Travel Tips & Adventures

When you’ve finished visiting Old Town Scottsdale and Scottsdale Fashion Center, there is more shopping up the road!  Shopping in Scottsdale could be a daily experience for weeks and you might still not see everything!

Traveling up Scottsdale Road, you see other major retailers like Crate & Barrel, restaurants like Cheesecake Factory, and several shopping plazas.  Although it might seem counterintuitive with Arizona’s months of extreme heat, most of the newer shopping locations are open air centers  where you travel outside from shop to shop.

A street in Kierland Commons

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If you love to shop, Scottsdale is the mecca.  Everything from high-end couture to kitsch is yours for the price.  The shopping areas are reminiscent of everything from the old west to modern America to an Italian courtyard.  Let’s start with “Old Town” – (more…)

Previously, we’ve visited Scottsdale in this blog, but we have some new items to share and some new perspectives.  Scottsdale really is a state of mind, like being in Boca Raton or Palm Springs.

Trendy Kazimierz World Wine Bar calls itself a speakeasy and has its entrance around the back!

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When you are traveling – well, you gotta eat!  Where you’d like to eat is obviously determined by diet, preferences, and budget.

Scottsdale has every imaginable food opportunity in both chain and unique restaurants.  Today, we’ll feature two unique restaurants catering to two different culinary inspirations. (more…)

My first stay in Arizona was at the Camelback Inn when I attended a conference.  Let us say that I was not disappointed with my accommodations. Today’s blog will talk about the Camelback as well as an old timer that has been renovated, the Valley Ho. (more…)

So, you’ve arrived in Scottsdale and you’ve got your plastic ready.

Let’s go shopping! (more…)

When I first traveled to Arizona, everyone talked about Scottsdale as some magical place.  This week we’ll be featuring Scottsdale.  You can decide whether it is magical for yourself! (more…)

TALKING STICK RESORT

As I mentioned last week, the newest and largest in the casino business often has only a fleeting chance to be on top of the heap.  Currently in its final construction phases is the soon to open Talking Stick Resort just east of Scottsdale.

East of I-101 is the Salt River Pima – Maricopa Indian Community.  Up to this point they have opened two Casino Arizona properties (the oldest currently next to the Talking Stick Resort).  Within minutes of Old Town Scottsdale, unique shopping, and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, the Talking Stick Resort property is bound to be a mecca for high rollers … did I mention Scottsdale?

Access to the property is simple with easy on-off exits at I-101 and Indian Bend Road.  The property is located 1 mile east and easily visible from the highway.

Talking Stick Resort - under construction

Current specs for the property include:

- 497 room, 15-story luxury hotel

- 240,000 sq. ft. casino floor (poker, table games, slots, keno)

- 900+ Vegas-style slot machines

- 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space (indoor/outdoor)

- 750-seat showroom

- 8 restaurants (including fine dining on the15^th floor)

- 10+ night clubs/lounges

- 2, 18-hole golf course managed by internationally recognized Troon Golf, LLC

- 13,000 sq. ft. spa (massage/fitness center, etc.)

- 2 parking garages

As with its sister casino several miles south, the showroom will feature “tribute shows” rather than nationally known entertainment.

Current rates are not available, although reservations will be accepted starting January 1, 2010.

Talking Stick Resort looks to be a major destination in the East Valley of the Phoenix area.

As soon as the property opens, we will update our blog.

www.talkingstickresort.com

www.talkingstickgolfclub.com

www.casinoarizona.com