That Cool Travel Couple

Scottsdale, Arizona makes for an easy and affordable getaway from SoCal and can be enjoyed year-long due to the amazing dry and hot weather!

How to Get There

Scottsdale is roughly a six hour drive from LA. There’s plenty to do and see along the way. One – stop off at In N Out for the perfect LA roadtrip food experience. Two – swing by Joshua Tree National Park for a quick hike or stargazing. We love checking out the Cholla Cactus Garden and pulling up to the side of the road to take advantage of the deep dark skies.

Scottsdale is also an easy flight away from LA. Southwest in particular operates frequent and cheap flights from both LAX and Burbank airport. It’s about an hour and a half flight but keep in mind you might want to rent a car at the other end which can add to the cost.

Where to Stay

There are tons of awesome Air BnB options in Scottsdale! We usually love to rent a place with a big pool and grill area so we can hang out and enjoy the warm weather. Air BnB options in Scottsdale tend to be much more affordable than say, Palms Springs.

There are also a lot of unique and swanky hotels to stay in around Scottsdale. We have stayed at the Andaz Scottsdale which is a sprawling resort comprised of many bungalows and three massive pools. It’s the ultimate in resort living.

The Saguaro Hotel also has a branch in Scottsdale with weekend pool parties. We haven’t checked out the Scottsdale one (yet) but have had some fun times in the original Palm Springs branch!

What to Eat

You’re spoiled for choice in terms of what to eat in Scottsdale. We really enjoyed some fire Mexican food from Blanco Cocina + Cantina. They have delicious tacos, nachos and margaritas to-go (which we took to our amazing pool).

Head to AZ88 in the Arts District for martinis in their disco-ball fitted bar. You’ll want to check out Citizen Public House in Old Town, which will give you a chance to wander around into the cute little shops and down old-fashioned streets. If you’re missing the south of France (we ALWAYS are), check out Francine for a bougie French dining experience.

And finally, GRILL! Scottsdale is all about taking advantage of the beautiful outdoors. Nothing tastes as good as a home-grilled burger or hot dog under the beautiful Arizona sun.

What to Do

Sit back and relax and enjoy the sunshine. Go for a long luxurious swim in the pool. Wander around Old Town and check out the sites. There are also plenty of good trails around the Phoenix area, if you can stand the heat. Check out Pinnacle Peak Park. We love using AllTrails to find the best ones near us.

If you’re looking for more structured fun, consider heading to one of the Saguaro’s weekend Pool Parties (you can find the event calendar here). Check out the nearby city of Tempe for Tempe Improv, which often has big name shows and has table service for dinner and drinks.

Scottsdale is also relatively close to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend which are absolutely breathtaking. Make sure to check opening hours and if you need to make a reservation before you head in that direction!