The Best Girl’s Trip to Scottsdale, Arizona:

The Sonoran Desert city of Scottsdale, Arizona is located outside the state capital – Phoenix. It’s recognized for its world-renowned golf courses, 5-star luxury resorts, shopping boutiques in Old Town Scottsdale, award-winning restaurants and outdoor adventures! There’s no doubt that one of the most memorable things to do is to spend a girl’s weekend in Scottsdale!

Scottsdale got its name in 1894 after being founded by Winfield Scott, a retired U.S. Army chaplain. It’s known to be one of the most Western cities of the American West and over the year, it’s become a popular vacation destination for all to enjoy. It’s also one of the best bachelorette party destinations!

Overall, Scottsdale, Arizona is the perfect place for a regular girl’s trip, bachelorette party, college reunion, birthday and more. During New Year’s weekend 2022, going into 2023, I visited Scottsdale, Arizona for the first time with my friend Caitlin of My Darling Passport. In addition to ringing in the New Year at the Omni Montelucia, we also enjoyed fun outdoor adventures at Saguaro National Park near Tucson.

This weekend in Scottsdale blog post includes everything you need to enjoy the best girl’s trip! Discover the fun things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona, any time of the year.

**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like. During my time in Scottsdale, Omni Scottsdale Resort at Montelucia hosted me for three nights.

Pin the Below Image to Keep Handy

Traveling to Scottsdale for a Girl’s Getaway:

Traveling to Scottdale for a girl’s trip can easily be done anywhere in the United States. I flew from Newark Airport in New Jersey to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. I found affordable flights through Skyscanner!

Driving from the airport to Scottsdale takes around 15 to 20 minutes. The best way to explore Scottsdale and the surrounding areas is by renting a car. If you don’t rent a car, you can take an Uber or Lyft to get around and Go Airport Shuttle offers transportation to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor.  Scottsdale also has a public trolley system called the Valley Metro that takes riders around the city.

Additionally, Scottsdale makes for a great stop on a USA road trip! Click here if you are planning to road trip around the United States and want to rent an RV.

Best Hotel for a Luxury Scottsdale Weekend:

The best place to stay in Scottsdale during a girl’s weekend getaway is Omni Montelucia. This luxurious resort will transport you to Morocco or Andalusia, Spain with its world-class spa, award-winning restaurants and breathtaking property!

Staying at Omni Montelucia:

Since all the accommodations at Omni Scottsdale are Andalusian style, you’ll feel like you’re waking up at the Alhambra.

During my time at the Omni, I stayed in the Camelback Mountain View Room, which had gorgeous views of the famous Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale from the balcony. My room also had an en-suite bathroom with a huge shower, an oversized bathtub and a comfortable bed.

In addition to the Camelback Mountain View Room, you can also choose from the Poolside Room, Grand Mountain View Rooms, Poolside Suites, Grand Mountain View Suite, Two Bedrooms Suites, Executive Parlor Hospitality Suite and ADA Accessible Rooms. 

What is also nice about staying at Omni Montelucia is that there are also Presidential Suites. These incredible suites are 2,800 square feet of old-world luxury, making them great for bachelorette parties, bridal suites, alumni viewing parties and more.

Amenities at Omni Scottsdale:

The Omni Montelucia property is stunning! On a beautiful day, there is a great pool with private cabanas. What is nice about this pool is that it is heated so it can be appreciated on a chilly day during a Scottsdale girl’s trip. There is also a hot tub too!

Since I stayed at Omni Scottsdale during New Year’s weekend, the temperatures were in the low 60s Fahrenheit, so it was nice to enjoy a Sweet Traditions hot chocolate, from Mbar, by the fire pits in the stunning Cortijo Patio. This dreamy patio also had a gorgeous Christmas tree in the middle, which was nice to enjoy with our hot cocoa!

One of my favorite parts of staying at the Omni Montelucia was enjoying a well-needed relaxation evening at Joya Spa. This Moroccan spa is the best place to relieve stress, experience tranquility and unplug. It’s one of the best things to do during a weekend trip to Scottsdale, Arizona!

Not only can you enjoy incredible spa services at Joya Spa, but you can also relax at the heated rooftop pool that overlooks the mountains and head into the sauna, steam room, hot tub and more. It’s one of the best places to enjoy a spa day in Scottsdale with good friends!

