Phoenix Area, Arizona
With more than 300 days of sun each year, a couples’ escape to the Phoenix area is sure to light up your romance. The Valley of the Sun offers a unique combination of big-city culture and resort-style amenities, framed by the stunning desert landscape.
Treat the Body and Soul
When the mercury soars, couples can beat the heat by starting early with a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Sonoran Desert, an easy hike on the Bajada Nature Trail in Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, or a round of golf at one of nearly 200 courses.
Scottsdale is a spa mecca, too, and a day spent reconnecting with a couples massage at an upscale retreat such as Joya Spa, CIVANA, or The Phoenician Spa—or the facilities at your resort accommodations—easily sets the scene for romance. Culture lovers shouldn’t miss touring Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece, Taliesin West, while history buffs will delight in strolling hand-in-hand through the Native American-focused Heard Museum. Couples can make their own beautiful music together at MIM, the world’s largest musical instrument museum.
Toasting to Love
Surprise and unexpected discoveries fuel romance, and couples will find just that exploring Arizona wine. Even locals are surprised to learn that Arizona has more than 120 wineries—nine of them, including award-winning Los Milics Vineyards and Carlson Creek Vineyard have tasting rooms in downtown Scottsdale.
If your beverage of choice leans more toward a Manhattan than a Merlot, you’ll want to raise a glass at Bitter & Twisted, rated one of the nation’s best cocktail bars. For a more immersive experience, book a boarding pass to Phoenix’s Carry On, which recreates the experience of flying in first class on a jumbo jet, or ride the rails at Platform 18 at Century Grand, which similarly replicates riding on a 1920s-era Pullman car.
In recent years, Phoenix has morphed into a foodie destination. Regularly ranked as one of the top romantic restaurants in the U.S., Café Monarch offers a four- or eight-course menu in a fine-dining setting, while Bacanora and Espíritu serve traditional Mexican cuisine. Some of the area’s hottest restaurants include Din Tai Fung for Taiwanese-style dumplings, Telefèric Barcelona for Spanish tapas and paella, and Starfish Scottsdale for coastal Asian flavors.
