Page 32 June 2014 reopened in 2005 and is now a AAA 4-diamond award winner. Along with its retro-chic vibe, the Valley Ho promises comfort and class within a hip atmosphere. Known for its excellent spa services, stylish bar and a restaurant not only overflowing with the cool-factor but also excellent food, the Valley Ho is the place to be. A variety of room options allow for guests to choose their own experience, while regular pool parties and the Old Town Scottsdale trolley stopping just outside the property, give guests a variety of ways to have a good time. JW MARRIOTT CAMELBACK INN 5402 East Lincoln Drive 480-948-1700 www.marriott.com Once upon a time, Jack Stewart had a dream. As a young hotel manager, he Resorts Continued from page 30 convinced a group of investors led by John C. Lincoln, to finance a resort, which looked upon Camelback Mountain. In 1936, Stewart’s wish came true and the Camelback Inn was born. Known as Scottsdale’s first luxury resort, it originally accommodated 75 guests and became a favorite spot of wealthy travelers. The hotel was reached by enduring a 12- mile road of rough terrain from Phoenix and brought its guests into a secluded world of Southwestern adventure. Horseback riding and desert explorations, as well as numerous outdoor activities charmed guests. The Camelback Inn was a resort that took great pride in entertaining its guests and establishing a deep connection with those who returned again and again. This great camaraderie developed in the Stewart years has brought families to the Camelback Inn for generations. Amongst the guests who visited the Camelback Inn in its early years were Clark Gable, Dwight D. Eisenhower and J. W. Marriott, Sr. Marriott loved his time at the resort so much that The Marriotts made the Camelback Inn their first resort, in 1967. J. W. Marriott Jr. continued his father’s love and interest in the property, expanding and improving various aspects. And the resort has only continued his improvements throughout the years. The resort features 453-oversized guest rooms and suites, each with a private entrance and garden patio or balcony. Although the hotel is large in size, the overall vibe is serene and quaint. The Camelback Inn is home to 36 holes of championship golf, six tennis courts, a 32,000-square-foot spa, three swimming pools, and seven restaurants and lounges. It could be said that guests can escape to this desert oasis, experience a world of entertainment, dining options and relaxation and never have to leave the 125- acre property. JW MARRIOTT DESERT RIDGE 5350 East Marriott Drive 480-293-5000 www.marriott.com With 950 guest rooms, including 81 suites all renovated in 2011, 10-distinct dining experiences, an 18-hole golf course, a four-acre space of water ways, including a Lazy River, slide and separate pools, 8 tennis courts, and an incredible Botanical Garden, the JW Marriott Desert Ridge is a space where one can escape, with all the amenities you can image. While the Marriott family may have a property in the area with the Camelback Inn, the Desert Ridge resort is the more family oriented space. With a variety of options for the kids, such as the Family Escape Club, s’mores by campfire in the evening and an aquatic area made with the kiddos in mind, Desert Ridge does an excellent job catering to families without feeling like a family fun center. Plush rooms and gorgeous grounds make this massive property upscale yet still approachable. The detail-oriented staff creates a world you’ll want to enter and never leave. The JW Marriott Desert Ridge is quite simply a world of its own. Continued on page 33 REFRESHING, in every sense. Summer Experiences Starting at $149 Includes Special Credits Throughout the Resort. RoyalPalmsSummer.com 800.672.6011 A MANOR OF TASTE. A D E S T I N AT I O N ® H O T E L A D E S T I N AT I O N ® H O T E L WEB PRINT

Page 33 June 2014 , 10-distinct e golf course, ys, including rate pools, 8 le Botanical ert Ridge is , with all the may have a Camelback is the more a variety of s the Family mpfire in the made with idge does an ilies without r. us grounds upscale yet tail-oriented ant to enter idge is quite THE PHOENICIAN 6000 East Camelback Road 480-941-8200 www.thephoenician.com In the early 1900s, artist Jessie Benton Evans bought 40 acres at the base of Camelback Mountain, giving twelve of those acres to her son, architect Robert T. Evans and his wife Sylvia. On their land, Robert and Sylvia chose to build a unique home, made of adobe bricks and two large bell towers. Upon seeing this home, a young Hopi Indian boy called it “Jokake” meaning, “mud house.” The name stuck and as the building was eventually expanded to accommodate visitors for tea in 1926 and overnight guests, in 1928, it was called the Jokake Inn. Although small, the Jokake Inn became the place to stay in Scottsdale. The property went through multiple changes over the years, even housing an elite school for girls from 1932 to 1945. In 1985, real estate developer and financier Charles Keating had a vision to build a massive, multi-million dollar resort, bringing a bit of European decadence to the desert. He would purchase the property originally owned by the Evans family, keeping the Jokake d on page 33 Resorts Continued from page 32 Inn intact at the entrance of the new Phoenician Resort. Now in 2014, the Phoenician is as glamorous as Mr. Keating had once planned, with an upscale beauty that translates for traveling business guests, romantic getaways and families alike. Now owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc the property includes two experiences – a 583-room AAA Five Diamond luxury resort hotel, and Arizona’s only Forbes Five Star, AAA Five Diamond boutique hotel, The Canyon Suites, all on the grounds of the huge 250-acre resort. Three restaurants, Il Terrazzo, J&G Steakhouse and Relish Burger Bistro, provide guests with dining options as versatile as their own taste buds. Walking in to The Centre for Well- Being Spa complex is a rejuvenating experience with a variety of spa treatments and a Meditation Atrium to relax even the most tense of shoulders. A water wonderland sits outside the elaborate hotel lobby with eight swimming pools. Determined to create something for everyone, the Phoenician has built patio tiers, with an activity pool up top including SURGE activity area for kids, and a quieter, more subdued aquatic experience down below. Developed by someone who understood the different needs of guests, the various pools are close enough together to create unity yet feel unique in their options and amenities. SURGE, the 5,000 square-foot water venue is designed with make-believe palm trees, turtles, lady bugs and other kid-friendly elements, all of which serve as charming water features through which to romp and play. A neighboring cabana-like lounge offers food and beverage to pool guests, including a great kids menu. The 11 tennis courts, Afternoon Tea, 27-hole championship golf course, Cactus Garden Tour and shopping options will keep guests busy, while the Funicians Kids Club entertains the youngest guests. And with a variety of room options, the Phoenician is a large hotel with a slight boutique feel. Continued on page 34