SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Jan. 14, 2025) – In Scottsdale, springtime means plenty of sunshine and no snow to shovel. Just as the wildflowers are soon to sprout across the desert, the city is blooming with myriad new restaurants and resort programming, invigorating wellness opportunities and exciting tours, along with the return of popular signature events.

RESORT ROUNDUP

THE BIG NEWS: On Jan. 10, Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort opened Tiki Taka, from acclaimed Chef Richard Blais. Tiki Taka’s opening is the last of six new culinary concepts, serving up flavors from Japan and Spain with local ingredients from the Southwest. The resort completed its $115 million property-wide renovation and rebrand in Oct. 2024 and this month, the resort is also set to debut its Arizona Ballroom, which will double in size.

• Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows rewards guests and keeps them entertained this season with new special offers, such as the “Chill and Grill” experience, bringing the cooking and dining from the kitchen into the guest’s bungalow, with the opportunity to become their own grill master using chef-prepped ingredients. Meanwhile, the “Girlfriend Escape” and “Discover Wellness” packages each include special perks, like bubbly and brunch, or aromatherapy and a resort credit.
• Built by cowboy artist Lon Megargee in the 1930s, The Hermosa Inn honors its artistic legacy with two art programs in Spring 2025. The “Mimosa & Monet” art class series provides visitors with Saturday morning classes led by artist-in-residence Carrie Curran through May 3. Also taught by Curran is an Immersive Art and Culinary Retreat March 22-24 with a Plein Air Painting Workshop amidst the hotel's serene and colorful gardens.
• CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa is tapping all-star runners Sara Hall and Sara Slattery to lead its inaugural women’s Run Club Feb. 6-9, which includes accommodations, guided runs, and access to the spa’s Aqua Therapy Circuit, as well as curated wellness programs and supplemental classes. As part of its Visiting Wellness Guide program, the resort is also welcoming Paria Fantini, ND, to share practical tools and naturopathic insights in an “Optimize Your Wellness” workshop and three-night stay Jan. 30-Feb. 2, and author Karin Hadadan, who will host a special event, “Embrace Presence & Potential,” Feb. 14-18.
• Find a romantic spring getaway at the Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale, where guests can have a private dinner in a breathtaking desert setting and indulge in culinary events such as theWinemaker Dinner Series March 14 and April 25. At the spa, new baby bobcats are discovered and rescued each spring, in partnership with the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, after their mothers give birth in the safe haven of the spa grounds. These stories have inspired a new service that connects nature with wellness, the “Desert Zen Package,” which combines a Desert Zen Massage, Organic Signature Facial and a spa lunch followed by a Wildlife & Nature Tour. The property is a rich habitat for birds and desert wildlife, delighting guests with animal sightings at every turn.

SIP + SAVOR

• The city’s first and only fine dining supper club will open in Old Town Scottsdale early this year. Shiv Supper Club by Riot Hospitality Group will set the stage for a bold new experience, where culinary artistry meets immersive entertainment. The menu was developed by Culinary Director, Dustin Cooke in collaboration with Chef Jeff Mahin.
• Élephante, the Italian hotspot which quickly rose to fame in Santa Monica, California, is now open at Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall. Exclusive to the Scottsdale location are Bar Bambino, an intimate cocktail lounge, and an expanded selection of dips for Élephante’s signature wood-fired puccia, a puffed, soft bread from Italy’s Puglia region. Designed by founder of Wish You Were Here Group, Nick Mathers, Élephante transports guests to islands off the Sicilian coast.
• COURSE Restaurant, led by “Chopped” Champion Chef Cory Oppold, has been recognized as one ofYelp’s Best New Restaurants of 2024, ranking No. 7 nationwide and as the only Arizona restaurant to make the list. Concurrently, COURSE has launched “of • COURSE,” a Sunday special menu series designed to take guests on a multi-course adventure through different themes, blending tradition with creativity.
• In Feb. 2024, Los Milics Vineyards ­­­­— founded and operated by FnB Restaurant co-owner, Pavle Milic — opened a tasting room in Old Town Scottsdale, a stone’s throw from the James Beard Awarded restaurant. Visitors can soon sip from the source, with the upcoming opening of The Casitas at Los Milics in Sonoita Wine Country, located approximately three hours southeast of Scottsdale by car. Intimate and stylish, each of the nine “little houses” features private patios and is surrounded by grapevines, affording expansive sunset views of the Mustang Mountains and Mount Bruce.
• Family-owned Arizona Stronghold, the largest winery in Arizona, has expanded its menu beyond the typical charcuterie board to include housemade pizzas on Fridays and Saturdays. All dough is made from scratch in an 800-degree pizza oven and topping combinations include goat cheese, fig jam and prosciutto, and lemon curd with marscapone, for the perfect pairings with the vineyard’s award-winning wines.

