Studio guest room at Hotel Valley Ho.
In contrast, Hotel Valley Ho (rooms from $369/night) sits at the gateway to bustling Main Street in Old Town Scottsdale. Considered one of the most well-preserved mid-century modern hotels in the country, the architecture and interior design of Hotel Valley Ho takes guests on a sentimental journey to a bygone era. When it originally opened in 1956, Bing Crosby, Tony Curtis, and Zsa Zsa Gabor were among the members of the in-crowd to sign the guest registry. Recently restored to its former glory, the property’s 241 guest rooms have punchy mid-century-inspired décor. Our tower suite boasted a full kitchen with sleek and sunny yellow lacquered cabinetry and a large terrace that provided a view of Camelback's backside. A hub of activity, Hotel Valley Ho’s OH Pool is lined with colorful cabanas and an Instagramable "It's Always Sunny in Scottsdale," mural, which I ironically spied during a walk around the property in the rain. Lining the corridor walls leading to the VH Spa are historical photos and hotel advertisements that guide guests on an interesting walk down memory lane. A more sensory journey to far-flung locales is offered via four Jet Set spa treatments. The hammam experience is infused with savory aromatics from the Far East, while wild-harvested Arctic Berry body wrap is part of the Helsinki treatment. With an expansive poolside terrace, ZuZu, Hotel Valley Ho's all-day restaurant, is always buzzy. The approachable menu (hello truffle fries!) is accompanied by a chic cocktail list. Hotel Valley Ho's Old Town location provides walkable access to a host of shopping and dining experiences. Inside the clubby
Mad Men-inspired confines at Second Story Liquor Bar you'll enjoy savory, modern American cuisine. Citizen Public House blew our minds with their bacon-fat heirloom popcorn, so simple but oh so good. Equally rapturous was the guacamole at The Mission Old Town. The restaurant's beautiful and romantic interior design is a fitting complement to its modern Latin cuisine. Knowing nothing about Arizona wines when we crossed the threshold at Merkin Vineyards' Old Town Tasting room, we were pleasantly surprised with the quality of wine produced at this familyowned winery, whose cellars are located 120-miles north in Jerome. Wholly committed to delivering a 100% Arizona experience, grapes are grown on 100-acres in the Verde Valley and Willcox regions, and the food served to accompany tastings utilizes fruits and vegetables grown on the estate. Merkin's ground-to-glass ethos was the perfect ending to a trip heavily focused on relishing the many natural wonders found in the Valley of the Sun, even when it rains. sl RESOURCES Stay Mountain Shadows – 5445 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley, AZ 85253; mountainshadows.com / JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa – 5402 E. Lincoln Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85253; camelbackinn.com / Hotel Valley Ho – 6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251; hotelvalleyho.com Satiate Citizen Public House – 7111 E. 5th Ave. Suite E, Scottsdale, AZ 85251; citizenpublichouse.com / El Chorro5550 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley, AZ 85253; elchorro.com / Isabella's Kitchen – 8623 E. Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale, AZ Merkin Vineyards' Old Town Tasting Room – 7133 E. Stetson Dr. Suite #4, Scottsdale, AZ 85251; merkinoldtownscottsdale.com / Second Story Liquor Bar – 4166 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251; secondstoryliquorbar.com / The Herb Box – 7051 E. Fifth Ave. Unit 1, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251; herbbox.com / The Mission Old Town – 3815 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85253; themissionaz.com See Desert Botanical Garden – 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008; dbg.org / McDowell Sonoran Preserve – mcdowellsonoran.org / Piestewa Peak Summit Trail – 2701 E. Squaw Peak Dr. / South Mountain Park & Preserve / Dobbins Lookout – 10919 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 8502 / Taliesin West – 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85259; franklloydwright.org / Two-Bit Peak Trail – 9200 N. 40th St.
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