Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

The undisputed top pick for classic, understated luxury. Set against the McDowell Mountains in North Scottsdale — feels remote and private but everything is accessible. Stunning casita-style rooms, world-class spa, and exceptional service. If she wants to feel truly pampered and away from it all, this is the one.

Dinner at Talavera at the Four Seasons.

Resort dining done exceptionally well. Stunning terrace views over the Sonoran Desert, a seasonal menu, and the kind of golden-hour light that makes everything look like a film still. Dress up a little. You are setting the tone for the entire week.

Tip: Make this reservation before you leave home. Request terrace seating and the sunset-facing table if possible.

Nightcap at the resort bar. Early to bed — big week ahead.

Pamper, explore, indulge

Morning

Early walk or gentle hike on the resort property as the desert wakes up. Back for a full resort breakfast — sit outside, order everything, take your time.

Mid-Morning to Early Afternoon — Full Spa Day

Four Seasons Spa — Scottsdale

Book all treatments in advance. Treatments fill fast, especially on weekends. Consider:

• Desert-inspired signature facial using local botanicals
• Hot stone massage
• Infrared sauna or outdoor hydrotherapy
• Finish with time in the relaxation lounge — do not rush this part

Tip: Arrive 30 minutes before your first treatment. Use the thermal pools and relaxation areas before and after.

Shopping & Exploring:

• Scottsdale Fashion Square: Neiman Marcus, Saks, Tory Burch, Louis Vuitton, and all the majors. One of the finest malls in the Southwest.

• Main Street Arts District: Turquoise jewelry, Southwestern art, galleries worth browsing slowly. Buy something here — it is a ritual.

• 5th Avenue Shops: Boutiques, local designers, beautiful home goods and gifts.

Dinner at Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

One of the best steakhouses in the state and a genuine destination dining experience. The room is stunning, the wine list is exceptional, and the service is impeccable.

• Order the butter-poached lobster alongside your cut — non-negotiable
• The truffle fries are worth every calorie
• Reserve the terrace table if weather allows

Tip: Reserve at least 2 weeks in advance. Valet park and make an evening of it.

The most beautiful two hours in America

Morning — Desert Experience

Choose your signature Scottsdale adventure:

• Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Sonoran Desert at sunrise: The single most spectacular way to see this landscape. Book with Hot Air Expeditions — the best operator in the area. Flight plus champagne brunch typically runs 3-4 hours total.

• Private Jeep Tour through desert backcountry: Guides are extraordinary storytellers — geology, Native history, local lore. Full Throttle Desert Tours or Arizona Outback Adventures are top operators.

• Horseback Riding through desert trails: MacDonald’s Ranch is the classic Scottsdale option. Book the sunrise ride.

Brunch after at The Henry.

A Scottsdale institution with a beautiful patio, a serious cocktail program, and a menu that rewards lingering. Order the smashed avocado toast or the ricotta pancakes.

Midday — The Drive to Sedona

Pack the car, queue up a great playlist, and head north on Route 179. The drive into Sedona is one of the most jaw-dropping arrivals in American travel — red rocks emerging from nowhere as you approach. Roll the windows down.

Must-Stop: Chapel of the Holy Cross

A modernist chapel built directly into the red rock cliffs just outside Sedona. One of the most extraordinary architectural and spiritual sites in the entire Southwest. Even if you are not religious, you will feel something here. Plan 30-45 minutes.

Tip: Parking fills up — arrive early or be patient. The walk to the entrance is steep but short.

Late Afternoon

Check into Enchantment Resort at Boynton Canyon. Walk the property. Let Sedona land on you. Order something from room service and sit on your patio.

Sunset

Airport Mesa Vortex

One of the most accessible and stunning viewpoints in Sedona. Arrive 45 minutes before sunset to find a good spot on the rocks. The light on the canyon walls turns from gold to pink to deep violet as the sun drops — one of the great natural light shows in the Southwest.

Tip: Bring a light wrap or jacket. The temperature drops quickly once the sun goes behind the rocks.

The ultimate wellness day

Morning

Wake up slowly. Coffee on your patio or balcony as the canyon walls shift from pink to gold to rust in the morning light. This is one of the great simple pleasures of the entire trip — do not rush it.

Gentle morning yoga or meditation on property. Enchantment offers these in the canyon and the setting makes them genuinely transformative.

Mid-Morning through Afternoon — Mii amo Spa

Mii amo Spa at Enchantment Resort — A Bucket-List Experience

One of the top destination spas in the entire country. Plan 4-5 hours minimum. Book all treatments before arrival — slots go fast especially on weekends and holidays.

