Scottsdale, Part 1 is HERE.
One activity several people recommended when visiting Scottsdale was hiking Camelback. The Phoenician resort sits at the base of Camelback mountain, so it was perfect. We slapped on sunscreen, split a Clif bar, and headed down to the lobby to hop on a golf cart. The golf cart took us to the entrance of the resort that was closest to the base of Cholla trail and and we walked the rest of the way. There was plenty of other hikers with the same idea.
The hike was amazing. About half way up the mountain, the hike got pretty tough. I was using my hands a lot and continually having to plot out my steps. When we got to the top, it was a stunning view!
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Coming down was equally challenging with loose rocks and steep portions, but it was a great feeling to see how far we descended each time we looked up.
When we got to the bottom of the trail, we decided to jog it back to the resort. It was the last thing I wanted to do after the hike, but it felt great after a couple minutes. Flushing out that lactic acid….
We got back to the resort and grabbed the keys to the car to go get brunch. Yelpers raved about Orange Table, so we headed downtown and put our names on the list. In my extensive brunch-eating experience, I can tell you that a line or a waiting list equates to amazing breakfast. We ordered Bloody Marys and sat outside in the sunshine to wait for our table.
Brunch was fantastic. We were both starving after the hike and every single menu item looked heavenly. I went with an eggs benedict dish with chorizo, and my husband went with something called a green flannel.
If you are in Scottsdale, this is a must. The vibe is relaxed and the food is top-notch. The walls are full of local awards and I can see why.
I was craving an iced coffee since I woke up, so my husband indulged me and took me to Cartel Coffee Lab after brunch. Again, it was Yelp recommended, and the cold brew was just what I needed.
The rest of the afternoon was spend lounging by the pool, reading and soaking up the sunshine. In the late afternoon, I got a little restless and decided to hit up the mall. The resort seems very rural, but it is actually only a couple minutes from Fashion Square. I had a shop at Lululemon and grabbed a couple things in obnoxiously bright pink colors and headed back to shower and get ready for dinner.
Before leaving Chicago, I grabbed a couple things at Zara, including this striped dress with an open back. I paired it with gold espadrilles and a simple pony and was ready for drinks in the resort’s bar, The Thirsty Camel. We got a beautiful seat on the patio in front of a fire pit and listened to live music and discussed how we needed to make this an annual thing. That’s right, I’m coming back.
The hotel drove us to our dinner at Beckett’s Table.
This place was recommended by Yelp, and was a seasonal farm to table concept. On top of that, they celebrated local wine producers on Sunday nights and offered half price Arizona wines.
Every dish was a unique combination of flavors and textures.
1- feta with olives, peppers, and fresh herbs
2- short ribs with potato-cauliflower mash and broccoli
3- roasted Brussels with mustard aioli and bacon cheddar biscuits
4- toasted coconut cake with cashews
The location was unexpected (not Downtown Scottsdale), but the food was really unique and delicious. I would highly recommend making the trip and trying some Arizona wine. We had a bottle of the Dos Cabezas Red that we were pleasantly surprised by. Arizona wine? I didn’t even know that was a thing.
Hiking- love it or hate it?
Hot coffee in a hot climate? Or do you match your coffee to the climate? I crave both and it doesn’t always correspond to the weather
Are you my friend on Yelp yet? You should be…
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