Friday, May 30, 2014

Economical Hotels in Downtown Scottsdale

Downtown Scottsdale is the place to be when visiting full of vibrant restaurants, nightclubs, shops and event. It’s a happening place and staying at a hotel in downtown puts you in the middle of all the action! Maximize your vacation budget by staying at one of these budget-friendly hotels.


There are plenty of limited service hotels as well as moderate hotels to choose from. The limited service hotels offer all the basics needed for your trip. Moderate hotels will offer a step up in those basics plus a possible hotel bar/restaurant and in-room Internet. Here are some economical hotels in downtown to check out:


Limited Service: 1. Extended Stay America Scottsdale Old Town 2. Howard Johnson Scottsdale 3. Motel 6 Scottsdale 4. Travelodge Scottsdale 5th Avenue 5. El Dorado Scottsdale


Moderate: 6. Best Western Plus Sundial 7. Comfort Suites Old Town Scottsdale 8. Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale Old Town 9. Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town 10. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Old Town 11. Hotel Indigo Scottsdale Old Town 12. Hyatt House Scottsdale/Old Town 13. Hyatt Place Scottsdale/ Old Town 14. Scottsdale Camelback Resort 15. Scottsdale Marriott Suites Old Town


Economical Hotels Downtown Scottsdale



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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

10 Tasty Ways to Turn up the Heat

Looking for a new way to sweat this summer? Scottsdale’s renowned chefs have found deliciously creative ways to turn up the heat. Here’s our tasty, and toasty, list of local favorites: Cowboy Ciao Duck Confit Eggrolls

1. Duck Confit Egg Rolls at Cowboy Ciao:These delicious, innocent-sounding apps feature the bad boy of the pepper world in their Ghost Chile Ginger Plum Sauce. How hot is it? Consider that the ghost pepper weighs in at a whopping 1.4 million units on the Scoville heat scale compared to a modest 8,000 for the average jalapeño.


Deseo Shrimp Chicharron

2. Shrimp Chicharron at deseo:Aji Amarillo chiles and pickled jalapeños give this dish a powerful punch of heat and a subtly sweet finish. The lemon-colored Aji Amarillo peppers have a distinctive smoky flavor and are a staple in traditional Peruvian cuisine. SOL Cocina Ceviche


3. Hot & Raw Tropical Ceviche at SOL Cocina:This zesty combination of tropical fruit, avocado, cucumber and raw fish “cooked” in citrus juices is served chilled, but don’t let that fool you –habanero chiles provide all the heat you need. Scoop up the fiery goodness with sweet potato and red beet chips. Hermosa Inn Mezcal Mango Madness


4. Mezcal Mango Madness at The Hermosa Inn’s Last Drop:In another pepper-mango tango, this spicy delight boasts Illegal Mezcal Reposado, chipotle syrup, mago puree, lime juice and Bittermens Hellfire Shrub Bitters. A garnish of red jalapeño pepper slices adds a fiery finishing touch. Zinburger El Diablo


5. El Diablo at Zinburger :Roasted jalapeños, pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo put the fire in this devilishly good burger. Feeling decadent? Go for the Kobe beef option, add a side of Spicy Green Chili Fries, then douse the inferno with a cool and creamy Chocolate Mint milkshake. The Herb Box Korean Fried Cauliflower with chopsticks


6. Korean Fried Cauliflower at The Herb Box:This “meaty” veggie dish features crispy fried cauliflower tossed in housemade Korean hot pepper sauce. The sauce is a proprietary recipe by Chef Becky J. Windels that gets its heat from traditional Korean Gochujang hot pepper paste and Sriracha sauce, and its hint of sweetness from brown sugar. Proof


7. Chili Coconut Mussels at Proof, an American Canteen:Sautéed mussels are simmered in a bath of coconut milk, Sambal chile paste, sugar and lime to create this zippy specialty. Sambal is a customary ingredient in Southeast Asian dishes and is made from a combination of chiles, including habanero, cayenne, bird’s eye and Lombok. Hula's Spicy Thai Chicken Bowl


