April is birthday month--Mom's, Anna's, and mine. This year, we planned a long weekend getaway to celebrate together. Scottsdale is a desert city 20 minutes east of Phoenix. It's known for its spa resorts and golf courses.
Tom and I left Portland early Friday morning on a two-hour flight to Phoenix. At the airport, we met Mom, Anna, Alex, and Alex's mom, Eileen. What a happy reunion! Ubers are readily available in the area, but Anna booked a rental car for our crew of six.
A short while later, we arrived at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn. Anna found a stellar rate using our dad's employee discount; otherwise, it likely would have been out of our budget. The beautiful resort is situated on 125 pristine acres in Paradise Valley between Mummy and Camelback Mountains. Guests are pampered in pueblo-style casitas with superb service, deluxe amenities, outdoor pools, garden terraces, and desert trails in the Sonoran Desert. The renovated lobby showcases the original brick adobe walls that were handmade in the 1930s.
The weather was ideal; strong sunshine and dry heat. Despite daytime highs in the low 80s, I packed an extra layer for the cooler desert nights. Our trip was well-timed for colorful Spring flowers and low crowds.
Overall, it was a very relaxing weekend of treating ourselves to nice dinners and pricey cocktails. We spent lazy days reading and sipping at the pool. I was delighted that the main pool has two lap lanes.
Tyner's Hiking Trail is a short overlook trial at the base of Mummy Mountain, with unobstructed views of Camelback Mountain and the Phoenix skyline.
Favorite restaurants include Diego Pops (casual Mexican) and The Henry (upscale eatery). We also enjoyed dining "on campus" at Rita's Cantina and Lincoln Steakhouse.
Tom and I hiked Camelback Mountain on Sunday morning. Part of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, Camelback gets its name from two rock formations that resemble the head and back of a kneeling camel. The difficult 2.5-mile out-and-back trail gains 1,420'. This steep and rocky ascent requires scrambling.
At 2,704', the summit affords 360-degree views of the surrounding city.
We borrowed bikes to cycle to the Echo Canyon Trailhead, just two miles away. We began the hike around 830am, but would recommend an earlier start to avoid crowds and heat; bring plenty of water. Fortunately, the trail is wide to accommodate high traffic. Tom and I clocked about 45 minutes each way.
We said our goodbyes on Monday afternoon. The silver lining about returning to rainy Portland was to see my Louie cat. I feel very grateful for such a wonderful family trip.
