Trying to find your next girls trip destination? Well, Scottsdale definitely has it all. The food scene, the trendy brunch spot, beautiful views, captivating sunsets, adventurous hikes and luxurious spas. And this is the post to help guide you through an epic Scottsdale’s ultimate foodie and adventure girls’ getaway. I recently went on a long weekend girls trip to Scottsdale with my girlfriends from high school. We’ve been in each other’s lives for over 20 years, and when we get together, it’s as if no time has passed at all. Going on a girls trip is such an amazing way to make new memories together that will last forever.
Planning and Preparation
It didn’t take us too long to determine a location for our girls trip. First of all, we wanted to travel to a place that none of us have been to before. We knew we wanted a place that was easy to get to since it was a long weekend trip. It’s usually pretty easy to find a direct flight to Phoenix and the drive to Scottsdale from the airport is only 15 minutes away.
We also prioritized great food, lots of outdoor activities and some nightlife mixed with a little relaxation. And so the planning began! Scottsdale was the perfect place for our weekend girls trip for our foodie and adventure girls’ getaway.
The Journey Begins
Friday morning could not come quick enough as I tossed and turned in bed the morning of departure. I couldn’t wait to jump out of bed, even though it was 4:30am in the morning. Everything I needed was laid out the night before and I was ready to jump in the car and head to the airport. I was meeting my friends there as they were flying from Palm Beach and I was flying in from Orlando. A last minute decision I had to upgrade my seat during check-in proved to be well worth it. When I boarded the plane, to my delight and surprise, I enjoyed the entire row all to myself. It was a great way to start the trip.
Accommodation and First Impressions
I was immediately in awe of the mountains surrounding the city of Phoenix everywhere I looked. The city reminded me of Florida, with the sunshine and palm trees, until I turned my head and saw these beautiful orange mountains. It took my breath away every time. The brown sand and gravel was also a change from the green grass of Florida, but I liked it. The way the colors blended with the light greens of the cacti all around was really beautiful.
Since there were five of us, we wanted to stay in a condo so we could all be together and found a really quaint little place right outside of Old Town Scottsdale, minutes away from all the dining and shopping that Scottsdale offers. It had a bed for each of us, three bathrooms, a living room, kitchen and a hot tub.
Day-by-Day Adventures
Day 1 – Explore Old Town Scottsdale + Sunset Jeep Tour
After arriving at the Airbnb, and screaming and hugging each other, we took a ride over to Olive & Ivy for lunch. It was located in a trendy area full of shops and restaurants and was only a four minute drive from our condo.
Olive & Ivy set the bar for good food on this trip. Not only was the ambiance amazing, but the food was even better. The bruschetta was absolutely phenomenal and a must try.
We had some time before our Sunset Jeep tour and took a walk from there to Wine Girl, an adorable wine bar, great for bachelorette parties and girls trips. And perfect for photos ops.
We enjoyed a wine flight and captured some great shots before heading back to our place to change for our sunset Jeep tour. Since we went in February, the weather was beautiful during the day when the sun shined, perfect for hiking (and not sweating) but at night the temp dropped, so we had to bundle up, especially for a night time, open Jeep tour through the desert.
The Jeep Tour was about a 30 minute drive away from where we stayed and started at 4:30pm. It was absolutely incredible. Huge cacti taller than a house, a dessert rollercoaster, and a badass driver who made it so much fun! Our adventure was pretty unique, in that a storm was brewing, and almost cancelled our entire endeavor, but we beat the rain to capture some amazing photos.
Except on the way back. Our rollercoaster ride took us through a desert storm, splashing in enormous puddles, all while music from our playlist blasted throughout the Jeep. We were all a little buzzed from our beverages and it felt like a party. It was so much fun!
On our way back from the jeep tour, we stopped off at Culinary Dropout for an amazing dinner.
We all shared several entrees, salad and dessert to get a good taste of the variety on the menu. Everything was delicious, especially the meatloaf! Travel tip: go on vacation with girls who love food! We shared almost every meal, and it was amazing to try so many different things.
