Looking for Easter activities in Scottsdale. Here’s a few fun things to do:

Easter Brunch in Scottsdale

• The Phoenician
  10:00 – 3:00 pm
• McCormick Ranch Golf Club
  “Easter Champagne Brunch”
  10:00 – 3:00 pm
• Z’Tejas
  (with Easter Egg Hunt – see below)
  11:00 – 2:00 pm
• Fairmont Scottsdale
  Easter Baskets for grown ups!
  Join us at our Easter Sunday brunch celebration and enter to win our deluxe Willow Stream Spa Wellness Easter Basket!   Willow Stream Easter baskets for grown ups and that special someone in your life available for purchase at Willow Stream Spa Boutique.
• Radisson Fort McDowell
  11:00 – 3:00 pm
• Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale – Crescent Moon
  10:30 – 3:00 pm

Easter Egg Hunts in Scottsdale

• Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt at Enchantment Resort in Sedona
  7:00 – 8:30 pm, Camp Coyote
  Join the Camp Counselors as they hunt for glow in the dark eggs throughout property. The hunt will end at an undisclosed location for a special surprise!
• Easter Egg Hunt at Enchantment Resort in Sedona
  9:00 – 10:30 am, Tipi
  Keep your eyes peeled for these delicious decorated eggs. The Easter Bunny will make a special appearance for pictures with the kids!
• The Borgata of Scottsdale shopping center is hosting an Easter Egg hunt on Saturday April 3^rd in the center courtyard from 10:30 – 11:30 am. The event is free. Guests can enjoy kids crafts, beverages and a light breakfast provided by Starbucks, a visit from the Easter bunny and of course the main event, the Egg Hunt!
• Z’Tejas will also be hosting their annual Easter egg hunt for the kids that will take play every hour from 11:00 am with the last egg hunt starting at 2:00 pm. The Z’Tejas Easter Bunny will be one site throughout the day while Z’Tejas staff takes pictures of families and children with the costumed bunny. The pictures are available to all families for free!
• Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale will be transformed to celebrate Easter festivities with all the trimmings. In addition, the Resort’s youngest guests will enjoy a visit from the Easter Bunny himself and two spectacular Egg Hunts at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Fountain Terrace. There also will be a bouncy house, potato sack races and Easter-themed crafts for kids of all ages.

Easter Activities in Scottsdale

• The 15th Annual Spring Paintout at the Desert Botanical Garden
  Over 40 of Arizona’s finest landscape artists painted on site at the Desert Botanical Garden throughout March. Art Show and Sale showcasing their amazing work will be in the Stardust Foundation Plaza 
  April 2, 3, and 4 from 9:00 – 3:00 pm
  Free with Paid Garden Admission
• Desert In Bloom Tour by Across Arizona Tours
  This tour offers a rare opportunity for photos and a short walk among the wildflowers and plants in bloom everywhere in the Sonoran Desert.
• Mild to Wild is offering Easter weekend special savings on guided whitewater raft trips on the Upper Salt River Canyon (April 2, 3, 4): 1 free child with 2 paying adults!
• Wildflower and Cactus Bloom Adventure and Birdwatching by Arizona Desert Events.

Easter Discounts in Scottsdale

• Residence Inn Scottsdale Paradise Valley  has an Easter weekend promotion for our Studio Suites at a rate of $99 per night.
• The Scottsdale Plaza Resort is offering an $89 per night for standard rooms (April 1^st through the 5^th) and an Easter brunch on the 4^th for $39.95 for adults and $14.95 age 6-12, 5 and under free.
• Sprinkles Cupcakes: From March 26th through April 4th, Sprinkles will create a special Easter HOP Box filled with 12 tasty cupcakes with 4 different flavor of cupcakes including dark chocolate, red velvet, carrot and brown sugar praline cupcakes, the former only available on Easter. The cupcakes are adorned with pink and green bunnies, sure to bring out the Easter spirit in us all!