What is remarkable about Joya Spa is that when you first arrive, there are two unique rooms that you’ll enter – the Joy of Intention and the Joy of Purification rooms. You’ll choose from five healing stones to set the tone of your day. Then, you’ll head to a stunning 55lb—quartz crystal to release all your stress and negative energies.

My spa treatment at Joya Spa was the Joyambrosia, a Moroccan-inspired relaxation treatment that includes a blend of essential oils, flower and gem essences.

Omni Montelucia also has an incredible concierge who will help you book a tee time for golf and plan activities around Scottsdale and the Phoenix area.

This beautiful resort is also excellent for special occasions like weddings, corporate meetings, alumni reunions, etc.

Dining at the Omni during a Scottsdale Weekend Trip:

One of the best things to do during a luxury girl’s trip to Scottsdale is to enjoy a wonderful Spanish dinner at the Omni Hotel’s Prado restaurant. Everything on the menu reflects the flavors of the Andalusian region of Southern Spain!

Also situated in Prado is Mbar, where you can sip A-list wines, craft cocktails and more. On Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9 pm, you can enjoy Musica en Vivo at Mbar!

Caitlin and I enjoyed a New Year’s Eve prix fixe dinner at Prado and it was incredible. Both of us were given Spanish cava. For the first course, I had tomato lobster ravioli with fennel broth, lentils, mushrooms and crushed pistachios and Caitlin had the Spanish octopus with cauliflower puree, avocado dust, blue tomato and squid ink gel. Course two was Hamachi Crudo with avocado, watercress, cucumber sour orange granita, pickled Fresno and smoked mushroom for both of us. During course three, we both savored Chilean sea bass with Romanesco, dehydrated lemon, basil oil, farro, carrot broth and brown butter cream. I enjoyed the clementine meringue tart with mulling spice, pignoli and figs for dessert and Caitlin had the chocolate and hazelnut semifredo with chocolate gravel and frangelico.

In addition to Prado, you can also savor Southwest Mexican food from Taqueria Centro; decadent desserts, gelato and coffee from Crave Café and health food from Joya Terrace. You can also schedule private dining ahead of time for special occasions like bridal or baby showers, rehearsal dinners, business lunches/dinners and more.

Fun Things to do in Scottsdale during a Girl’s Weekend Trip:

From enjoying the best restaurants to adventuring around the Sonoran Desert, here are the top things to do with 3 days in Scottsdale on a girl’s getaway.

Visit the Best Restaurants during a Scottsdale Weekend Trip:

Farm & Craft: One of the best places to enjoy lunch in Old Town Scottsdale is Farm & Craft. It’s a healthy and sustainable eatery where you can enjoy everything from açai bowls to savory bowls and salads to flatbreads.

While at Farm & Craft, I had the Teriyaki Bowl with chicken. It included farro, grilled pineapple, shredded carrot, snap peas, candied jalapeño, cilantro, toasted cashews and garlic with lavender lemonade. It was incredible! Caitlin had the Kale Caesar salad and loved it as well.

There is also a Farm & Craft location in Phoenix.

The Mission: My favorite restaurant in Scottsdale is The Mission in Old Town. It is an upscale Latin restaurant with a swanky vibe. I loved all the décor, fireplaces and selection of craft cocktails.

During my evening at The Mission with Caitlin, I savored the Arroz Chaufa, Peruvian duck fried rice with a spicy hibiscus margarita. They were both fantastic! Caitlin had the grilled street corn with the prickly pear margarita. We shared the Tecate Battered Mahi Mahi tacos with corn tortillas, including citrus escabeche, green olive aioli, cilantro and cotija. 

In addition to the Old Town location, which is right next to the Old Adobe Mission in Scottsdale, The Mission also has a location in Kierland Commons. If you want to eat at either place, making dinner reservations ahead of time is best.

Hash Kitchen: A girl’s weekend in Scottsdale is not complete without enjoying brunch at Hash Kitchen. This fun spot has a weekend DJ and is iconic for its Bloody Mary bar, cereal milk shots and fun pancakes.

At Hash Kitchen, you can enjoy mimosa flights, hashes and scrambles as well as a plethora of eccentric pancake and French toast options. When Caitlin and I had brunch at Hash Kitchen, I had the Mega Glitter Bomb Mimosa, which comes with a flavor of choice (orange, kiwi, strawberry, blueberry, pineapple and peach) with a cotton candy glitter bomb. I chose the blueberry mimosa and it was both pretty and tasty! With my mimosa, I had the s’mores pancakes, which were amazing!

