fabulous PHOENIX

WARM YOUR SENSES IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN.

By Karen Schaler

Phoenix is in perpetual motion, a destination constantly changing, making it hard for even locals to keep up on all that’s happening. Every time you turn around, there are chic new resorts, spas, restaurants and golf courses. The list of the “best of the best” is forever growing, but continues to feature the luxurious finds for which this desert oasis is so famous.

Stay

Trying to decide where to stay in the Phoenix area is mind boggling because there are so many world-class resorts from which to choose. With just over 100 luxurious rooms, The Royal Palms (President George W. Bush’s local hotel of choice), has a timeless, intimate feel and has just unveiled a $12 million makeover, including all new spectacular Spa Suites. If you’re craving a boutique hotel but want to stay at a golf resort, try The Phoenician’s Canyon Suites. From the chauffeur to the afternoon wine tastings, bath butlers, Therapeutic Turndown Service and daily exotic fruits, the Canyon Suites go the extra mile to spoil you senseless.

In North Scottsdale, where luxe accommodations reign, the crème de la crème is the Four Seasons Resort, tucked away in the foothills of Pinnacle Peak, next to the world-class Troon North Golf Club. The winemaker dinners are outstanding. Other smart choices in Scottsdale are the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale and Westin Kierland Resort. All have great restaurants, spas and access to phenomenal golf and shopping.

Eat

For a landlocked state smack in the middle of the desert, it’s amazing how many top-rated seafood and sushi restaurants you’ll find around Phoenix. For sensational sashimi and signature martinis, the hip crowd heads to Blue Wasabi Sushi and Martini in DC Ranch in North Scottsdale. The menu is nontraditional and irreverent, so don’t be surprised when you see “Eating Nemo” on the list of sushi rolls. Just next door is the swanky Eddie V’s Edgewater Grill, a favorite for happy hour, when oysters on the half-shell are only 50 cents and appetizers are half off. Don’t miss the crab cake with “original” sauce.

For a juicy steak, head over to either Donovan’s Steak & Chop House or Mastro’s City Hall. Both have a traditional steakhouse feel and find new ways to impress. A new hotspot, just across from Fashion Square Mall, is Olive & Ivy Restaurant & Marketplace, which serves up an eclectic Mediterranean menu. Go early on weekends—it’s packed by 7 p.m. Barrio Café is the spot for authentic Mexican, with mole sauce to die for and a great selection of Mexican wines. This place is tiny and popular but worth the wait.

Play

GOLF Besides having wonderful winter weather and amazing resorts and restaurants, Phoenix is known as a golf and spa mecca. With more than 200 golf courses in the metro area, you can always find a tee-time, even during the busiest months (when playing some of the top courses, you’ll need to reserve ahead). Insider tip: Keep an eye out for last-minute online deals, especially during the sizzling summer months, prices are cut drastically.

Two of the top courses in Arizona have undergone some serious changes and upgrades. The Tournament Players Club just opened the new 18-hole Champions Course across the street from the famed Stadium Course that hosts the PGA Tour’s FBR Open. A two-year renovation at the award-winning 36-hole Troon North Golf Club is finally complete and offers an unusual setup where you play the holes in a different order. There are dozens of public courses to try, but if you’re looking for luxury golf, hit any of the top clubs and you won’t be disappointed.

SPA Depending on what you’re looking for, simple or chic, there’s a fluffy bathrobe with your name on it in Phoenix. Head over to the Centre for Well-Being and lose yourself in the 80-minute Accusage treatment, which combines therapeutic massage with acupuncture. To put your best face forward, choose the Caviar Dreams Anti-Aging Treatment with Facial Stone Massage—you’ll leave feeling 10 years younger. Need some inner balance? Try Spa Avania, which changes snacks and music along with the treatments, depending on the time of day. Special massages for those golf-obsessed are offered at the Four Seasons Spa, where warmed golf balls are used to help loosen tension.

For a girls’ getaway weekend, the posh Alvadora Spa offers some great deals. Try the hottest new treatments in the desert, the Rollerssage body treatment at Agave Spa and the Turquoise massage at Revive Spa, where actual turquoise is combined with desert sage.

HIKING

One of the best ways to get a bird’s-eye view of the Phoenix area is to hit the hills for a little hiking. Follow the locals and check out 2,889-foot Pinnacle Peak for a moderately difficult hike in North Scottsdale. Advanced hikers will want to head to the 2,704-foot Camelback Mountain because this popular trek has a steep, tricky 1.2-mile trail to the top. A favorite with families is the 2,608-foot Piestewa Peak with its moderate summit trail, but go early—it gets crowded on the weekends.

SHOPPING

Designer shops continue to move into this area in record numbers, with Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Tiffany & Co., Juicy Couture, Burberry, Coach, Kate Spade and Salvatore Ferragamo on the list.

Scottsdale Fashion Square has all of the above and dozens more. For unique outdoor boutique jewelry, clothing shops and restaurants, check out DC Ranch Marketstreet, The Borgata, Biltmore Fashion Park or Kierland Commons, and have your credit cards ready.

As a destination that’s constantly updating and upgrading, there’s one thing you can count on: Phoenix is catapulting itself full speed into the future, making this one desert oasis you’ll want to keep an eye on.

YOUR GUIDE TO PHOENIX

LODGING

Four Seasons Resort
480-515-5700; www..em>fourseasons.com/scottsdale

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale
480-444-1234; www..em>scottsdale.hyatt.com

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort
800-835-6206; www..em>jwdesertridgeresort.com

The Phoenician
480-941-8200; www../em>thecanyonsuitesatthephoenician.com

The Royal Palms
800-672-6011; www..em>royalpalmshotel.com

Westin Kierland Resort
800-354-5892; www..em>kierlandresort.com

DINING

Barrio Café
602-636-0240 www..em>barriocafe.com

Blue Wasbi Sushi and Martini
480-315-9800 www..em>azeats.com/bluewasabi

Donovan’s Steak & Chop House
602-955-3666 www..em>donovanssteakhouse.com

Eddie V’s Edgewater Grill
480-538-8468 www..em>eddiev.com

Mastro’s City Hall
480-941-4700 www..em>mastrorestaurants.com

Olive & Ivy Restaurant & Marketplace
480-751-2200 www..em>foxrestaurantconcepts. com/olive.html

ATTRACTIONS

[SPAS]

Agave Spa
800-354-5892 www.kierlandresort.com

Alvadora Spa
602-977-6400 www.royalpalmshotel.com

Centre for Well-Being
480-423-2452 www.centreforwellbeing.com

Four Seasons Spa
480-515-5700 www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale

Revive Spa
866-738-4834 www.jwdesertridgeresort.com

Spa Avania
480-483-5558 www.spaavania.com

[GOLF]

Tournament Players Club
480-585-4334 www..em>tpc.com

Troon North Golf Club
480-585-7700 www..em>troonnorthgolf.com

[SHOPPING]

Biltmore Fashion Park
www.shopbiltmore.com

DC Ranch Marketstreet
www.beonmarketstreet.com

Kierland Commons
www.kierlandcommons.com

Scottsdale Fashion Square
www.fashionsquare.com

The Borgata
www.borgata.com

[HIKING]

Camelback Mountain
www..em>ci.phoenix.az.us/parks/ hikecmlb.html

Piestewa Peak
www..em>phoenix.gov/parks/ hikephx.html

Pinnacle Peak
www..em>scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/ pinnacle.asp