Tags: Across Arizona Tours, Desert Botanical Garden, Enchantment Resort, Fairmont Scottsdale, McCormick Ranch Golf Club, Mild to Wild Rafting, Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino, Residence Inn Scottsdale, Sprinkles Cupcakes, The Borgata of Scottsdale, The Phoenician, The Scottsdale Plaza Resort, Z'Tejas

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Further enhancing its award-winning beverage program, The Phoenician will welcome Jordan Winery on Saturday, March 27, for a special five-course dinner pairing presented by Winemaker Rob Davis and Il Terrazzo Chef de Cuisine Kyle Lipetzky.

As Jordan’s first and only winemaker, Davis has spent his 30-plus-year career perfecting the company’s renowned Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.  His premier offerings for this signature event will include three decades of vintages, from 1983 to 2007.

The evening will begin with an intimate reception at 6:30 p.m., featuring oyster, melon, mushroom and duck (Jordan Sparkling).  Guests will then dine on a first course of Salt-Roasted Beet with smoked salmon, Meyer lemon and pickled fennel (’07 Chardonnay); followed by Sturgeon with Applewood bacon, carrots, crispy sweetbread and fava beans (’05 Cabernet).   The third course will consist of Berkshire Pork Cheek, accompanied by English peas, parsnip, ricotta gnocchi and black truffle (’99 Cabernet).  Next, a Cheese course will offer a “tasting of American Blue” – including such selections as Rogue River, Westfield Farm Goat, and Smokey Oregon (’91 Cabernet).  Rounding out the menu will be a dessert medley of blended fruits and spices, as interpreted by Phoenician Executive Pastry Chef Roy Pell (’83 Riviera Russe). 

Pricing for this exclusive event is $80 per person.  For reservations and information, call (480) 423-2530 or visit www.thephoenician.com.

Tags: Fine Dining, IL Terrazzo, Jordan Winery, Kyle Lipetzky, Rob Davis, The Phoenician

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Celebrating the newness of spring with a festival of flavors, the Fairmont Scottsdale is bringing together four restaurants and five chefs for one abundant Easter Brunch, Sunday, April 4, 2010. The Easter Bunny himself will join in the fun, visiting families as they dine, and each child will receive a treat-filled egg, with five lucky kids finding a golden egg inside with a big prize such as a “staycation” to bring the whole family back this summer. Live musical entertainment will also add to the brunch’s festive setting.

Overlooking the South Pool at the resort’s new Princess Falls waterfall, brunch-goers stroll through selections from four Fairmont Scottsdale restaurants, offering sustainable seafood, modern Mexican cuisine, the finest cuts of beef, fresh-from-the-farm produce, artful pastries and quite creative cocktails. Featured are:

La Hacienda by Richard Sandoval – By Chef de Cuisine Forest Hamrick

La Hacienda takes a vibrant new twist on Mexican food, featuring favorites such as mole poblano chicken breast, pipian de puerco confit of pork shoulder and a Southwest omelette station with a choice of cheeses, caramelized onions, chorizo, mushrooms, shrimp, crab, asparagus and more.

Featured cocktail: El Pina Diablo, a pineapple-serrano chile-infused tequila with pineapple juice, homemade sour mix and a splash of Triple Sec.

The Grill at the TPC Scottsdale – By Chef de Cuisine Erik Forrest

From fresh blue waters, The Grill selects the highest-quality seafood from artisan farmers through the CleanFish Alliance. Easter Brunch highlights smoked salmon and sturgeon, steamed “peel and eat” shrimp, a Laughing Bird shrimp salad, stone crab claws, an oyster bar and a raw bar with steamed clams and mussels.

Featured cocktail: The Comfort Cup, a concoction sure to improve one’s golf game, made of Southern Comfort, fresh citrus juice and muddled strawberry.

Michael Mina’s BOURBON STEAK – By Executive Chef Daniel Patino

Those looking for fine cuts of beef should head straight to this grilling station, with Kobe skirt steak and juicy rib-eye cap. Two decadent accoutrements are a Worcestershire demi sauce, made with veal stock, red wine, caramelized vegetables and balsamic vinegar, and the sauce au-poivre, made of veal stock, brandy, red wine, green peppercorns and cream.