Caitlin took advantage of the DIY Bloody Mary Bar and savored the Loaded Baked Potato Hash.

Not only is Hash Kitchen located in Scottsdale, but there are also restaurants in Peoria, Chandler and Phoenix, Arizona.

SumoMaya: My second favorite restaurant in Scottsdale is SumoMaya, a funky Mexican-Asian fusion restaurant with creative cocktails. You can savor incredible sushi, tacos, ceviche and more.

During our evening at SumoMaya, Caitlin and I had some sushi rolls with shishito peppers and tuna tostadas. Everything was delicious! We also had spicy margaritas with our meals too. Everything was fantastic!

Please note that you must make dinner reservations in advance to eat at SumoMaya! It’s a fun atmosphere that attracts a lot of big parties.

Butters Pancakes & Café: Another excellent breakfast and brunch spot in Scottsdale is Butters Pancakes. With locations at Northsight Crossing and Mercado on Hayden, you can enjoy incredible pancakes, French toast, crêpe and waffle options. This great breakfast spot also has scramblers, omelets and breakfast sandwiches to enjoy. Butters also has a wonderful coffee and espresso bar!

During our morning at Butters Pancakes & Café, I had a cappuccino with a Nutella crêpe with fresh fruit. I also got their famous hash potatoes as a side. Caitlin enjoyed one of the scramblers.

Other places to eat in Scottsdale, Arizona:

• Diego Pops (Mexican Restaurant)
• Fat Ox (Italian Restaurant)
• Toca Madera (Mexican Restaurant)
• Prep and Pastry (Coffee and Pastry Shop)

Wander through Old Town Scottsdale:

One of the best things to do during a weekend in Scottsdale is to walk through the Old Town. This Western-style town features boutiques, murals, galleries, cafés, restaurants and more.

An iconic Scottsdale mural that you must check out during your girl’s trip is the “It’s that Hot” Sunset mural by Lauren Lee. It is located across the street from Farm & Craft if you decide to get lunch there. The exact address for this mural is 7150 E. 6^th Avenue in Scottsdale.

After lunch and seeing the mural, an excellent (and “Instagrammable”) spot to enjoy dessert is The Sugar Bowl. It’s a retro-style, all-pink, old-fashioned ice cream parlor and soda shop. It’s a must to visit The Sugar Bowl with your girlfriends and while you’re there, you can savor the best ice cream sundaes, sodas, sandwiches and more.

A fun thing to do during a Scottsdale bachelorette or girl’s trip, where you have a larger group, is to enjoy an Arizona Party Bike. After enjoying a few Nashville girls’ trips in the past, it is comparable to Scottsdale, and they both offer peddle parties.  In Scottsdale, you can enjoy the Arizona Party Bike, which goes around downtown. It includes music, LED party lights, VIP drink specials and a great time!

Another one of the top things to do in Scottsdale during a girl’s weekend getaway is to taste your way through the city’s wine trail. Located in Old Town Scottsdale, enjoy wine tasting with your best friends at Aridus Wine Company, Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, Carlson Creek Tasting Room, LDV Winery Tasting Room, Merkin Vineyards, Salvatore Vineyards Tasting Room and The Wine Collective of Scottsdale.

Scottsdale also has a great nightlife scene! On New Year’s Eve, Caitlin and I celebrated at Beverly on Main, but other great spots to have fun in Old Town Scottsdale are Maple & Ash, Coach House and Culinary Dropout.

Hike Camelback Mountain:

It’s no secret that Camelback Mountain is the most famous place to hike during a long weekend in Scottsdale. There are a variety of easy, moderate and difficult trails to enjoy on this mountain and it provides incredible views of the entire Phoenix area.

Two popular trails to enjoy on Camelback Mountain are the Echo Canyon Trail and the Cholla Trail. They are great because they aren’t long hikes but provide a significant challenge to fit everything else you want to do in the day.

The Echo Canyon Trail is a 2.5-mile, out-and-back trail with over a 1,400 elevation gain and the Cholla Trail is a 3-mile, out-and-back trail with a 1,279-elevation gain.