8. Spicy Thai Chicken Bowl at Hula’s Modern Tiki:This bowl of Polynesian delights features marinated chicken breast swathed in a spicy sauce and resting on a bed of black beans, rice and Napa cabbage. Want it hotter? Ask for chopped Scotch Bonnet peppers to kick it up a notch. Tommy Bahama Mango Habanero Margarita


9. Mango Habanero Margarita at Tommy Bahama:Bittermens Hellfire Habanero Shrub Bitters and two slices of fresh habanero chile give this mighty cocktail its kick. Smooth Milagro Silver tequila, Curacao orange liqueur and mango puree sweeten the deal.


10. Lamb Vindaloo at Jewel of the Crown:A traditional dish from Goa, India, Vindaloo is chockfull of spices like cinnamon, cloves, cumin seeds and turmeric. Red chiles add the heat, which you can order to taste. Ask for “Indian hot” to bring on the sweat.



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Tuesday, May 20, 2014

June Calendar of Events

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As the temperature rises, so do the hot events around Scottsdale! Relax at Kierland Commons every Saturday night with their summer concert series, or beat the heat and take a flashlight tour at the Desert Botanical Garden. Click here to see the full calendar.






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Friday, May 16, 2014

Local Spotlight: Windwalker Expeditions


Welcome to Scottsdale, the “West’s Most Western Town.” Saloons, cowboy hats and wide-open views are some of the things you’ll find here. It’s hard not to get caught up in it all, so why not saddle up and go horseback riding through the beautiful desert landscape?


Windwalker Expeditions is unlike most riding companies. No large groups; just the guide, your riding partner and you. This personalized experience allows you to customize your riding experience. You’ll interact with the guides the whole time, asking questions about the diverse Sonoran Desert or getting riding tips.


While other horseback tour companies work out of a single stable, and therefore take the same trail, Windwalker is mobile. Always wanted to see the Apache Trail on horse? Meet them there. If you love the high-desert scenery north of Scottsdale, then let them know and go explore! Windwalker guides are savvy in many different areas of the state and they have permits that cover 3 million acres, so chances are if you want to ride somewhere, they’ll know the way.


The fact that Windwalker caters to high-skill level riders is another draw for visitors. Those vacationing without their horses still can have a great time on a more advanced trail, where they are also allowed to trot and canter. That doesn’t mean the novice riders are left out though. Your guide will create a unique trail ride so all the riders in your group can enjoy themselves!


If you’re looking for a private riding experience, whether you’re advanced or novice, English style or Western style riding, Windwalker is your company. Check them out here, or call 480-585-3382 for more info.






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Camelback Mountain Fun Facts

Camelback Mountain The iconic Camelback Mountain sits in the heart of Paradise Valley, and is only about a five-minute drive from downtown Scottsdale. It’s a local favorites for a challenging hike when the weather is perfect out! Before you reach that expansive view from the top, check out these fun facts about Camelback:


  • Caves indicate that the mountain was a sacred site for the Hohokam culture.

  • In 1879, the mountain was given to the Salt River Pima and the Maricopa American Indian tribes as part of their reservation. That ownership lasted six months, until it was reversed and given back to the control of the Arizona Territory.

  • The fight to protect the mountain against construction began in the early 1900’s, and lasted all the way to 1968 when the mountain became a Phoenix city park.

  • You’ll find Precambrian Granite and red sedimentary sandstone on your climb. The sandstone dates back 25 million years, and the granite to approximately 1.5 billion!

  • The average hike time is about two hours round trip on both the Echo Canyon trail (considered harder because it gains its elevation in a shorter distance) and the Cholla trail.

  • The “eyebrow” of the camel is also called the Praying Monk, since it forms the figure of a man kneeling in prayer.

  • Looking west towards the mountain provides the best view to see the camel from which the mountain got its name from.



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Friday, May 2, 2014