Recommended treatments:

• The Mii amo Journey — the signature multi-treatment experience unique to this property. If you only do one thing, do this.
• Crystal healing or energy work — deeply aligned with Sedona’s vortex energy and more transformative than it sounds in this setting
• Red rock salt scrub or turquoise body wrap — locally inspired and deeply restorative
• Sound bath session — Sedona’s acoustics and canyon energy make this unlike any other sound bath experience
• Finish in the outdoor relaxation pools with canyon views — plan at least an hour here

Tip: Mii amo also offers multi-day and multi-night spa packages. If wellness is her primary reason for the trip, consider booking a Journey package in advance — they sell out.

Dinner at Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill.

Chef Lisa Dahl’s flagship restaurant and the most stunning dining room in Sedona. Perched on a hillside with panoramic red rock views, a wood-fired kitchen, and a room that was designed to be photographed. One of the best dining experiences in all of Arizona.

• Order the empanadas as a starter — do not skip them
• The wood-fired proteins are exceptional — the lamb and the fish both earn their reputation
• Dessert here is not optional
• Request window or terrace seating when you reserve — the views at sunset are extraordinary

Tip: Reserve 2-3 weeks in advance. Request the upstairs terrace table for the best view. Dress the part — this restaurant earns a real outfit.

Nightcap back at the resort under the Sedona night sky. The stars here are extraordinary and the canyon at night is its own kind of magic. Sit outside as long as possible.

Go deeper into the landscape

Morning — Choose Your Adventure

• Cathedral Rock Hike: Iconic, moderate difficulty, and the most photographed view in Sedona. Go early — by 10am it gets crowded. Wear proper trail shoes and bring water. The scramble at the top is steep but the view from the saddle is one of the most spectacular in the Southwest.

• Private Vortex Tour: Book a private guide for a tour through Boynton Canyon or Bell Rock. More meaningful than it sounds and many guests call it the highlight of their entire trip. Energy Vortex Tours and Sedona Spirit Yoga & Hiking are well-regarded operators.

• Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Red Rocks: If not done in Scottsdale, over the red rocks it is an entirely different and equally spectacular experience. Red Rock Balloon Adventures is the top Sedona operator.

Brunch at The Hudson.

Beautiful setting, a serious cocktail program, and a menu that rewards a post-adventure appetite. The avocado toast, eggs Benedict, and weekend cocktails are all excellent.

Afternoon

Final pool afternoon at Enchantment. The canyon pool experience here is unlike anything in Scottsdale — more dramatic, more private, more otherworldly. Book a lounger or cabana in advance.

Optional: Hozho Collective for last-minute gallery browsing and upscale boutique shopping before dinner.

Dinner at Elote Cafe.

A Sedona legend. Chef Jeff Smedstad’s modern Mexican kitchen has a devoted following and a line out the door most nights. They do not take reservations — arrive early, put your name in, and have a drink at the bar while you wait. Every single minute of the wait is worth it. One of those meals you will talk about for years.

• The elote (street corn) appetizer is what the restaurant is named after — order it first
• The short rib tacos and the mole are both exceptional
• The margarita program is serious — try the house specialty

Tip: Arrive at 5pm when they open to minimize the wait. The bar is a great place to meet locals.

One last walk under the stars at the resort. Boynton Canyon at night is sacred and silent and one of those travel moments that stays with you. Do not go straight to your room.

Leave gracefully

Morning

One final sunrise if she can manage it — sit outside with coffee as the canyon walls light up. This is the goodbye Sedona deserves.

Leisurely checkout breakfast. Linger as long as possible. Order the full spread one more time.

Before the Drive

Chocola Tree Organic Oasis

A beloved Sedona institution for locally made coffee, raw desserts, and organic treats. The perfect send-off ritual before the drive south. Pick up something for the road.

Optional Detour — Jerome, Arizona

30 minutes from Sedona on the way south — a former copper mining ghost town turned artist village perched on a cliffside at 5,000 feet elevation. One of the most unique small towns in the entire Southwest.

• Galleries, antique shops, and boutiques lining the steep main street
• Jaw-dropping views over the Verde Valley
• Jerome Grand Hotel bar for a drink with a view
• Plan 1.5 to 2 hours — it goes fast

Tip: Jerome is small but vertical — wear comfortable shoes. Park at the bottom and walk up.

The Drive Back

Return south to Phoenix on Route 179. The drive is just as stunning in reverse. The red rocks in the rearview mirror are a sight of their own. Flight home from PHX.