Stroll through Desert Botanical Garden:

A stunning place to visit, even if you only have one day in Scottsdale, is the Desert Botanical Garden. It’s a 140-acre botanical garden, in Papago Park in Phoenix, that features some of the best collections of arid plants from different deserts of the world.

What is fantastic about Desert Botanical Garden is that it offers special events and tours for all ages to enjoy! You can walk through the trails within the botanical garden and learn all about conservation, desert plant life and the people of the Sonoran Desert.

There is also a children’s center, restaurant, café, and gift and plant shop to enjoy at Desert Botanical Garden. I loved the selection of cacti you can purchase at this spot.

While you’re at Papago Park during your weekend in Scottsdale, AZ, you must also see Hole in the Rock! It’s a natural geological formation located in the red rocks. A short hike involves seeing the actual hole, but it’s short and doable for all ages. Please wear comfortable shoes when visiting Papago Park!

It’s around a 10-minute drive from Old Town Scottsdale to Papago Park where the botanical garden and Hole in the Rock are located! Both locations attract large crowds.

Desert Botanical Garden costs between $24.95 to $29.95 for adults 18 and older. It also costs between $14.95 – $16.95 for children ages 3-17. There’s no fee for young children under 3. It’s also free for all to visit Hole in the Rock.

Admire Views of Scottsdale on a Hot Air Balloon Ride:

One of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of the Sonoran Desert is by taking a hot air balloon ride during your weekend in Scottsdale. The Sonoran Desert covers most of Central and Southern Arizona along with parts of Southeastern California and Northwestern Mexico.

Through Rainbow Ryders, you can enjoy a sunrise balloon ride, sunset balloon ride and private rides. It’s a fun experience to enjoy with anyone special in your life!

Explore the Natural Beauty on the Gateway Trail:

Another excellent way to explore the desert city and its beauty is hiking the Gateway Loop Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

This 4.4-mile loop trail is rated as a moderate to challenging hike. Not only is it fun to hike and mountain bike the Gateway Trail, but it’s also a great photo spot in Scottsdale! There are 360° views of the local mountains and it’s also a great spot to see many saguaros, tree-like cacti that can grow to nearly 40 feet and live up to 200 years! I was amazed!

Please note that it is around a 20-minute drive to McDowell Sonoran Preserve from downtown Scottsdale. I recommend taking advantage of this hike during your weekend in Scottsdale. It’s free for all!

Go Shopping at the Scottsdale Fashion Square:

If you’re wondering what to do in Scottsdale on a rainy day during a girl’s trip, you must go shopping at the Scottsdale Fashion Square in Old Town.

This premier shopping mall has popular stores like Nordstrom to Lululemon and famous dining spots like Nobu to Shake Shack.

Adventure through Saguaro National Park:

Recognized as the National Park with the giant saguaro cacti, Saguaro National Park is the best place to visit for a day of adventure from Scottsdale.

Located right outside Tucson, Arizona, Saguaro National Park is separated into two parts – the western Tucson Mountain District and the eastern Rincon Mountain District. If you only have a day or even a half day to explore Saguaro National Park, then I suggest you explore the western Tucson Mountain District since it boasts the denser population of cacti.

You can enter the western part of Saguaro National Park on N. Kinney Road in Tucson. I recommend heading to the Visitor’s Center to get a park map. That is also where you’ll pay the park fees.

(Please note that it costs $25 USD per vehicle (standard card) to enter Saguaro National Park. It costs more for commercial vans, buses and tours. The $25 passes are valid for seven consecutive days. If you are going on a road trip where you know you will see a lot of National Parks along the way; I recommend getting the America the Beautiful Pass for $80 USD. You will save money that way!)

Since we only spent a half day at Saguaro National Park during our weekend in Scottsdale, Caitlin and I just explored the western area. The best way to see the beauty of Saguaro National Park is by driving the scenic, 6-mile Bajada Loop Drive in a counterclockwise direction. There are plenty of signs for Bajada Loop Drive so you won’t miss it.

Three easy overlook trails to enjoy incredible views of the saguaro are the Valley View Overlook Trail, which is only 0.8 miles round trip; Signal Hill Petroglyphs, which is only 0.5 miles round trip and Desert Discovery Nature Trail, which is also 0.5 miles round trip. No matter which trail you choose to take off Bajada Loop Drive, you will see a lot of tall saguaro cacti.