Featured cocktail: The Cable Car, made of Montecristo spiced rum, orange curacao, fresh lemon and a cinnamon-sugar rim.

LV Bistro – By Chef de Cuisine Manuel Rodriguez

Fresh, healthy and organic, LV Bistro works with community farmers to get the best vegetables right from the field. LV Bistro offers breakfast items such as organic vanilla yogurt, granola, a breakfast griddle with French toast and all the toppings, beef brisket hash, international cheeses, salads, a carving station with lamb chops and Scottish salmon to order, and an assortment of grilled produce including baby artichokes, zucchini, roasted peppers, arugula and perfect-whipped mashers.

Featured cocktail: The Farmer’s Garden, made of house-infused tomato-cucumber vodka and house-made fresh juice blend of oranges, apples and carrots.

Pastry Art & Desserts – By Executive Pastry Chef Dave Blom

Chef Blom is a third-generation baker, whose chocolate and sugar masterpieces are as pleasing to the palate as they are to the eye. For Easter Brunch, Blom is creating Bailey’s coffee chocolate bombes, orange blossom angel food with strawberry concorde, passion fruit strawberry mirroir, peach & huckleberry tarts with lavender streusel, grasshopper cheesecake, carrot cupcakes with vanilla bean frosting, tiramisu dessert shots, chamomile crème brulee spoons, an assortment of miniature confections, hand-rolled chocolate truffles and pralines, fruited macaroons, plus an array of Danish pastries, muffins, hearth-baked breads and rolls.

Stone Rose Lounge – Featured cocktail: Gerber’s Signature Bloody Mary made with Finlandia vodka

Sipping Made Fun for Little Ones

Kids will have lots of bubbling beverages to choose from, including:

• Fauxmosa – made with Sprite and orange juice
• Martinelli’s Apple Cider – with fresh berries and foam
• Canadian Shirley Temple – made with orange juice, Sprite and grenadine
• Caramel Chocolate Hot Cocoa
• Smurfy Lemonade – made with fresh blueberry puree and fresh-squeezed lemonade
• Easter Freckles – made with fresh kiwi, strawberry and lime, blended with fresh-squeezed lemonade

The Fairmont Scottsdale Easter Brunch, including all of these outlets in one location just outside LV Bistro restaurant, will be served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 4. The price is $55 for adults (including a glass of champagne), $18 for children ages 6 – 12 and children 5 and younger dine for free with the purchase of an adult brunch. Specialty cocktails are $8-$13, and the children’s specialty drinks are $4. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 480-585-4848.

Tags: Brunch, Easter, Fairmont Scottsdale, Holiday

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Each year, Experience Scottsdale profiles a selection of local celebrities, from restaurateurs and sports figures to artists and adventurers for our Destination Guide. We invite you to meet this year’s luminaries and find out what they have to say about living, working and enjoying life in Scottsdale.

Zev Nadler is owner of Desert Wolf Tours.

Request your free destination guide for Scottsdale, Arizona today!

Tags: Desert Wolf Tours, Destination Guide, Tomcars, Zev Nadler

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Starting tonight, you can take in art all weekend long with the Glass Act ArtWalk and the Scottsdale Arts Festival.  After all the rain we’ve been having (which has made the desert gloriously green), its going to be a sun-filled weekend so you can be sure to soak up some rays while soaking up great art.

Tonight marks the 2nd Annual Glass Act ArtWalk, which is the kick-off event to this festival weekend.  Art will take center stage along Main Street and Marshall Way, and glass will be in the spotlight at this unique event featuring more than 20 exhibitors.  There will also be live music and artist demonstrations (which are really fun because they use fire) staged throughout  the Arts District.  The event takes place from 7-9 pm on Thursday, March 11 and is compeletely free.  Be sure to come early and grab a bite to eat (and do some great people watching as well) before browsing through the galleris.  Not familiar with the Arts District?  Click here for a map.

