There are certain things the ideal vacation just has to include - activities that inspire, weather that soothes, amenities that pamper, and cuisine that tantalizes. You'll find all these things in Scottsdale, along with luxurious accommodations, world-class golf and shopping, convenient transportation, blocks of art galleries, and so much more.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Imagine, if you will, a haven where you can pamper your body at a luxurious resort spa, challenge your mind at a world-renowned museum of Native American art and take in some of the world’s finest golf. A place where shopping is an art form and activities abound in the lush Sonoran Desert. Well, Scottsdale is that place and the city is boasting even more signature experiences. Take a moment to check out the exciting upgrades and changes taking place in Scottsdale.

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa
Vu, a new contemporary steak and seafood restaurant under the direction of award-winning Chef de Cuisine William Bradley. Spa Avania, a new 21,000-square-foot spa, features 18 treatment rooms, five exterior treatment gardens, mineral pool, lotus pond, men’s and women’s relaxation lounges, yoga room, state-of-the-art exercise facility, steam room and sauna, hot and cold plunges, and a full-service salon. Derived from the Greek word meaning tranquil, Spa Avania reflects balance and harmony, awakening all of the senses using an organic concept inspired by the natural beauty and landscape of the Sonoran Desert. Because natural light was very prominent in the spiritual lives of the Greeks, treatments at Spa Avania have been designed to coordinate with the time of day and their natural light levels. Materials, treatment products, music (via guests’ own personal iPod tailored to an individual’s treatments), light, smell and even specialty teas are keyed to what each individual’s body physiology requires to operate at its peak. For general information, visit www.scottsdale.hyatt.com.

Sunburst Resort – Caleo Resort & Spa
The SunBurst Resort officially became the Caleo Resort & Spa after completing a $9 million renovation project. The transformation of Caleo, Latin for “inspire with passion,” includes upgrades to the resort’s 204 guest rooms, 14,000 square feet of meeting space, public areas and pool, as well as a new restaurant, BALEENscottsdale. The signature fine dining brand of Noble House Hotels & Resorts features simply prepared, ocean-inspired cuisine with regional and local flavors. The resort opened a 3,500-square-foot Indonesian-inspired spa, SpaTerre. The spa features seven treatment rooms with one couples massage room, a wet room with Vichy Shower, facial room, manicure/pedicure room and a meditation room just off the lobby with access to the spa, fitness and pool areas. For general information, call (480) 945-7666 or visit www.caleoresort.com.

Historic Hotel Valley Ho
The 47-year-old hotel property was once all the rage in the late 1950s with celebrity visits from Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart and more. Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner liked it so much they exchanged their vows there. The property is currently undergoing a renovation of the resort’s 196 rooms and construction of a six-story tower that includes a spa and 30 high-end condominiums. Trader Vic’s, the original property’s staple restaurant will also be resurrected. Rooms at the Hotel Valley Ho will be appointed with design elements reminiscent of the 1950s with modern amenities including flat-screen televisions and the latest Internet connections. Features also include frosted glass bathroom walls with separate shower and tub, 9-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling arcadia doors leading out to the balcony. The average annual room rate will be about $200/night.The property is expected to open in December 2005, and the residential tower is expected to open in 2006. For general information, visit www.hotelvalleyho.com.

The Phoenician’s $9 Million Renovation Adds Grace and Elegance
The Phoenician completed a $9 million renovation in 2004, which included the resort’s suites, two of the restaurants, meeting and banquet rooms, extensive golf course renovations, and property refurbishments. A $2 million renovation of the resort’s suites included new furniture, carpeting, window treatments, lighting, and bathroom fixtures and amenities. The award-winning Mary Elaine’s restaurant and the Terrace Dining Room were both renovated with new carpeting and furniture, and new color schemes. New carpeting and newly colored wall were added to the 65,000 square feet of meeting space. The golf course received a $3 million enhancement, with tees that have been laser leveled to smoothness, new sand in the bunkers, new landscaping, and a new Global Positioning System on the driving range that allows golfers to track their exact yardage to within five pin placements. For general information, call (480) 941-8200 or (800) 888-8234 or visit www.thephoenician.com.

Four Seasons Resort Unveils New Ballroom, Property Enhancements
In December 2004, the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North debuted its new 5,630-square-foot Ironwood Ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows lining the ballroom’s pre-function space, two outdoor function areas showcasing the desert views and three additional meeting rooms situated in a convenient courtyard enclave. The property now offers 36,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting and function space. For general information, call (888)207-9696 or visit www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale.

Royal Palms Resort and Spa Installs Luxury Custom Beds
Royal Palms Resort and Spa is offering their guests a better night’s sleep with Desert Dream, a luxurious new mattress custom made for the resort. These plush sleepers replaced every bed in the resort’s 117 guest rooms, casitas and villas. Royal Palms has garnered a national reputation for romance and the new Desert Dream beds are the crowning glory to all those touches of home guests already receive, such as candles, plush robes, delicate fragrant flowers at every turn and the pervasive scent of the resort’s wood-burning fireplaces. For general information, call (602) 840-3610 or visit www.royalpalmshotel.com.