You can drive the scenic, 8-mile Cactus Forest Drive in Saguaro National Park East. Unlike Bajada Loop Drive, Cactus Forest Drive is paved. You can enjoy stunning views from the accessible Desert Ecology Trail and Javelina Rocks Overlook.

You can enjoy the Mica View Trail, King Canyon-Gould Mine Loop and Tanque Verde Ridge Trail for longer hikes.

The Mica View Trail in Saguaro East is a 3.7-mile easy loop trail that takes over an hour to complete. If you’re looking for a great moderate hike, look no further than the Gould Mine loop trail in Saguaro West, which takes 2.3 miles and an hour to complete. For those looking for a challenging day hike in Saguaro National Park, I recommend the Tanque Verde Peak trail via the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail in Saguaro East. This hike is 17.6 miles and takes almost 10 hours to complete.

No matter what hikes you choose in Saguaro National Park, I suggest you download the AllTrails app when you have cell phone reception to find the best trail and use it as a navigation.

It’s important to note that it takes an hour and 45 minutes to drive from Scottsdale to Saguaro National Park West. It takes a little over two hours to get from Scottsdale to the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center in the eastern part of the park.

Enjoy a Day Trip to Tucson:

If you spend 3 days in Scottsdale, explore Tucson after adventuring through Saguaro National Park or do a full-day trip to this southern Arizona city. It takes around two hours to get from Scottsdale to Tucson, Arizona.

Even though Caitlin and I didn’t spend too much time in Tucson, we did make our way over to Mercado San Augustin to shop and enjoy delicious Mexican food! Since Tucson is the last major city in Arizona before you reach the Mexican border, you will find incredible taquerias.

Located in the Mercado District of Tucson, Mercado San Augustin boasts stunning boutiques, great restaurants, art galleries and cafés. Seis Kitchen is the number one spot to visit, especially if you’re looking for great tacos.

This upscale Mexican street food stand is locally sourced and serves its tacos with homemade corn tortillas. I had the Chicken Tinga, Grilled Fish and Grilled Shrimp Tacos; they were all incredible! Caitlin had one of the mouthwatering burritos.

Other great things to do in Tucson, Arizona, during a girl’s getaway are to wander through Old Tucson, a Wild West attraction like Pioneertown near Palm Springs, California as well as the Barrio Viejo neighborhood that boasts beautiful Adobe houses.

You must also check out the beautiful San Xavier Mission, a historic Spanish-style Catholic church, the Desert Museum, and all the colorful murals around Tucson.

Make a Day Trip to Sedona:

Sedona, Arizona makes for another great day trip during a long weekend in Scottsdale. This beautiful red rock city is known for its vortexes, incredible hiking, award-winning dining scene and luxury hotels.

I traveled to Sedona on a Southwest road trip in June 2020 and fell in love with it! Some of the best things to do in Sedona, Arizona is to dine at one of Lisa Dahl’s restaurants. One of the best dining options in Sedona is Dahl’s Mariposa, a Latin-inspired restaurant.

Other exciting things to do during a day trip to Sedona from Scottsdale during a girl’s trip are to do the Devil’s Bridge or Cathedral Rock hikes, stroll around the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, enjoy a Pink Jeep Tour and go wine tasting.

Love the Southwest? Check out these other awesome spots that are in driving distance from Scottsdale:

Page, Arizona

Grand Canyon West

Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park

I hope you all enjoyed discovering all the fun things to do during a girl’s weekend in Scottsdale. If you have any questions, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.

Planning a memorable USA trip? Find more USA travel tips here.

I hope you all enjoyed discovering the best things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona. If you have any questions, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.

Basic Facts of the United States:

Currency: United States Dollar, Capital: Washington D.C., AZ State Capital: Phoenix, Time Zone: Arizona does not follow Daylight Savings. During the warmer months, Arizona is on Pacific Time Zone and then it is on Mountain Standard Time during the colder months.

Looking for the best agency to book your next bespoke travel experience? Contact Crawford Concierge!

*Anything could happen during your travels. Always make sure you are insured in case there are unforeseen circumstances such as lost luggage/theft, natural disasters, personal liabilities and more. Click here to get insured for your next trip.

Shop my Scottsdale Look:

Click here to shop my Poshmark closet!