Sure, you could book yourself an amazing, luxury resort and sit at the pool all week on your next vacation or even explore all of what the state of Arizona has to offer, which has been made famous by its desert beauty and Grand Canyon. But to really understand the “Valley of the Sun”, you need to experience Phoenix like a local.
Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Instead of leaving the Valley for areas all over this beautiful state, why don’t you book a trip to Phoenix, stick around for a few days and do what we do everyday.
Phoenix Like A Local, Sheraton Wild Horse Pass
Here are 5 things that local singles do in the Phoenix/Scottsdale Metroplex:
1. They enjoy staycations and spa/golf days at least once a year – Of course, they book a staycation during the summer, but they also do it in the spring or whenever they need a day break!
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
There are so many boutique hotels and resorts here to choose from, that as a local, we can’t just sit and simmer away in the heat of the summer. Treat yourself to a weekend stay. You can go to the spa or take in a golf day. Phoenix has great choices for spa escapes and golf!
The Royal Palms, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
My choices for boutique luxury hotels:
The Camby, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Hotel Valley Ho, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Hermosa Inn, Paradise Valley, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain’s New Spa House
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
My choices for larger resorts:
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia
Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch, Spa Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Arizona Biltmore, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Sheraton Grand Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa
Sheraton Grand Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
The Phoenician, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Scottsdale W, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
JW Marriot Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
2. They enjoy Cactus League Spring Training – Phoenicians love our sports, with four major league sports teams in Arizona. We love our baseball, which is our Diamondbacks, but remember, we come from all over the place to live here, so we love to see our favorite baseball teams during their Spring Training. Right here in Phoenix/Scottsdale you can see many of your favorite players from the Chicago Cubs to the White Sox , just to name a few! Spring is the perfect time of year to come for a visit.
3. They go to Old Town Scottsdale – Everyone loves to come to this western-themed town! This is where they shop in the art galleries, souvenir shops, and the trendy clothes and home furnishing shops. They eat all the delicious food in the high-end restaurants and play all night at the hip nightclubs, bars, and listen to the live music. But they also go to the Saturday Market to buy fresh veggies and walk around the park!
Az Hoop Dancer in Scottsdale Park, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
4. They love the food – The culinary scene in Phoenix is on fire with amazing chefs scattered throughout the Valley for everything from fine dining, to trendy and hip, to sandwich shops to romantic hideaways, as well as food trucks. There are many hip scenes for valley local singles.
Zookz Sandwiches with an Edge, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Phoenix Like a Local, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale, SWB Restaurant, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale, SWB Restaurant, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
The Valley has everything you need to lick your chops or to plan the perfect date. I can easily recommend Zookz for lunch in central Phoenix, La Mariposa for romance, Crudo for drinks, Talavera for high-end cuisine. Postino’s and The Mission are just plain cool, but there are so many more that I love as well!
Steaks from Talavera, Four Seasons Scottsdale, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Talavera, Four Seasons Scottsdale, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
Talavera, Four Seasons Scottsdale, Photo by PointsandTravel.com
5. They love to hike – They love all the mountains that surround our valleys, and so seeing the city from the top of the mountain is one of the things Phoenix singles love to do. You can take the Summit Trail all the way to the top of Piestew (Squaw) Peak for incredible views! Can you believe we get about 4,000 to 10,000 hikers per week on this very trail? Piestewa (Squaw) Peak goes to 2,612 feet, so once you make it, wave down below to me, because I live real close to this mountain. Also, I am sure you noticed that gorgeous rock-like mountain that is shaped like a camel with his humps that we so fondly refer to as the Camelback Mountain. It is much more strenuous a hike to the top of this one at 2,707 feet, so be prepared to hike and climb, as well as bring plenty of water. These are just two of our famous mountains right in the center of town.
Camelback Mountain, Photo by PointsandTravel.com,
To sum it up, these are things Phoenix singles do every day, since they live right here in the “Valley of the Sun.” When you come for a visit and you want to act like a single local Phoenician, now you know what you can do while you are here!
Need more information to decide? Visit ScottsdaleCVB.com and Visit Phoenix.
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I was in phoenix for a layover last year, but I really want to get back and explore the city! I hope to go back next year.
I’m bookmarking this. I’ve always wanted to visit Phoenix, but I’ve never been able to yet. This is going to be a big help when I can finally get there.
I have been wanting to go to Phoenix forever! This just made me push it way up on my list. Bookmarking this page!
The swimming pools look so inviting! I can only wish to spend a weekend there to escape from this winter cold! I will have to remember these places if and when I get to visit Phoenix.
Oh my gosh. That view at Wild Horse Pass is amazing!! I’d love to visit just to see it.
I had no idea that there was so much to do in Phoenix, Arizona. I would love to check out any of those spas!
I would love to visit Phoenix. It looks so beautiful.
Wow, spending some time in Phoenix could be seriously fun! I like these recommendations!
I have only been to Phoenix once, but I would love to go back and explore like a local. There is so much to do there!
This is an amazing list! Thanks for sharing these! I would love to visit at least two of those hotels this year!
Never visited Phoenix but definitely want to put it on my list of places to go after reading this review! So many great attractions and these pictures are just so sumptuous!
I like your idea of staying to one area when traveling.
Especially in a terrific city like Phoenix, this seems to be an interesting method of travel, instead of trying to do it all.