All can agree that escaping the heat during the summer months is the number one priority for all Arizonans and West Coast travelers. Luckily, the valley’s most prominent hotels and spas allow you to enjoy some of the most unique activities to cool off, have fun, and not go too far.
The AAA Five Diamond Fairmont Scottsdale Princess hotel celebrates it’s annual “Summer at the Princess” three-month long calendar of events and specials including extreme adventurous entertainment and activities for all ages. Beginning with Memorial Day’s “Princess Party on the Pier” and ending through Labor Day’s “Dreamcation” celebration, the entire hotel transforms into the primary active stay-cation location to escape the heat. Whether it’s water slides, zip lines, or fireworks, their calendar of events will keep you busy and amazed.
Memorial Day Weekend Kick-Off
Kicking off summer boardwalk style, the “Princess Party on the Pier” is May 22-25, 2015, bringing a throwback to the heyday of seaside amusements with caricaturists, speed painters, chalk artists, a Sugar Shack for sweet treats and steel drummers by the pool. As an added bonus, guests may lounge a little longer with a complimentary late check-out of 4 p.m. on Monday, May 25.
Weekend Fun, All Summer, Poolside
The SplashRider X-treme, a rolling water ball for both kids and adults, operates on weekends at the Sonoran Splash Pool. This attraction for resort guests lasts three to five minutes, creating a constant wave of water and allows one or two riders at a time. Tickets can be purchased individually or packaged with The Zipper zip line for unlimited rides.
It’s a disco down the slides at the Techno Glo Party at Sonoran Splash pool. Black lights, lasers, fog, LED hula hooping, glow-in-the-dark bubbles, drinks and pulsating techno music from DJ Splash rock the pool 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights this summer. Over at the South Pool, families can just chill at the Dive In Movies also offered complimentary Friday and Saturday nights. Movie-watchers can float on inner tubes or enjoy movie snacks on deck, as the family flick begins at 8 p.m., with an intermission for fireworks at 9 p.m. on Saturdays.
Every weekend afternoon, the Fairmont Fun Team leads dancing games, tie dye t-shirt making, limbo and underwater bingo with music from DJ Splash. Other daily activities include badminton, volleyball and bocce ball.
Sonoran Splash, the resort’s 6,000 square-foot water oasis is perfect for families, with two twisting waterslides, pop-jet fountains, cabanas and games. For tots, there is a zero-entry deck area as well as a large, shaded sandbox complete with Tonka trucks and beach toys, sure to keep the little ones entertained for hours.
Sonoran Splash is one of three pools that offer luxurious cabanas for rental, with amenities such as a flat-screen TV, ceiling fan, sofas, reserved chaise lounges, refrigerator, bottled waters and fresh fruit. The resort has five pools in total throughout the 65-acre property.
Lagoon Adventures
Resort guests can soar a speedy 25 mph, 240-feet across the lagoons on The Zipper, a 37-foot-high zip line, available weekends, all summer long. There are prices for individual rides or packaged for unlimited rides, combined with the new SplashRider X-treme.
For more adventure, Ranger Rick helps guests cast a reel for bluegill at the fishing derbies and leads nature walks to observe any of the waterfowl who make the lagoons their home… and feeding Cecil, the resort’s resident desert tortoise at his habitat near the Cactus Garden and La Hacienda.
A fun new way to stay cool at the lagoons this summer will be water balloon battles from large, custom-made launchers, as part of the Fairmont Fun Team’s activities.
Trailblazers Family Adventure Center & Kids Club
Trailblazers is a fun-filled program for ages 5-12 where kids pan for real gold, learn to solar cook, play sports, swim and even meet a reptilian friend or two. Half-day and full-day sessions are available year-round for overnight guests. A la carte pricing is $35 for a half-day or $60 for a full-day session. Included in the hotel’s daily resort fee of $29, up to three children per family receive half-day admission to the Kids Club, which is a savings of more than $100 per day. (Lunch is additional for $12.)
The Trailblazers Family Adventure Center is open 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. nightly, complimentary, year-round for resort guests of all ages to play Ping Pong, foosball, basketball, air hockey, shuffle board, videos and board games.
