I have loads of photos and I still need to organize them, but I definitely wanted to post some of the gorgeous photos I took this past weekend from my trip to Scottsdale, Arizona!
First of all, I haven’t been since 1999… so it has been awhile… and boy, has it changed. In my recollection, I remember Scottsdale as more of a quiet town with a burgeoning art scene. Not today! The art scene is in full force and the place is bustling with amazing restaurants, lots of cultural events, and hip and fun people (our guides at the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB)…Tatum, Laura, Megan, Kelly, etc. were so sharp, chic, and sophisticated!). I will at some point have to tell you about the hot air balloon ride over the Sonoran desert, the kayaking along Salt River, the tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, the food tour, and some of the other adventures. So much fun! I am seriously trying to figure out a time to get back again.
I got lucky because my wonderful and dear (not to mention, incredibly talented) friend Mallory was invited as part of a group media tour by the SCVB and this press junket happened to be a Girlfriends Getaway! So, thank you and love you Mallory for inviting me along as your girlfriend – I had the most amazing time hanging out with her (it was just like our fun good old days in college when we shared pretty much all of the same classes and were in the same sorority)! Our media group was so fun, too – such sharp, smart, ladies! I am looking forward to reading their stories about this trip.
We first stayed at the hip The Saguaro Hotel for the first two nights of our trip. The Saguaro was recently named by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top best new hotels in the world (It’s actually on the cover of this month’s issue).
But, we finished the last two nights at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain. Sanctuary is known as one, if not, the best resort in Scottsdale, a luxury boutique hideaway with dramatic mountain and spa casitas offering spectacular views of Paradise Valley. With only 105 rooms and the only resort that can boast being on the north slope of Camelback Mountain, you can imagine its exclusivity as well as the breathtaking views (I’ll post photos but it’s not quite the same).
It really is a sanctuary. The place is just beautiful with lots of lush and calming spaces, and of course, the spa is heaven and I must rave about my wonderful massage from Jeanette (who also happens to teach massage therapy here in the OC at Golden West in Huntington Beach during their off season).
Moreover, the hotel’s restaurant, Elements, is a local hot spot for cocktails at sunset and has delicious, award-winning cuisine by Iron Chef America winner and Food Network star Chef Beau MacMillan.
No wonder Beyonce and Jay-Z honeymooned here at one of their private residences. They’re smart, those two!
But, enough talk. Let the photos of Sanctuary at Camelback speak for themselves:
View of the mountain from the outside deck of Edge Bar
Edge Bar (Photo courtesy of Sanctuary at Camelback)
Cabanas and lounge chairs by the pool
An overhead view of the cabanas. Yes, Camelback Mountain is right there.
The infinity pool with mountain views
The courtyard at Sanctuary. We’re getting ready to hear their Sundays in Paradise live music.
Reggae band Sugahbeat performing
The private dining room at Elements opens up directly to the kitchen!
Another view of the private Dining Room (Photo courtesy of Sanctuary at Camelback)
Look at the wine corridor just outside of Elements! (Photo courtesy of Sanctuary at Camelback)
Just one of the yummy dishes at Elements
Not to mention, delectable dessert!
Oh yeah, here’s where Beyonce and Jay-Z stayed during their honeymoon. Tough life….
But the Mountain Casita rooms we stayed in (ours had 2 queen beds) aren’t too shabby, either! (Photo courtesy of Sanctuary at Camelback)
Gorgeous sunset overlooking the mountain… ahhh…
No Ugly Duckling 