Contrary to the popular song, “I left my heart in San Francisco,” I didn’t exactly leave mine there. It can actually be found in Scottsdale, Arizona: lingering amongst the crisp air and purplish-blue hues of the Sonoran Desert.
Before setting foot on the streets of this Southwestern resort town, I had a strong inclination that I’d love it. And my intuition, as usual, was right. Scottsdale is a city that moves at the perfect pace: a place like no other, yet right on par with top urban cities throughout the U.S. when it comes to culture, food and fun. And having the majestic beauty of the Sonoran Desert as a backdrop is the ultimate bonus. Its buzzy eclectic restaurants feature unique culinary creations cooked up by celebrated chefs. There’s an abundance of adventure activities for the thrill seekers around. And you won’t find a shortage of spas in this town, because wellness is the name of the game here.
There’s something for everyone in Scottsdale. And here’s how I took one incredible city in five different ways.
Tasting the flavors of desert inspired dishes
On my first evening in Scottsdale, I was given explicit instructions for the days ahead: “Indulge yourself.” So I took those orders (along with my appetite) and ran with it: sipping on specialty crafted cocktails served up from Weft & Warp Art Bar, while noshing on blue (yes, blue) cornbread and whole trout sprinkled with grilled lemon and pecan romesco.
And for the pizza lover in me, Craft64, a premier wood-fired pizza shop that uses locally sourced ingredients, had me covered on all bases. My pies of choice? The “Aji” layered with fennel sausage and spicy Italian sauce, and the sweet and savory “Fico” pizza drizzled with truffle oil, arugula and fig.
Taking the windy, pebbly trails by bike
I had never been mountain biking before visiting Scottsdale. But for this trip, I decided it was time to take the wheels to the rugged landscape of the Sonoran Desert. Helmet strapped on tight with a crew and guide in tow, we maneuvered our way through the sandy terrain of Brown’s Ranch Trail: taking in the beautiful views and dramatic skylines. We stopped along the way to learn about some of the desert plant life like the saguaro cacti. As for the unrelenting teddy bear cacti that’ll latch on quick if you get too close, we learned to stay away.
Ballooning up and away
There’s no better way to start an exciting morning in the desert than on cloud 9: literally. And in Scottsdale, people love to get as high as possible, by way of hot air balloon of course. So before day broke, we made our way to an expansive open field, boarded a large sturdy wicker basket and soared up to 5,000 feet in the sky. Up in the air, it felt like the world stood still as the basket lazily coasted against the calm, cold sky. The views of the sun peaking over the horizon were amazing.
Discovering the ”touchy” subject of wellness
Because Scottsdale is a resort town, the city features an abundance of spas, specialists and treatments for wellness devotees (like me) to bliss out and relax their way to total nirvana. The Four Seasons Resort at Scottsdale was my haven where I let the healing power of touch take me away. Here, I opted for the spa’s signature “Four Seasons In One” treatment that included eighty minutes of being kneaded like dough, wrapped, scrubbed and polished to perfection.
Walking it out
Taking Scottsdale by foot is taking the scenic route of the town. Hiking up summits like Pinnacle Peak and Camelback Mountain provide sweeping views of the desert while winding through trails, featuring moderate to difficult inclines. But the burn is always worth the climb: especially early in the morning when the sun makes its debut. The bright hues of pink, orange and yellow dotting the desert skyline are breathtaking. And along the way you’ll find native desert flora and fauna like the cholla cactus and wire lettuce.
Salad anyone?
Connect with Jaimee on Instagram, Facebook , her blog This Way North or her YouTube channel.