The Phoenix Traveler

Holiday Cocktails
The Rim Lobby Lounge at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (north side of Greenway Parkway past 68th Street) is the place to go this winter if you want try what the mixologist (fancy name for bartender) has created for you. Ask for the new Organic Mexican Macciato, made with organic coffee and organic tequila, or the Caramel Apple-Tini pictured here. It’s made with applesauce (Really?), Bailey’s Caramel liquor and Smirnoff Apple Vodka–quite a twist on a classic treat. Make sure they dip your apple slice in caramel sauce, like they do for the picture.
Champagne and Ice Wine …read more

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Who knew tequila, bourbon and rum could ring in the holiday cheer. They will if you mix them with ingredients such as Eggnog, chocolate and hot apple cider, as does the Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale at Troon North, 10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr. (Map it.)
Between now and January 1, 2009, get your “Seasons” Greetings by the glassful with these three holiday cocktail specials. At $16 each, they’re sure to warm you up as the weather cools down.
For those of you who won’t be in town or get to the resort in time, here are the recipes to try …read more

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It’s all lit up in Prescott for the holidays. The Yavapai County Courthouse (pictured above), Whiskey Row behind it, the gift shops, boutiques and restaurants downtown–they all take part in the holiday festivities that have helped turn this former territorial town into Arizona’s official “Christmas City.”
With a heritage dating back to Victorian times and earlier, they know how to do Christmas here. Phoenicians drive the 90 miles north to see what’s been billed as the world’s largest Gingerbread Village. This year, more than 100 gingerbread structures decorate the lobby of the Prescott Resort now through December 28. The resort is …read more

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More than 20 Arizona authors will sell and sign their books at the 15th Annual ArtFest of Scottsdale today and tomorrow. New for this year’s event, “Book Street” gathers the authors all in one area, near the Scottsdale Mondrian hotel at the northwest corner of the festival site, in Old Town Scottsdale.
A few travel writers, including Christine K. Bailey, author of Destinations: A Complete Guide to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona and Central Arizona, and Teresa Bitler, whose Great Escapes Arizona was just released are scheduled to appear.
Also plan to see arts & crafts booths, food and live music at the festival …read more

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If you’re thinking of taking a New England vacation along the coast, here are a few overall recommendations stemming from my recent trip:
_Sign up for the signature facial at the Cliff House in Ogunquit–a resort and spa located on Maine’s south coast, atop Bald Head Cliff. This unique restorative facial incorporates products from both land and sea. It includes a seashell massage, a seaweed cleansing, and a blueberry mask. Blueberries grow wild in Maine and are a staple in various products, including skin care, pancakes and ice cream. I definitely tried the blueberry-spiked facial and thought it was sea-sational. Plus, …read more

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Don’t let the photo fool you. Although Pinnacle Peak Patio (pictured) serves a fine steak dinner–and a lot of fun, too–these ain’t your typical steakhouses that I’m talking about here. The new steakhouse restaurants opening up at Valley resorts this year are anything but typical. They’re elegant. They’re expensive. And you probably won’t find the red and white checkered tablecloth anywhere in sight. But if you’re in the mood for a very fine steak, with all the flair that an award-winning chef can bring to the table, plan on making a reservation at any of the restaurants listed below. 
The trend …read more

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Members of the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau offer discounts and special offers throughout the year. If you’re headed to Scottsdale any time soon, you can check out what’s available now by clicking here. On the page, you’ll find a checklist. Check off what you’d like and print out your own coupon booklet.
Some of the savings you’ll see include discount travel packages at various hotels, free appetizers at participating restaurants, dollars off on massage therapies, discounts on theater tickets and tour packages, shopping incentives at upscale malls, and even a free lunch.
It might be worth a visit.

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That’s how a new service offered by The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa is being touted. Actually, the press release says it’s “holistic” and “nothing less than life changing.”
The resort’s new Carefree Spa Getaway Package offers daily hikes, cooking classes, spa treatments, and meditation time…Ummm. I get it. It’s going to lead to a few “Aha!” moments. I’m beginning to see where enlightenment might occur.
Good thing the Sonoran Desert is nearby. That makes the hiking easy to access.
If you’d worry whether you could handle a hike in the desert, however, don’t worry any more. A professional fitness assessment comes …read more

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You really can cook an egg on the sidewalks of Phoenix in the summer. Elementary schools have been known to test this out, and at least one town in Arizona hosts an egg-frying contest. But we actually do a LOT of sunny-side-up kinds of things here. This video illustrates a few:
~Watching cacti bloom.
~Enjoying outdoor recreation.
~Swimming and other poolside fun.
~Boating and rowing and gondola rides.
~Shopping and dining.
~Watching beautiful sunsets.
 
Wish you were here!

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How about a box of LEGOs from Arizona’s first LEGO store? It just opened in June at Chandler Fashion Center. To celebrate the grand opening, Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa is partnering with the store, offering the first resort Master Build Workshop Weekend. It’s happening twice this summer: July 19-20 and August 2-3, to a limited number of resort guests. Those who register will learn advanced LEGO building techniques with a certified LEGO Master Builder. Who knew there even was such a thing?!
If you want your child to have the opportunity to work right along side of this …read more

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