Day 2 – Climbing Camelback Mountain + Trendy Scottsdale Brunch
On Day 2 we were ready to hit the trails for an early morning hike at Camelback Mountain which was 15 minutes away. If you are looking for a challenging hike (or maybe one to test your fear of heights) head to the Echo Canyon Trail for a rock scrambling/climbing hike versus a walking trail.
Make sure to get there early, especially if you want a sunrise hike, because the parking lot is small and fills up quickly and they close it off.
This hike started of pretty easy, but there are sections of very steep, almost vertical climbs. The mountain has several bars built into the side to help you climb up. It was a challenge for me mentally, since I am so afraid of heights, and physically because I’d never done anything like this before. I felt very proud to make it as far as I did, and the view was breathtaking.
The scariest thing for me, was thinking about how the heck I was going to get down after I climbed all this way! And since this was such a new experience for me, I couldn’t get that thought out of my head. But I made it, one step at a time, down the mountain.
It was an incredible feat for me, and after the terror of hiking the way down was gone and I safely made it down the path, I was very proud of myself, and even thought to myself, “Yeah, I would do that again.”
I was so ready for brunch after this hike. The food and the beverages! We got a table at The Montauk which had a DJ, open air bar and really good food. It’s a local favorite and has a very lively atmosphere.
We walked around town afterwards, and posted up at Barstool, not to far away, where my friends surprised me with a VIP section birthday celebration. That was a super fun and unexpected treat!
We went back home to quickly change for our dinner reservation at Toca Madera that night. It’s definitely an experience, with flame throwing dancers and shots! The ceviche was so delicious. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but a unique experience.
After dinner we went to Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, one of Scottsdale’s Nightlife Hotspots, for some country music and dancing.
Day 3 – Pinnacle Peak Hike + Walking Food Tour + Scottsdale Rooftop Sunset Views
The next morning we set out for another early morning hike at Pinnacle Peak. An easy hike with gorgeous views along the way. It was about a 35 minute drive, and totally worth it. The top of the hike was blocked off, but up until then, it took about an hour and was an easy incline with lots of switchbacks.
After the hike, we went back home to rest for a couple hours before our food tour through Old Town Scottsdale. We went on the Sip & Sample Happy Hour Tour by AZFoodTours.com from 2:30pm-5:30pm. It stopped at several restaurants in town including The Wine Collective, Bootleggers, Malee’s and Gelato Cimmino.
The food was great and so were the cocktails. It was a good amount of food too and definitely filled us up as an early dinner.
We had some time to shop at the unique shops and galleries, including The Native American Market, the first Native-owned and operated store in Old Town Scottsdale, selling all kinds of authentic handmade Native American items.
Our final stop was at the Outrider Rooftop Lounge, one of the best sunset spots in Scottsdale, and we made there in the perfect timing for sunset views and cocktails.
We were ready for some R&R back at the Airbnb, and relaxed in the hot tub until we were ready to call it a night.
While you are in Scottsdale, if you see one of these cars driving in the streets, download the Waymo app, and experience a self-driving car instead of an Uber. It’s a pretty crazy experience.
Day 4 – Hole in the Rock Trail + Lunch at The Farm
On our last day, we had some time in the morning before our flight, and the Hole in the Rock trail was on the way to the airport. It’s a very short hike with a hole at the top that you can climb through. It was an easy, short hike that didn’t take longer than 10 minutes, and a fun one for pictures and views.
And we couldn’t end the trip without one more great meal. We wanted to end on a high note, instead of settling for airport food, and found an adorable little place called The Farm. It had amazing sandwiches and soups and was on a really cute property.
Scottsdale’s Ultimate Foodie and Adventure Girls’ Getaway
This trip was such a blast and such a great way to get away from the norm and reconnect with friends. The views, challenging hikes and delicious foods, brought us together and we made so many great memories. I learned I can do things I never would have done on my own and felt a real sense of accomplishment. It was a memorable one for sure.
If you are looking for an incredible destination for your next girls trip, add Scottsdale to your list. It has it all, from outdoor adventures and hikes, to trendy food and nightlife, to culture and art and gorgeous spas. Whatever you are looking for in a girls trip, you can find it in Scottsdale, and the best part is the sunsets happen every night.
For more girls trip adventures check out these great itineraries for New Orleans, Austin, and Savannah.