After you’ve become an expert in glass, expand your horizons by checking out the 40th Annual Scottsdale Arts Fesival, which takes place this weekend at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall.  Gates will be open Friday and Saturday from 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm.  Consistently recognized as one of the top in the country, The Scottsdale Arts Festival features more than 200 jury-selected artists from throughout North America to display and sell their work at this three-day event. In addition to an assortment of the finest arts and crafts, attendees can enjoy live entertainment and music, tasty food and beverages, interactive public art, fun art activities for children and families, an online art auction and much more. A $7 admission fee also gets visitors free admission to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), free parking and shuttle service. For more Festival information visit www.scottsdaleartsfestival.org or call 480-994-ARTS.

Tags: Art, Arts Festival, Artwalk, Festival ArtWalk, Glass Act, Glass Act ArtWalk, Scottsdale Arts Festival, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, SMoCA

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Well known for world class resorts, Scottsdale also offers some of the most luxurious vacation home rentals in the country. Today’s blog post comes to us by guest author, Spencer Farnsworth of Arizona Lodging Experts. Below, Spencer describes one of the properties you can rent during your stay in Scottsdale.

This great Scottsdale vacation rental is one of our premiere homes. This four bedroom home is comfy and cozy, offering plenty of light through the many picture windows throughout. In the living room, enjoy watching TV or movies on the large flat screen TV with 5.1 surround sound. The spacious floor plan provides everyone in your family or party to enjoy their own time. The gorgeous gourmet kitchen has granite countertops and awesome stainless steel appliances. Cooking while on vacation won’t be a chore in this bright kitchen. You will have plenty of space to move around, cook, and entertain while you’re at it! Travertine marble tile flooring throughout the home adds a special touch of sophistication.

The real gem of this home is the pool area. The waterfall feature and multi colored pool lights add a richness to the exterior that you just have to experience on your own! The fogging system creates a fine mist on the top of the water that is so serene; you might just want to stay outside. That’s all possible since there is a stainless steel bbq grill, fire pit, and a smoker, so you can barbeque to your heart’s content. This is the perfect summer Arizona vacation home for just that reason. You can have a relaxing day by the pool followed by an evening of dining, drinks, and friends. Sitting under the stars in the in ground Jacuzzi won’t be too bad, either!

The master suite has a king bed and huge flat screen TV. The master bath features a two person Jacuzzi tub, walk in shower, and double sinks. The other lush guest bedrooms have queen beds and their own bathrooms.

Inquire about this cute, comfy, and cozy home located right in the heart of Scottsdale, within minutes of shopping, dining, and entertainment!

Inquire about this home today – contact the Arizona vacation experts!

Tags: Scottsdale Vacation Rental

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Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by David Porter.  David runs a travel blog, The Roaming Boomers, where David’s wife, Carol,  and David share their own insiders view of Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Arizona.

One of the great benefits of visiting Scottsdale, Arizona is the vast array of breathtaking, long range panoramas available.

These views are especially plentiful with a healthy hike on one of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve’s hiking trails. Best of all, this is all done right here in the city limits!

With the fairly recent addition of the Tom’s Thumb Trail, my wife and I decided to climb up the back (north) side of this prominent Scottsdale landmark. You can get to this particular section of the trail via Happy Valley Road. Here is a map for your reference.

This particular trail is about 4.5 miles round trip. During the journey you will climb a little over 800 ft., with 1350 ft. of accumulated gain. The trails are very well manicured, and will be easy hiking except for the elevation gains.

Young people with young bones will find this easy hiking. Baby boomers can certainly enjoy this hike as well, you just may want to allow some extra time to catch your breath from time to time. We took our time, enjoyed the scenery, had a picnic at the top, and found ourselves back to our car in 4 1/2 hours.

We didn’t take the time to scope it out, but you may want to look around the summit area for the Ogre’s Den. This is a natural cave that was formed by one of the fallen massive granite boulders, and provides hikers a mysterious place to explore.