Scottsdale Welcomes Two New Hotels
The Wingate Inn & Suites of Scottsdale opened in December 2004, and features 117 spacious guest rooms, including 35 spectacular suites; boardroom and meeting facilities that can accommodate up to 100 people theatre-style; executive fitness center; business center; and high-speed wireless Internet access. The Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale North/Perimeter Center opens March 2005. The hotel features 122 rooms, fitness center, outdoor pool and spa, a restaurant, and 1,200 square feet of flexible meeting space. For general information on Wingate Inn & Suites, call (877) 570-6500 or visit www.scottsdalewingate.com.

Carefree Resort & Villas
Carefree Resort & Villas opened the Roadrunner Internet Café and Wine Bar in December 2004. Guests can enjoy a variety of food and beverages including made-to-order brick oven, thin-crust pizzas, an eclectic combination of international and domestic wines, specialty coffee drinks and Elixir tonics while using the complimentary wireless internet access. The resort also is undergoing a $1 million room renovation, which includes a complete soft-goods upgrade to the resort's 225 rooms in its three main buildings. Guests will enjoy new bedspreads, carpeting and signature, resort logo'd bath amenities in the rooms. The renovation is expected to be completed in early 2005. For general information, call (888) 488-9034 or visit www.carefree-resort.com.

W Hotel Scottsdale & Residences
The W Scottsdale Hotel and Residences features 225 guestrooms, a spa, a restaurant, two bars and 25 to 30 luxury condominiums. A focal point of the hotel’s design is the unique water features throughout, including an infinity pool, fountains and an under water porte cochere. The second floor pool area is the center of entertainment in the hotel featuring a full service spa, fitness facilities and pool bar. The W Residences offers owners a combination of stylish one- and two-bedroom condominiums with the benefits of being attached to a W Hotel, including all the amenities enjoyed by hotel guests. Today there are 18 W Hotels brand wide in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu, Silicon Valley, Atlanta, San Diego, Sydney and Mexico City. For general information, visit www.starwood.com.

Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa Offers Horse to Heart Experience
The AAA Five Diamond Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa has added a new purifying treatment to its menu, one that doesn’t involve herbal wraps or steam rooms but rather revealing interaction between horses and humans. The “Horse to Heart Experience” allows guests to explore new life paths and learn about themselves by getting up-close and personal with a horse. Administered by Andrea Scott, champion horse rider and executive/life coach at the neighboring Joy Ranch in Cave Creek, Ariz., the Horse to Heart Experience is based on beliefs that interaction with horses can relieve emotional distress and start people on the path to inner self-discovery. At a rate of $300 per person, Scott coaches up to four people in two-hour sessions where she trains them to groom the horse, clean its hooves, walk and work the horse in a round pen. During the session, Scott observes interactions between the individual and horse to interpret and process insights, and pinpoint issues that negatively impact a participant. She then makes recommendations based on their behavior with the horse. For general information, call (480) 595-3500 or visit www.goldendoorspa.com.

Amethyst Incorporated in Turndown and Spa at Boutique Resort
CopperWynd Resort and Club integrates purple-hued amethyst, taken directly from the nearby Four Peaks Mountain Range that boasts the largest gem deposit of amethyst in the United States, in a spa treatment and turndown for guests. The first night of every guest’s stay will end with the exclusive amethyst turndown on their pillow – a gift for them to keep. The Spa at CopperWynd offers a new signature Amethyst Body Renewal treatment, which is a 90-minute rejuvenation therapy that incorporates the historical power of this ancient gem. Amethyst is placed on the body to balance the energies of the chakras, which is followed by a stimulating full body brushing and exfoliation designed to help remove toxins by jump-starting the lymphatic system. Guests are then misted with amethyst water and slightly cocooned after the application of a regenerating cream. The treatment ends with a full-body hot stone massage and application of Amethyst Body Lotion, a CopperWynd exclusive that utilizes ground amethyst to leave the body glowing and sparkling both inside and out. For general information, visit www.copperwynd.com.

WORLD-CLASS GOLF

Two Troon Golf Courses Feature New Air-Conditioned Carts
The Kierland Golf Club at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and Whirlwind Golf Club at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, a new climate-controlled device that changes the air temperature in and around golf carts by more than 40 degrees. These two Troon Golf courses are the first in the world to offer this product. All golf carts now feature the G2, a patented new device that uses ice to blow cool, dry air around the golfers’ neck area to keep them comfortable and dry during their round of golf. In the cooler months, the G2 is designed to blast concentrated heat to golfers’ hands, ears and other extremities. The G2 also includes a built-in beverage cooler compartment that keeps drinks cold and an aromatherapy feature, which can enhance relaxation, reduce stress and improve performance. The climate-controlled system is powered by the golf cart’s existing battery and will be provided to players at no additional cost. This device is the only one of its kind and is manufactured by Coolwell LLC, a Scottsdale-based company. www.kierlandresort.com.

