This year for my birthday I visited Scottsdale, Arizona and it was the relaxation I needed.
Hotel
My family and I stayed in a suite at The Royal Palm Resort and Spa. Located 20-minutes from the airport, this property had the amenities we wanted and space needed for our son to play. It’s close to dining, shopping and family attractions.
Upon arrival we were greeted with a glass of champagne. After flying 4 hours and then waiting an hour for the rental car at the airport, the champagne was right on time.
The hotel grounds are beautiful and well maintained. I’m not a fan of large properties so the size of The Royal Palm Resort and Spa was perfect.
Spa Day
Scottsdale is beautiful but the main attraction was Civana Wellness Resort & Spa. Located 35-minutes north of Scottsdale in the city of Carefree, Civana Wellness Resort & Spa was more than I could imagine. The photos online didn’t do justice and it was a true wellness experience.
Upon arriving, you’re checked-in and escorted to the holding room. The spa has everything you need from robes, shoes, towels, showers, body wash, shampoo, conditioner and more. There’s also a cute cafe and plenty of lounge areas as well.
You’ll want to bring a swimsuit to enjoy the aqua therapy circuit after your massage. The aquatic room offers three pools at cold, warm and hot temperatures. I tried all three but the hot was my favorite.
I chose the Spirt of the Desert massage because it incorporated herb-laced sachets and essential oils. My masseuse, Essence, was fantastic. After the massage she shared how to use the sachets at home because they are yours to keep.
Civana offers other activities such as yoga, hiking and culinary tastings. It’s definitely a full day experience and you’ll have access to the spa the entire day if you aren‘t staying at the property. I suggest you book your spa day a few weeks in advance. They have a limited amount of slots and services offered per day.
Family Time
We visited Odysea Aquarium and had a great time. They have tons of exhibits including stingrays, penguins and sloths. We arrived after 4:30pm and took advantage of the additional 35% off each adult ticket and Grant was free. The aquarium is close to Butterfly Wonderland. We didn’t get a chance to go but next time it’s on our list along with the Desert Botanical Gardens.
Food
We dined at a few restaurants including Barrio Queen and Butters Pancakes & Cafe. The best restaurant was Ocean44. I suggest you make reservations at least one week ahead for any restaurant you want to try.
We had dinner at Ocean44 on my birthday and enjoyed the best service, freshest seafood and the donut tree dessert was perfect. The restaurant was a recommendation from the locals and it didn’t disappoint . If you love steak, I reccomend trying Steak44.
That covers everything and thank you for stopping by. If you have any questions about the trip or traveling with a toddler let me know.
Much love,
soqweenly