SIGNATURE EVENTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Spring is a season of fun under the sun in Scottsdale, with can’t-miss signature events, from cultural festivals and professional sporting competitions to collector car auctions and live music.

• Jan. 25 – Feb. 2: Every year, Western Week restokes the embers of Scottsdale’s rich heritage. Tourists can find parades, Native American festivals, gold mining, live music and museum exhibits to enjoy.
• Feb. 3-9: Home to the largest and most enthusiastic crowds in golf as well as the most iconic hole on the PGA TOUR — the 16th hole Coliseum at TPC Scottsdale — the WM Phoenix Open will return next month. From hall-of-fame champions, par-4 aces and the loudest hole in golf, to after-hours concerts, Saturday breakfast clubs and more than $208 million raised for Arizona charities, it’s easy to see why it has been called “the greatest show on grass.”
• Feb. 13-23: Since 1955, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has set the pace in the Arabian horse world. Held at WestWorld of Scottsdale, it has grown from 50 horses to nearly 2,400 horses, bringing top owners, trainers and breeders from around the world to compete.
• Feb. 20 – March 25: Major League Baseball’s Cactus League Spring Training has been a tradition for devoted fans since 1947. Scottsdale is home to two stadiums — Salt River Fields, where the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks play, and Scottsdale Stadium, host of the San Francisco Giants.
• March 20-23: New this year, Scottsdale Ferrari Art Week will unite nearly 100 leading art galleries from across the nation and around the globe at WestWorld of Scottsdale. The event highlights art history in the Southwest region, introducing gallerists, collectors and enthusiasts to the area’s artistic talent through exhibitions, fashion and cultural programming. It will also include events at the Phoenix Art Museum, Heard Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West.
• April 2-6: Arizona Bike Week is roaring back to WestWorld of Scottsdale this spring as well. Event-goers will find nightly concerts, freestyle motorcycle stunt jumpers and riders performing gravity-defying feats, a treasure trove of motorcycle marvels and custom creations, and a playground for adrenaline-seekers of all kinds at the PowerYard.
• Coinciding with its 40th anniversary, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament has launched a new show, the first since 2017, to be seen at all 10 castles nationwide, including its Scottsdale castle, now celebrating five years.The new storyline influenced by guest feedback features new characters and stunts, while still impressing fans with intense jousting and sword fights, and skilled horsemanship and falconry, all over a four-course feast.  
• At the Musical Instrument Museum, the Music Theater’s Winter/Spring 2025 Concert Series runs from January through April, featuring nearly 60 concerts showcasing global talent across multiple genres. Must-see events include Celebrate the Music of Hawaii (Jan. 18-19), Celebrate Hip Hop (Feb. 15-16) and Experience Ireland (March 15-16).
• The Sonoran Desert is associated with unique wildlife, abundant sun, prickly cacti, and thanks to its cowboy past — barbecue. Stellar Adventures’ “Backroads & BBQ” tour takes travelers out into the desert to see the rugged beauty of the terrain on an off-roading excursion in (their choice of) an H1 Hummer, ATV or UTV, before heading to Frasher’s Smokehouse for barbecue and local craft beer.
• With sunny skies and average highs in the 60s and 70s Fahrenheit, it’s the perfect time to cruise around downtown Scottsdale in an open-air electric vehicle with local experts sharing fun facts and stops for some of the area’s best tacos, margaritas and Arizona wine. Visitors can book JoyRidesAZ’s Margarita and Taco Tour or Wine Tasting Tour, both at $50 off Jan. 25-March 25 for a group of six or more – perfect for families or bachelorette trips on a bargain. 

UP NEXT      

• On May 5, Air France will increase nonstop service between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris, from three to five times weekly, after a successful first year. The flight will also transition to an Airbus 350-900, for its larger business class and three-class configuration. With the increase in both frequency and aircraft size, the route will now have an estimated $103 million statewide economic impact.
• Waymo has expanded its service in the U.S. and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is now the most popular single Waymo destination in the metro area. Waymo serves thousands of fully autonomous rides to and from the airport each week,with a total of nearly 200,000 rides since beginning its service in Dec. 2022.

For more Scottsdale travel news and story ideas, visit www.ScottsdalePressroom.com.

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