When hiking in the arid climate of the Sonoran desert, it is imperative that you follow a few critical rules:

• Let someone know where you are going, and when they can expect your return.
• Make certain that you have protected yourself from the sun with a good sunscreen and hat.
• Make absolutely certain that you have a least 2 liters of water/person for this hike. We both had two liters on our backs, and we were bone dry by the time we got back to the bottom.

If you prefer a little easier hike, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve has over 14,000 scenic acres with a trail for every taste.

In closing, it would be nearly criminal to visit Scottsdale and not get some cowboy dust on your shoes while hiking one of our beautiful trails. By all means, leave some time in your schedule for a day hike!

Tags: McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Roaming Boomers, Tom's Thumb Trail

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Each year, Experience Scottsdale profiles a selection of local celebrities, from restaurateurs and sports figures to artists and adventurers for our Destination Guide. We invite you to meet this year’s luminaries and find out what they have to say about living, working and enjoying life in Scottsdale.

Stan Utley is golf instructor at Scottsdale’s Grayhawk Golf Club.

Request your free destination guide for Scottsdale, Arizona today!

Tags: Golf, Grayhawk Golf Club, PGA Pro, Stan Utley

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Head to the sunny Sonoran Desert for unbeatable 70-degree weather, America’s favorite pastime, and an unforgettable experience in downtown Scottsdale. Starting today, the San Francisco Giants take the mound at Scottsdale Stadium for 15 home games for the 2010 season of Cactus League spring training.  Below is your ultimate guide experiencing spring training and making the most out of your afternoons

Come Early, Stay Late:
With more than 90 restaurants and 50+ lounges, bars and nightclubs within walking distance of the stadium, downtown Scottsdale delivers the ultimate spring training experience. It’s an urban destination with all of the fun and frills of a big city but in a jaw-dropping dramatic desert setting.  There’s no doubt that you’ll want to carve out some time to explore downtown Scottsdale and spend time with other spring training fans, who are most likely doing the same thing.  For a list of activities and businesses in the downtown are, please visit www.ScottsdaleDowntown.com.

Lawn Spaces or VIP Places – You Choose the Experience:
One of the best things about spring training at the Scottsdale Stadium is that you get to choose how, and from where, you watch the game.  There are lawn seats, stadium seats, box seats and VIP seats available for every game, with prices ranging from $7 – $100. 

To purchase tickets for lawn/stadium/box seats, please click here.  The lawn is a great option if you’re heading out with a group of friends and don’t mind bringing along a blanket or two to sit on.  Be prepared for fun-loving crowds and less emphasis on intently watching the game.  If you’re a bit more serious about the game and want to experience spring training as you would a regular season game, consider purchasing stadium or box seats.

And for those looking to make a VIP experience out of a day at the stadium, The Charro Lodge is the place for you!  True baseball fans can get in the middle of the action in this VIP area, located adjacent to the Giants’ bullpen in right field, with catered food and beverages in a relaxed atmosphere complete with a lounge area and live music at select games. Daily passes for the Lodge range from $85 to $100 based on game date, and Pavilion passes are $125 per person.

Get into More than Just the Game:
There are lots of other ways to experience baseball during March than attending the game.  Check out some of the below activities and events that will keep baseball alive long after the final inning.

The inaugural Woodjock concert aims to be a first in music and sports history with athletes and their celebrity friends showcasing their major-league flair on a new field – the stage. Headlined by Chicago White Sox ace Jake Peavy, the event takes place at The Venue on March 11 with ticket prices starting at $30.

You’ll have to head out of Scottsdale for this one, but if you want to see some great history on the Cactus League in the Valley, be sure to check out Play Ball, The Cactus League Experience exhibit. Now in its new home in the Arizona Youth Museum in Downtown Mesa, Play Ball tells the story of the Cactus League and spring training in Mesa and the Phoenix area. Cubs artifacts are abundant in the exhibit, as they should be.

For more information on spring training in Scottsdale, please visit www.PlayBallinScottsdale.com or call 480-421-1004.

Tags: Cactus League, Giants, San Francisco Giants, Scottsdale Spring Training, SF Giants, Spring Training, Spring Training Activities, Spring Training Scottsdale

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