Weekend in Scottsdale

Highlights and tips from a long weekend trip to Northern Scottsdale

I just got back from a long weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona, for my husband's thirtieth birthday. The whole trip was a surprise that I'd been planning for months and I was thrilled that it all went off without a hitch. We stayed in a house in Northern Scottsdale by Troon North golf club and spent the days hiking, lounging by the pool, and the boys golfed. I wanted to keep things casual, so we just had one fancy dinner at Sassi and then spent most of our other meals at the house or in the clubhouse. We grilled dinner at our place one night and our friends pitched in to make steak fajitas and a fabulous vanilla birthday cake with fresh strawberries. It was such a memorable weekend and the perfect way to celebrate my better half.


Where to Eat:

• Sassi - Our house was a little ways from downtown, but we lucked out with this great Northern Italian restaurant close by. The ambiance is beautiful and provides great views of Pinnacle Peak, which made our pastas, osso bucco, and veal chops taste that much better.
• Pizzeria Bianco - We stopped by this famous James Beard award-winning restaurant for lunch before we headed back to the airport. The pizzas didn't disappoint, and we loved the unique combinations like pistachio and red onion.

Things to Do in Scottsdale:

• Hiking - We spent a few hours hiking Pinnacle Peak. It was definitely a workout, but the views from the top were incredible.
• Golfing - My husband is an avid golfer, which is one of the reasons I chose to take him to Scottsdale. There are so many courses to choose from, but the boys had a great time at The Boulders.
• Relaxing - The weather reached about 80 degrees everyday, so we made sure to save time to lay out by the pool and enjoy a few cocktails. There are lots of great spas nearby, too.