Hey everyone. I just had the most amazing 4 day trip to Arizona. I am already thinking about going back. That’s how enjoyable it was. On top of that, I got to experience this trip with my mom which was a cherry on top. My mom is definitely a go-go type of traveler so she likes to have something to do most of the day. This was amazing for me because it encouraged me to find all the things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona.
I have included all the details below so you have an equally amazing trip.
Weather
We went to Scottsdale, Arizona in the beginning part of September (September 9-12). The weather was still pretty hot in the 90s. This made doing outdoor activities a little challenging. I live in Texas and am familiar with 100+ weather but that Arizona heat was still not something I was prepared to deal with. I would recommend going in October if you plan to be outside because it may be cooler.
Flight + Rental
For this flight, we flew into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and got a rental car from there. The rental place is not directly connected to the airport. There is a free shuttle that will take you to the rental place. I made sure to choose the least expensive rental company which turned out to be Budget.
Tip 1: When getting your rental the employees may try to convince you to upgrade your car.
If you feel like the car has enough space for you, go with your gut. I almost let the employee convince me to upgrade because I was afraid we were going to be driving a Volkswagon Bug but we ended up having a nice-sized sedan.
Tip 2: Don’t let the employees trick you into pre-paying for gas. Do your research.
The cashier encouraged us to purchase gas with them because gas outside of them is going to cost $6 a gallon. That was a lie. Turns out the gas was $4 outside. This was a problem because I paid for gas in advance with them but we only used half a tank so I ended up overpaying. I would recommend using GasBuddy to check gas prices and think about how much driving you plan to do before selecting to pay for gas in advance.
Hotel: DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Phoenix
Address: 320 N 44th St, Phoenix, AZ 85008
This hotel was 15-20 minutes away from everything that we did. When we first pulled up I wasn’t too sure about the hotel because it looked like it was in the middle of nowhere and the neighborhoods that we drove past weren’t the nicest looking driving up. However, it turned out to be a nice hotel.
The hotel room we had was suite style with a living room and bedroom. The living room had a pull-out couch making it a good fit for 4 people. Also, the pool was nice and always full of people. I didn’t get to get in because I forgot my swimsuit. My mom did enjoy the fitness room with the treadmill and another machine.
DAY 1
1. Lunch at CAVA
Cava is my fave quick-serve restaurant. There is not a CAVA where my mom lives so I wanted to take her. When I say she fell in love. I successfully converted her into a CAVA stan. She really enjoyed the pickled onions which are delicious. I am glad I could put my mom on.
If you don’t have CAVA in your town, then this is your opportunity to try it.
2. Explore Old Town and Wine Tasting at The Wine Collective
Then we went out to explore Old Town. We came across this cool bookstore/art store. The art was pretty nice. However, when I say they were expensive. They were expensiveee. This place is definitely worth a look to check out the art work.
Next, I went to a place that looked like a general store where I contemplated buying an Arizona key chain. I held off though because my bf bought me a New Orleans key chain a while back and I broke it. I did not want a repeat.
We didn’t explore much because the heat was getting to me so it was close to our reservation time at The Wine Collective so we went there. In Old Town, there are 7 or so tasting rooms in the area. I chose The Wine Collective based on reviews and I am so glad I did. While at the Wine Collective, I learned that they are one of two tasting rooms that provide sweet wines which is the only type of wine my mom and I drink.
We selected the Sweet and Sexy wine flight with the Burrata Board. My favorite wine was the bubbly Demi Sec. Also, the employees were so kind. One of the employees gave us so many recommendations of things to do in the area it was amazing.
Recommendations:
- Matts Big Breakfast
- The Original Chop Shop
- Immersive Van Gogh
3. Ice Cream at Unbaked
When we were leaving Old Town, I saw this ice cream spot that I wanted to stop at. It was an interesting concept combining edible cookie dough and ice cream. I ended up being basic and getting 2 scoops of cookie dough and 2 scoops of ice cream. It left something to be desired. I would not recommend it unless you try something different like a milkshake or bowl. They also offer alcoholic milkshakes.
Day 2
1. Brunch at Hash Kitchen
This is a must-do. The food was spectacular, live DJ, and vibes.
While here I got a mimosa flight by myself. My mom had to rescue me because I don’t know who I thought I was trying to drink all four mimosas by myself. To eat I got “The Best F#*%ing Birria Hash”. It was soooo delicious. I was not able to eat all of it there so I took it to go. When I reheated the food, on the last day of the trip it was still good. My mom got the “Hangover Hash” and she liked hers as well. She is not a fan of onion rings so that was the only thing that she did not really eat.
2. Visit the Desert Botanical Garden
Cost: $24.95
It was nice to see all the desert plants. I got some amazing pictures of the plants. I even got to see the butterfly and bee exhibit. This place is really Instagrammable so wear some cute activewear and go.
Tip: Go earlier in the morning to avoid the heat.
3. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Cost: Free
When we went they were featuring two exhibits and in the process of adding more. They also gave you an option to do a scavenger hunt. The clues were hidden in the art. Once we found the clues they helped us to unlock these locked boxes to find the treasure. I like how the Museum did this.
An employee let us know there would be a museum-wide event like this in October. I hope that if you get the chance to go they will have a similar activity set up.
4. Wonderspaces
Wonderspaces is an interactive art museum located in Fashion Square Mall. It was like nothing that I have seen before. Each exhibit was completely different from the next and they used different senses. A decent amount of them were audio-visual experiences. As you walk through the museum there is a guide on your phone that will give you more information about each exhibit.
5. Women’s Fire at YogaSix
My bf challenged me to find free things to do on my AZ trip and this was one I found on Eventbrite. This event focused on empowering women and encouraging us to see our power within. It featured meditation and some yoga. When I entered the yoga room it smelled of incense, had a sound bath, and yoga mats with cushions to provide extra support. It was nice.
Tip: Look at Eventbrite for free activites.
DAY 3
1. Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon
Cost: $169 per person
We started the morning off by waking up at 4 am to go hot air ballooning with Rainbow Ryders. This was the highlight of my trip. We met some cool people who were kind. The view was stunning with the mountains at all angles. You don’t have to stress about getting pictures because the crew and everyone on the hot air balloon are willing to help.
This is one of the things that you really, really have to experience.
2. Breakfast Bitch
This is a Black-owned restaurant and it’s aesthetically pleasing. However, the food was subpar. I would say you could pass. I got the chicken quesadilla and it wasn’t the best.
3. Immersive Monet
DAY 4
1. Breakfast Club
This restaurant was the perfect way to end the trip. My mom had some amazing food. She got the Churro waffle and a pumpkin spice latte that was so good. I kept it simple for the last day and got an acai bowl. The staff was amazing. I 10/10 recommend for brunch. There are multiple locations.
We went to the Cityscape location which is downtown. There was a lot of construction going on in the area so I would avoid it and go to another location.
What are your favorite things to do in Scottsdale?