Vacation in Scottsdale, AZ - Review

[Lester Burnham]

For the travel peeps out there, thought I'd give a little overview of my short Scottsdale, AZ vacation. I decided to head down there for some R&R since Seattle is cold as fuck right now and I was a little burned out on work. Left last Thursday and returned Sunday.

Hotel: Stayed at the Marriott Desert Ridge (http://www.jwdesertridgeresort.com/). Used 90k Marriott points to stay for free, but I double upgraded my room for $150/night to stay in the executive suite. Big room (separate bedroom and living room), with a balcony. Lots of pools and hot tubs (though deepest pool is only 4'). Give it a B+. Per the course for hotels, drinks were hella expensive, but couldn't really complain. The breakfast buffet is perhaps the best breakfast buffet I've ever had at a hotel. The hotel has a bar, but nothing really happening there on Friday and Sat night (so headed to Scottsdale).

ATV Riding: Went ATV riding out in the desert (http://www.desertwolftours.com/). I highly recommend this tour. You go on some serious back country and get to tear it up in the 4x4. Desert Wolf tours also offers a mix of ATV riding and shooting guns if you are into that type of thing. Our tour guide was packing heat. He said he occasionally runs into some crazy folks in the desert, so he always carries a firearm. I highly recommend this tour (A-)

Horseback Riding. I went horseback riding at Ponderosa Stables (http://ponderosastablesaz.com/). Only $45 and you get 3-4 hours of riding time. It is guided, you stop and a decent food joint that has a full view of Phoenix. My only complaint was the ride was hella slow. I'm a black city slicker, but even I was like, "can we go faster?" (B-)

Old Town Scottsdale; Fashion District. Went to Fashion Square in Scottsdale, where the malls and high end stores are. Wasn't overly impressed; just reminded me of East Side Seattle (Kirkland/Bellevue). Thought I would see more hot women there as well (just a bunch of soccer moms). On the plus side, I picked up some Louis Vuitton tennis shoes! Give this area a B-

Clubbing/Night Life. Went to the Narcisse Lounge on Sat night, which I believe is in North Scottsdale. The quality of the women there was INSANE. I've traveled a fair amount, L.A., Paris, London, New York, Chicago, etc., but I've never seen so many hot women in such a small space lol. All the female waitresses and bartenders looked like super models. I think the place just opened this year, and it was pretty nice, though crowded. Age range is 25-40 (not a frat boy scene). Granted 75% of the folks there looked like they were auditioning for Jersey Shore, but the quality of the women cannot be denied. If you are into clubbing and picking up hot chicks in a crowded environment, this is the place (B+)

Casino: Went to the Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino for gambling (http://www.wingilariver.com/wild-horse-pass). I was very impressed considering it was a non-Vegas casino. Clean, lots of slots, an active poker room, etc. The waitresses aren't very good looking and they don't comp drinks though. They had a ton of televisions everywhere, so I was able to watch the football games from any of the slots or blackjack tables. Another plus was the gas station was selling a pack of brand name smokes for $4.50 (B+)

Quick Hit Impressions of Arizona:Things I like and don't like:

- The weather is obviously great. Not a cloud in the sky and low 70s.

- Not a ton of diversity (where are the black folks lol??). Seemed like 99% of the people there are either white or hispanic.

- Not feeling the strip mall culture. The shopping and restaurant areas are typical suburban sprawl hell IMHO.

- All the houses look the same.

- big time gun culture

- Bodies of water? My friend told me there are a ton of lakes in Arizona, and lots of boat owners. I didn't see any. I like bodies of water, and I think I might go stir crazy just looking at the desert all the time. Perhaps I'll find the water hot spots the next time I head down there

- Traffic: Isn't as bad as Seattle, but at times I got stuck in traffic.

In sum, I give Scottsdale/Phoenix a "B" on my vacation grading systems. I wouldn't live there, but I'll visit and kick it there again when the opportunity arises.

[BareBacked]

weird place for a vacation.

[brassmonkey]

should have hit van buren and got a pube crush

[icymelon]

you might have missed some of the best spots

[Evil Chris]

You were in Scottsdale, and you didn't go golfing?

Also, as a webmaster... have you never been to the Phoenix Forum?

[Lester Burnham]

Don't golf.

Had some friends in AZ that love the place so I wanted to check it out.

Not a webmaster

[Evil Chris]

Originally Posted by Lester Burnham

Don't golf.

Had some friends in AZ that love the place so I wanted to check it out.

Not a webmaster

Oh. So you're just here for kicks and free porn then?

[Jon Oso]

Never been to Scottsdale, no interest in checking it out.

PS you missed the 27 strip clubs we have in the Valley and went to a club I've never heard of. You should have gone out in Old Town Scottsdale on the weekend.

The Desert Ridge area is okay but it's mostly high school kids that have to be dropped off and picked up, and the affliction morons from the west side trying to fight everyone.

[Lester Burnham]

Originally Posted by Evil Chris

Oh. So you're just here for kicks and free porn then?

I've done some business with some folks who post here.

I liked Scottsdale and Arizona though. Didn't think my "review" was overly negative. As I said, I would not move there though to live. Just wanted to check it out to see the vibe.

Gonna hit Malibu or San Diego next...

[pristine]

i fucked mena suvari.

[xNetworx]

So did you get laid?

[Lester Burnham]

Originally Posted by pimpporn

So did you get laid?

As I said in a previous post, I have friends in Arizona

[xNetworx]

Originally Posted by Lester Burnham

As I said in a previous post, I have friends in Arizona

Pics or it didn't happen jk