A Weekend in Scottsdale

 Breaking from tradition, we found ourselves in Scottsdale, AZ for a weekend in late October. T had a medical conference to attend (he has been busy crafting his allergy skills), and S & I were lucky enough to tag along for the weekend. The boys stayed home with grandparents, and had such a fun time that they barely noticed we were gone. It was S's first big trip, so we weren't sure what to expect for her first time traveling by air, but planned a direct evening flight anticipating she would be an easy flier like her brothers. In hindsight, we aren't convinced this was the best plan as our flight ended up getting delayed until 11:30pm, and it was after 3am when we finally arrived at our destination. YUCK. Luckily, S was a perfect little angel, and had no problem adjusting to the change in plans, sleeping for most of the flight. T and I on the other hand were completely exhausted by the time we arrived, and T only got about three hours of sleep before his morning conference began. Thankfully, we were staying right at the resort the conference was, so he didn't have far to go!

So excited for her first flight! Who knew it would be a red-eye!

The first morning of our trip, we joined T for breakfast at The Canal Club before his conference started. Afterwards, S & I enjoyed lounging by the pool in the fresh air and sunshine. A welcome change from the cold weather back home!

When T's conference finished for the day, to the pool we went! S LOVED splashing in the water with Dad, and just might be the cutest little swimmer I've ever set my eyes on :)

Some other highlights of the trip included shopping at Fashion Square Mall, enjoying a few dinners out after S cashed out for the night in the stroller, walking around Old Town and The Waterfront shopping/dining areas of Scottsdale, and overall just basking in the sunshine and warm weather. Several of our restaurant highlights included a stop at The Salty Señorita to watch the Iowa game and enjoy some apps and a margarita or two, late night dinner and drinks at Postino Wine Cafe, and the most delicious breakfast at The Herb Box in Old Town Scottsdale. Honestly there are so many amazing restaurants nearby that it would be hard to go wrong.

We stayed at The Scott Resort in Scottsdale, AZ, and would highly recommend for anyone planning a visit. It was conveniently located within walking distance to Old Town Scottsdale, restaurants, and shopping, and we didn't have to rent a vehicle or use a taxi for anything other than getting to and from the airport (we flew Allegiant to Tempe and it ended up being about an hour cab ride from our resort, so would definitely recommend flying straight into Phoenix if possible). The resort itself has a boutique feel and the design evokes a bit of a Cuban vibe. I could feel the stress of our travels melt off the minute we stepped inside - exactly what I want in a vacation! The pool area was lush with flowering plants and palm trees, and was a beautiful spot to relax, and the onsite Canal Club restaurant had delicious breakfast we were able to enjoy before starting the day. The only downside was - no elevators, and we were on the second floor. If you are traveling with kids and all the gear, I would suggest requesting a ground floor room. Overall, we had a great time, and would definitely consider staying here again if we find ourselves back in Scottsdale!