Sunny in Scottsdale
- Caroline
- Oct 27
- 4 min read
The past few years my mom and I take a mother/daughter trip in the fall. This year, she chose Scottsdale, Arizona! Overall, it wasn’t very busy and we didn’t need reservations for any of the restaurants we went to. With the time change, we did our best to stay on central/eastern time and go to bed and wake up “early”.
We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town, which was perfect for what we needed. The location was walking distance to plenty of restaurants and shops, and since we were out exploring most of the time, it was an ideal home base.
The weather was in the 60s in the mornings and evenings and climbed to the high 80s during the day. It was definitely hotter than I anticipated in the afternoon.
Day 1
Old Town & Shopping
We took an early flight out of Nashville and with the time change, we landed in Phoenix around 9 a.m. After checking in, we stopped at JoJo Coffeehouse for a coffee flight and breakfast. They don’t take reservations, but the online waitlist moved quickly (about 30 minutes).
We spent the day walking through Old Town Scottsdale and the shops along 5th Ave.
Favorite gift & souvenir shops:
Favorite clothing boutiques:
We also stopped by Scottsdale Fashion Square, which is very upscale but has just about every store imaginable.
We ended the night at Diego Pops with margaritas and Mexican food, which was the perfect start to the trip!
Day 2
Hot Air Balloon Ride & Horseback Riding
Hot Air Expeditions
This had been on my bucket list forever! We chose Hot Air Expeditions. The company picked us up at 5:30 a.m. and, after a few stops, we arrived at the launch site. We missed the sunrise, but the ride was still incredible. We ended up being in the biggest basket with 18 passengers, but thankfully we could all see! They decide the morning of based on wind speed where they launch the balloons and once we get up they determine the best place to land based on wind direction and speed on the ground. The ride was very smooth! You can’t tell or feel that you are off the ground. After landing, they served breakfast and mimosas right in the desert. It was such a unique experience and absolutely worth doing.
Brunch at Schmooze
We returned to Old Town and had brunch at Schmooze. You order via your phone and grab any open table — we sat outside on the patio.
My order: Snickerdoodle latte + smoked salmon toast
My mom’s: Avocado toast + tiramisu latte
MacDonald’s Ranch
Later that afternoon, we took an Uber to MacDonald’s Ranch for a sunset trail ride. The ranch also has a pumpkin patch and family-friendly activities. The one-hour ride was perfect for beginners, and the desert scenery at sunset was breathtaking. We had someone leading the ride and someone riding alongside our group. I really enjoyed hearing about the horses, ranch, and Sonoran desert!
We walked to Grapevine from our hotel for dinner! I had a chicken gyro and it might just be the best gyro I’ve ever had!
Day 3
Sunrise Hike, Drinks, & Food
Sunrise Hike at Pinnacle Peak
Determined not to miss another sunrise, we hiked Pinnacle Peak Trail. The entire trail is about 3.5 miles round trip. We went about two miles in, stopping at each lookout point for photos. The trail is well-marked and maintained. This was a great option for a moderate hike with stunning views!
Coffee & Brunch
We grabbed fall lattes (French Toast & Cookie Butter) at Fourtillfour Coffee. It seemd to be one of the busiest and most popular spots we visited.
After some downtime, we had breakfast at Beginner’s Luck — my favorite brunch meal of the trip. The espresso martini was a fun touch, and I was so excited they had coasters (I collect them)!
We also stopped by Sugar Bowl, a retro pink diner serving ice cream, milkshakes, and floats.
Evening Drinks & Dinner
We tried a Waymo self-driving car to get to The Canal Club at The Scott Resort & Spa. It felt very safe and smooth. We could control the music and temperature inside from the back seat. The Scott was gorgeous! My mom had an Aperol Spritz, and I ordered a Hugo Spritz (and snagged a matchbook for my collection).
We ended the night at Elephante, sharing the whipped eggplant, Caesar salad, and vodka pasta. It was all delicious!
Scottsdale was such a fun fall destination! It’s warm, easy to get around, and full of great food and scenic views. If you’re looking for a relaxing yet activity-filled getaway, this is the perfect spot for a three-day trip. We fit everything in without feeling rushed and I’d go back in a heartbeat!!
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