OUT & ABOUT IN SCOTTSDALE

Heard and Phoenix Art Museums Expand Facilities
Heard Museum and Phoenix Art Museum announced exciting new additions to their facilities. The world-renowned Heard Museum unveiled its new $7.6 million signature exhibition, HOME: Native Peoples in the Southwest. The 21,000-square-foot exhibition gives visitors a look into the arts and cultures of southwestern Native peoples. The Phoenix Art Museum is undergoing a $36.8 million expansion project. Scheduled for completion in spring of 2006, the project includes a new entrance; a 25,000-square-foot, four-level gallery wing; enhanced outdoor courtyard; and expanded museum store. For general information on the Heard Museum, call (602) 252-8840 or visit www.heard.org. For general information on the Phoenix Art Museum, call (602)257-1880 or visit www.phxart.org. .

Shopping
Scottsdale has elevated shopping into the realm of the extraordinary. Art enthusiasts can browse a wealth of galleries and studios in the downtown arts districts. Those looking for unique gifts will find everything from Native American jewelry and crafts to authentic western wear in the quaint shops of Old Town and Fifth Avenue. Upscale shopping with a one-of-a-kind ambiance is yours at The Borgata, a modern day plaza inspired by a historic Italian village, and el Pedregal, a dreamlike Sonoran marketplace with a decidedly contemporary flair. And, if your tastes run far and wide, visit Scottsdale Fashion Square, an all-encompassing mall with more than 250 department stores and specialty shops.

Activities & Adventures
Scottsdale offers both the means and the mindset to venture forth into the great outdoors - to pursue a favorite pastime or take up a new activity. Year-round sunny skies make a hike or bike ride through the dramatic Sonoran Desert landscape as natural as can be, while a journey into the majestic McDowell Mountains on horseback lets you experience the city's Western heritage. You can also raft the Salt and Verde rivers, make a splash in one of our tempting lakes or pools, take to the air in a hot air balloon, or come down to earth and rollerblade through the city's gorgeous park system.

The Arts Scene
Scottsdale's arts scene is one of the most vibrant in the world. With more than 125 galleries, studios, and museums at your disposal, you can browse for antiques and collectibles, gaze at one of the country's premier collections of American Impressionism, and select pieces from virtually every school of artistic thought. The performing arts are well-represented as well, with theater, music, and dance performances at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and Kerr Cultural Center. Annual art-inspired events include the Scottsdale Celebration of Fine Art, the Scottsdale Arts Festival, and the world-renowned ArtWalk, which is held on Thursday evenings year-round.

Golf Mecca of the American Southwest
The game of golf and its followers have made Scottsdale one of the premier golf destinations in the world. There are more than 174 courses in the metropolitan area, many of which were designed by golf's most illustrious names. The sheer array of golf opportunities combined with comfortable year round temperatures, the rugged Sonoran Desert, and world-class resorts make for an ultimate golf experience that can only be found in the American Southwest. Scottsdale is also a favorite stop on the PGA and Senior PGA circuit hosting such landmark events as the Phoenix Open and The Countrywide Tradition. Away from the greens, fans of professional team sports can take in NBA, NHL, and NFL action, while tennis players take to scores of available, well-maintained courts.

Dining & Nightlife
Like any gracious host, Scottsdale goes to great lengths to entertain you. As you might expect in the American Southwest, you can begin your dining experience with a visit to a rustic steakhouse or by digging into a rack of ribs under a starry desert sky. The flavors of faraway lands have a home in Scottsdale, too, with the foods of Italy, France, India, Japan, China, and International Fusion celebrated in great eateries all around the city. After you dine, enjoy Scottsdale's nightlife - live music, dancing, people watching, the ArtWalk, and much more. It's all here in a city known for its active, fun-loving lifestyle.

Families have fun!
One of the hottest trends in the travel industry today is for parents to include their children on both business and pleasure trips. According to the Travel Industry Association of America 118 million or 26 percent of the 454 million pleasure trips taken in 1999 included children. The Scottsdale tourism community recognizes the need to cater to parents traveling with children and accommodate their special interests and needs. Boasting award-winning properties and beautiful weather, Scottsdale offers rich cultural experiences, rugged Sonoran Desert beauty and the ideal location for family fun. From cowboy cookouts and resort-style camps, to Sonoran Desert nature walks and dive-in movies, kids never run short of things to do in Scottsdale. In fact, Scottsdale received an A+ as a kid-friendly city in 2001 by Zero Growth Population. Scottsdale ranked fourth friendliest out of 74 similar sized cities nationwide.