resort. The course is in excellent shape, the greens were fast, and the layout provided a great variety of challenging holes. Having said that, the Ocotillo golf resort felt more like a course you would find in Florida than in Phoenix. I have never seen a course with more water (on 16 of 18 holes). It was very lush, and the only hint of the desert was the mountains in the distance. I say this not because it made the golf less enjoyable, but to let you know what to expect. When I go to the Phoenix area, I like to play on a desert-style course. This was a nice change of pace, but I'm glad I went to a few other courses first.

Some other comments about the course:
- The course was fair and didn't require you to be a scratch golfer to score relatively well. Most of the holes had a bail-out area off the tee (except when the water was on the right side), and the fairways were pretty wide.
- The twilight rate (after 1pm during the winter) saved us a decent amount of money, and we were able to finish the round (just barely).
- The course did provide some nice views of beautiful desert-style homes. This is clearly a nice neighborhood, and the trees, waterfalls, and waterways made for some excellent scenery.
- Avoid the sand. Some of the bunker shots were extremely hard.
- The course couldn't have been in better shape. The greens were very fast and smooth, and the fairways were very lush and well tended.

My only complaint about the course is a relatively minor issue. The course needed better yardage markers. The 150-yard markers were prominent, but almost any other distance was difficult to determine. I strongly recommend you buy a yardage book from the pro-shop. Otherwise, you will be repeatedly frustrated as you try to pick your club.

The course is in fantastic shape and you will find lush fairways and quick greens. The desert flora and fauna surround the course, and you have nice views of several mountains on the horizon. All in all it is a very lovely place to play.

More important than the scenery, the golf experience is excellent. There are many challenging holes with well placed hazards and well manicured greens on every hole. I thought the course was fair although you do get punished for errant tee shots. There are a few very long par fours and I couldn't reach the par fives in two shots (and I normally can), but I wouldn't call it a particularly long course. We played from the back tees (not the championship tees) and I never had to hit more than a mid iron into the green (except for about three holes). The par threes were also mid iron distance.

On the day we played, we followed a college tournament so the pin placements were pretty tough. But the greens weren't ridiculous. They were quick but not scary. There were some undulations and you could end up with some long putts, but overall the greens were fair.

All said, this was a very enjoyable golf experience. It was a very pretty course with lots of interesting golf shots. One bonus, it is easy to get to from the airport if you are arriving for a golf road trip with buddies.

I started every one of my mornings with a bike, run or hike. The weather was perfect and Scottsdale has a very outdoorsy quality to it. A canal runs through Scottsdale and it has a trail on each side. These loose gravel paths are perfect for running and/or biking. I ran from my hotel to the Arizona State campus which is worth going by just to look at the football stadium (which is right next to two small mountains/hills. It's about a 6 mile round trip run/bike from Scottsdale (obviously depending on your starting point).

On a previous trip to Scottsdale, I did some mountain biking around the Pointe South Mountain Resort (see separate journal entry). If you like biking over rough, desert terrain don't miss it. It is beautiful, wide open and very exhilarating.