SHORT STAY
GETTING THERE
Jessica Huras visits Scottsdale for a taste of Arizona’s panoramic desert scenery without giving up the creature comforts and artistic experiences.
[
SCOTTSDALE,
ARIZONA
]
BY AIR: Air
Canada offers multiple nonstop flights per week from Toronto’s Pearson airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Journey time is around 4 hours. aircanada.com GETTING IN:
Phoenix’s airport is a 15-minute Uber or Lyft ride from Scottsdale. In town, take advantage of ridesharing bike and scooter services like Lime.
TWIN CITY
There are two sides to Scottsdale: the well-heeled, modern Scottsdale with its top-notch golf courses, lavish spas, swish resorts and progressive restaurants; and the rustic, cowboy Scottsdale that fully embraces its slogan “the West’s most western town,” where you can horseback ride along rugged paths, hike up mountain trails fringed with cacti and generally be bowled over by the beauty of the area’s untamed desert scenery. It’s a city that has perfected the art of laid-back indulgence, where days begin with challenging sunrise treks and end with poolside cocktails.
COWBOY CHIC
In the former home of cowboy artist Lon Megargee, the Hermosa Inn is a boutique retreat with oodles of southwestern charm. Low, adobe buildings – some that date back to the 1930s – are spread between six acres of pretty pathways lined with bougainvillea, cacti and palm trees. Handsome private casitas feature Arizona-inspired decor like leather chairs, Native American rugs and beehive fireplaces. Their popular restaurant LON’s offers crowd-pleasing seasonal cuisine and an impressive wine list, while the Last Drop bar has a big patio with comfy sofas and lovely views of Camelback Mountain.
ABOVE: Sunrise and
sunset are the best times to capture the Sonoran Desert in all its colourful beauty – and also when the temperature is more pleasant