More for the Little Ones, Just Ask!
To ensure families have the comforts of home, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess covers all of the bases with an assortment of in-room amenities for children. Full-size cribs complete with bedding, high chairs, strollers, night lights, safety outlet covers, portable playpens, humidifiers, baby monitors, baby bathtubs, baby shampoo, kid’s robes and step stools are available for resort guests upon request, complimentary.
Pets Are Treated Like Royalty at the Princess
Dogs and cats want to go on vacation too, so with Princess Posh Paws, pets can experience the ultimate luxury resort experience. Owner and pet stay in a room that comes complete with a “Pet in Residence” door hanger, a plush pet bed, food and water bowl, a food mat, pet toys and of course, treats. Pets (and people) are also greeted in the lobby by the resort’s official new Canine Ambassador, Bixby, a yellow Labrador retriever.
Retreat to Well & Being Spa
Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has all-new “Live it Well” programs, sizzling specials and soothing spa treatments to keep you refreshed and energized all summer long. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the spa’s “Good Life” team of fitness, nutrition and beauty experts are planning a “Happy & Healthy” calendar of interactive events including the new Hoopnotica hula hoop and beach body legs classes, tips for making healthy smoothies, acupuncture for sleep and laughing yoga, to name a few.
Well & Being Spa is 44,000 square foot sanctuary situated on three levels with exercise and work-out facilities, waterfall grotto, steam, sauna, salon, Well & Being Market, café and a scenic rooftop pool. For the first time, the spa is offering a summer “Happy Pass” for local residents, with unlimited access to the spa for $49 for an entire day, mid-week.
For an overnight spa getaway, the new “Stay & Spa” package includes accommodations, plus the choice of one 45-minute facial, massage, pedicure or body wrap, starting from $241 May 1 – September 3, 2015.
Summer Dining
La Hacienda is celebrating summer with the return of its popular “Guacamole Fest” sampler of various guacamoles, from pork belly to seafood and pomegranate, as well as Fresca Floats made with traditional Mexican sodas. (Prices of these a la carte items vary.)
The summer Kids Resort Dining Passport is a super deal for families for $29 per day that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner at resort dining outlets such as Ironwood American Kitchen, Trailblazers Kids Club, the pools, La Hacienda and Toro, plus a kid’s snack at the South Pool during the Dive-In Movie. These meals are from the children’s menus and are exclusive to overnight resort guests. Passports are available for overnight guests for purchase upon arrival at the Leisure Services Desk in the main lobby.
Spicing up the weekends is Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar’s new a la carte brunch, with live Latin music from 11 am – 2 pm, overlooking the 18th green of the TPC Scottsdale. Spanish mimosas, Brazilian French Toast (brioche bread topped with fried plantains, mescal maple syrup and whipped cream), an all-you-can-eat sushi bar, a build-your-own Bloody Mary cart and 111 types of rum are just a few highlights of this new hotspot.
Day Guests, Overnight Guests
Most of the resort activities mentioned are exclusive for overnight guests. Day visitors are invited to enjoy a treatment at Well & Being Spa or dine in any of the resort’s award-winning restaurants. Saturday nights throughout the summer are a terrific time to come have dinner and enjoy a fireworks show over the lagoons at 9 p.m.
Vacation Packages
Celebrate summer with the new “Upgrade Your Summer” package includes an upgrade to a newly renovated Casita Signature Junior Suite at a Fairmont room price, starting from $169 per night weekdays and $189 weekends. These accommodations are more spacious, secluded and residential in style.
The popular Sip, Savor & Splash Package returns, starting from $169 per room, per night Sunday through Thursday and $189 weekends and includes a $50 daily credit for dining, spa or kid’s club. Summer package dates are based upon space availability, May 22-September 7, 2015. Taxes and daily resort fees are additional.
For reservations or more information on summer programs at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, please dial ((866) 540-4495 or visit www.scottsdaleprincess.com. The resort is located at 7575 East Princess Drive in Scottsdale, Ariz
For more information, please visit fairmont.com. Become a fan of Fairmont. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and EveryonesAnOriginal.
