Headed to Scottsdale, Arizona? Where to Stay, Drink, & Snap Instagrams
This year, I’ve been a huge fan of only going on vacation if it’s somewhere I’ve never been before. Sure, it’s tempting to go on a day trip to upstate New York if you live in New York City, or to head back to your family’s beach vacation destination that you’ve been to countless times. But this year my motto has been “life is too short!” and I wanted to see all I could see in cities I was unfamiliar with.
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That’s exactly how I found myself in Scottsdale, Arizona in late May. The dry heat was definitely different than the humidity-riddled Northeast where I live, and it was the perfect start to summer. Little did I know, I’d absolutely fall in love with the stunning mountain views, the Vegas pool party vibe at so many local hotels, and the country take on nightlife that had me reminiscing about my Texas roots. Here’s everything to do, see, eat, and snap while you’re in Scottsdale, Arizona (which let’s be honest, you probably will be in soon since it’s a super-popular bachelorette party destination right now). Tell ’em Brittany sent you.
Where to Stay in Scottsdale, Arizona: Views Edition
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I mean, have you ever seen a more stunning Instagram background? This pool is at Mountain Shadows Resort in Scottsdale/Paradise Valley. I never knew I needed a mountain side view to relax until I stayed at this hotel. If you’re into wellness, the resort is filled with activities like yoga, and I even got to experience a sound bath while I was there, which was the perfect start to any vacation.
You can choose mountain-facing rooms, a garden-view, or be cabana-side if you plan on being at the pool all day (and why wouldn’t you?). One of the best touches the Mountain Shadows pool had was huge tubs of SunBum sunscreen everywhere. This is perfect for travelers who don’t want to check a bag just to bring their over 3-ounce bottle of sunscreen. Hey, I work in beauty, I get it.
You can literally pretend you’re on a beach vacation here for half the cost. You can order drinks and snacks directly from the staff, who are circling around the pool at all times. If you can’t afford to jet off to Mexico or Turks and Caicos but want the outdoor-cocktail-by-the-pool vibe nonetheless, this is a great place to travel to. Room rates at Mountain Shadows start at $175 per night.
Where to Stay in Scottsdale, Arizona: Party Edition
When I went to the weekend pool party at Hotel Valley Ho, I couldn’t believe more people online weren’t talking about it. It’s like going to a pool party in Vegas but with half the people (and that’s still a lot of people!) and way more room in the pool. Yes, you still get a DJ, drink and snack service cabana-side, and tons of people in the pool dancing and having fun, making it the ultimate party vibe.
I spent one night at Mountain Shadows and another night here to experience different types of Arizona vibes. If you want to head to Arizona to party instead of relax and rejuvenate, I’d definitely suggest staying at Hotel Valley Ho. It’s a mid-century modern designed hotel that honestly made me feel like I was back in the 1970s. There are tons of Instagrammable moments here, from the pool party to honestly even the exterior of the hotel itself. It looks like it’s straight out of a time capsule with its design, yet all of the amenities look and feel new. Room rates start at $150 a night, but even if you don’t stay there, you can attend the weekend pool parties. Non-hotel guest day passes to the pool start at $35 per person.
Where to Get a Massage in Scottsdale, Arizona
I’m one of those annoying people who give the masseuse a full run down of exactly what I want before we even get started. The pressure needs to be deeper than deep for me to feel anything, otherwise I just feel like someone is barely touching me. I’ve had tons of massages through my job as a beauty and skincare writer, so trust me that it’s a big deal when I say this was the best massage I ever got. I worked with Deana D., who told me she viewed masseuse mastery as an art form; by the end of my massage, I couldn’t have agreed more.
The pressure was amazing without applying too much pressure on areas with less muscle, like on the spine. Seriously, why do masseuses always knead my spine when it’s just bones there? I digress… Massages at the Valley Ho spa start at just $110, so it’s a great place to bring the whole bachelorette crew if you’re there to celebrate a bride. Otherwise, going solo is just fine too.
Where to Go Wine Tasting in Scottsdale, Arizona
Did you know you can go wine tasting in Scottsdale? Carlson Creek winery has a tasting room located in downtown Scottsdale where you can sample reds, whites, and roses for some seriously affordable prices. For under $20 a person, you can taste five different types of wines. I did this on my first night into Scottsdale when I was too jet-lagged from New York City to go out, but just awake enough to sip on some vino. I highly recommend.
Where to Go Out in Scottsdale, Arizona
If you stay at Hotel Valley Ho, you can actually walk to Main Street in Old Town Scottsdale, which is where you’ll find one of the best and most fun bars I’ve ever been to while on a vacation. Located on Main Street, the Rusty Spur is a super chill spot for brunch and drinks during the day, and at night it transforms into a full0on country bar, complete with a country cover band that seriously packs the crowd in. If you live in Brooklyn, it’s sort of like going to Skinny Dennis, except everything feels more authentic since you’re in Arizona. Those whiskey shots have Arizona prices to boot! The space is littered with cash pinned up to the walls and at the end of the year, it’s donated to a local children’s hospital, so be sure to leave your mark.
Where to Eat in Scottsdale, Arizona
To focus all my energy on pool party stamina, I ate at the two hotel restaurants, ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho and Hearth ’61 at Mountain Shadows Resort. I would highly recommend both. If you go to Hearth ’61, you have to opt for the Niman Ranch beef tenderloin, which is what I got. It’s the most perfectly cooked steak. It even won most beautifully designed bar from Architectural Digest and yes, before you ask, you can eat outside and get even more of those nighttime mountain views. Dinner is around $50-$100 per person.
ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho is a great place to go if you want a lively ambiance, since they have live music during dinner on the weekends. The rock popcorn shrimp was my favorite thing I had on the menu here. Prices are about $50-$100 per person here as well.
If you want to venture away for dinner, TikTok is a huge fan of JoJo Coffee House for coffee flights (!!!) and Fire at Will for dishes like mac and cheese croquettes.
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