©2015 Marriott International. Offer is valid through September 30, 2015. Tee times may be booked up to 120-days in advance by calling 1-800-24CAMEL. Limited number of rooms are available for this promotion. Tax is additional. Offer does not apply to groups of 10 or more rooms. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotions. Blackout dates may apply. Advance reservations required. Other restrictions apply. Rate is per room, per night and based on availability at the time of reservations. REDISCOVER SUMMER. Step out of the ordinary this summer and into a destination like no other at JW Marriott Camelback Inn. Play championship golf on one of two stunning courses including Ambiente, Arizona’s newest $10 million luxury course. Get pampered at the spa, dine at one of five restaurants, sip hand-crafted cocktails, enjoy live entertainment nightly and experience endless recreation. Our enchanting haven of Southwestern charm awaits. UNLIMITED GOLF PACKAGE — FROM $199 PER NIGHT Includes a luxurious resort room, breakfast for two adults per night, unlimited golf for one person at Camelback Golf Club after 2 pm, GPS golf cart, unlimited use of practice facility, driving range, putting green, advanced tee times, bag storage and 20% off golf, spa and tennis retail shops. For more information or reservations, visit camelbackinn.com or call 800-582-2169 and mention rate code GOF when booking. Page 34 June 2015 By Amanda Goossen Living in the desert this time of year brings an entirely new meaning to the phrase “the dog days of summer.” The phrase originally came about due to the ancient Romans who associated the hottest days of summer with the star Sirius, which was known as the “Dog Star.” The Romans believed that Sirius, which also happened to be the brightest star in the night sky, radiated extra heat toward Earth during the summer, when it rose and set with the sun. For the ancient Romans, the dog days of summer occurred from about July 24 to around August 24. Over time it has adjusted to July 3 until August 11. The truth, however, is that the dog days of summer don’t actually have anything to do with the Dog Star. Instead, the seasonal tilt of the Earth explains why these tend to be the summer’s hottest and longest days. And in our city, they last far longer than one short month. From June to mid-October we are immersed in ovenlike temps that have us regretting life in the desert. Personally, I start making plans on June 1 for any and every way to cool down and keep the kids entertained. When I was a kid, my mom (along with every other mom in the neighborhood) sent us outside with a box of Otter Pops, a bag of water balloons and a gardening hose. The day’s activities were up to us. The only demand was to be back when the streetlights went on at dusk. But times have changed. My neighborhood doesn’t even have streetlights. And my 9-year-old has no idea how to fill and tie a water balloon. What to do? Enter Phoenix’s best resorts. Filled to the max with tourists for nine months out of the year, but near empty now, summer is a great time to hit ’em up for their deals and their abundance of family friendly activities. This year I surveyed the kids (plus added the facts) to give a review of the area’s best summer spots to beat the “dog days of summer.” The Phoenician 6000 E. Camelback Road 480-941-8200 thephoenician.com About: In 1985, The Phoenician was a dream of Charles Keating, who had a vision to build a multimillion-dollar, Five Diamond resort at the base of Camelback Mountain. Three decades later the view of the property shows not only did his dream come true, but it has also stood the test of time. With a 27-hole golf course, a tiered Oasis Pool Complex, The Canyon Suites, and a lush tropical landscape that complements the Sonoran backdrop, the Valley Staycations: Kid Tested, Mother Approved The Splash Pad at The Phoenician helps keep kids cooler during the hottest days of summer.

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 35 June 2015 Phoenician is much more than your typical resort experience. For the kids: Funicians Club is the place to spark imagination. Highly trained counselors entertain kids ages 5-12 with games, crafts, sports and activities inside the ever-changing Funicians Club room. A playground, splash pad, waterslide, Pop! Up Movies at the Park, tennis club and bicycles are also offered. Kid tested: “The waterslide is super- duper fun!!” – Sophia (age 9) JW Marriott Desert Ridge 5350 E. Marriott Drive 480-293-5000 marriott.com About: The JW Marriott Desert Ridge is set on an astonishing 316 acres in North Scottsdale. With six resort restaurants, two 18-hole golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer and Nick Faldo, a spa and fitness center, and five different swimming pools, there is something for everyone. For the kids: With four acres of swimming pools including a lazy river, waterslide, whirlpools and waterfalls, kids will feel like they’ve arrived in a summer fantasy land. The Family Escape Club for kids four to 12 offers cutting edge technology and entertainment. Plus, summer activities include a dive-in movie schedule, family bingo, pizza making challenge, rubber duck races in the lazy river, teen Segway challenge, and Wii dance parties. Kid tested: “The best part is the pool. I loved swimming, and the tubes in the lazy river, and the waterfall.” – Kennedy (age 6) Arizona Biltmore 2400 E. Missouri Ave. 855-689-2878 arizonabiltmore.com About: For over 85 years the Arizona Biltmore has been known as “The Jewel of the Desert.” A destination for events, families and even United States presidents, the Biltmore is a staple of Phoenix history. Built in 1928, the resort was an architectural masterpiece of its time with strong influences of Frank Lloyd Wright, who collaborated with builder and his former student, Albert Chase McArthur, on the project. With 740 guest rooms and suites, meeting spaces, ballrooms, Spa Biltmore, the prohibition-era Mystery Room, an adjacent golf course at the Arizona Biltmore Country Club, eight swimming pools, seven tennis courts, four different dining options as well as the Wright Bar and High Tea, the Biltmore has something everyone can enjoy. For the kids: From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, children 4 to 12 can join the fun at the Kids Kamp with activities, play equipment and picnic area. Tennis camps are offered and a 92-foot waterslide and evening activities on the lawn are available. Kid tested: “The best part of the pool is the waterslide. And they have awesome treats by the pool.” – Colin (age 7)