From Scottsdale, Arizona’s Sonoran Desert vistas to San Diego, California’s expansive Pacific Ocean coastline, the American Southwest is a nature (and relaxation) lover’s paradise. In the Arizonan highlands, discover bespoke and restorative spa experiences and some of the world’s best—and most beautiful—golf courses. Then, head to the coast to surf Del Mar’s rolling swells and to catch impossibly grand gloamings from Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. There’s a reason this corner of the United States is so beloved; its extraordinary and diverse landscapes, its enticing sunny weather, and its myriad activities have solidified the route as a win for wanderlust and relaxation. Time to jet west.

Set in the backdrop of Camelback Mountain, Scottsdale beckons with colorful desert landscapes, incredible sunsets, and plenty to ignite your senses. Start your Scottsdale trip in Old Town where you can catch a glimpse of this town’s Western past and shop independent boutiques. Architecture buffs must visit Opens in a new windowTaliesin West, the UNESCO World Heritage site designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that served as his winter home. Plant lovers will be drawn to the 140-acre Opens in a new windowDesert Botanical Garden, which houses one of the most impressive collections of desert flora in the world with nearly 5,000 living species. Adventure-seekers may take a hike on one of the area’s scenic trails or take a sunset Jeep tour. Few things are as breathtaking as a glowing Sonoran sunset.

While Scottsdale has plenty to explore, Opens in a new windowThe Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale is a destination unto itself nestled in the foothills on the edge of Phoenix. Surrounded by panoramas of striking scenery and mountain-contoured skies, the Five-Diamond hotel functions as a transportive getaway where visitors can relax, hike, golf, swim, and explore the boundless curiosities of the Sonoran Desert. Opens in a new windowThe Phoenician Spa offers customized services, including a drybar and a nail lounge, and a rooftop pool with views of Camelback Mountain. Unforgettable dining options (and year-round al fresco options) await across the resort’s acclaimed dining venues. Enjoy prime filets at the award-winning Opens in a new windowJ&G Steakhouse and sample seasonally inspired dishes and cocktails at Opens in a new windowMowry & Cotton. 
 
Explore more with The Phoenician’s Opens in a new windowDestination Guide to Scottsdale.

After a few blissful days in Scottsdale, take a one-hour flight or make the six-hour drive West to San Diego, California, watching the landscape transform from desert reds and oranges to the blues and greens of the Pacific Coast.

Upon arrival, luxuriate at Opens in a new windowTHE US GRANT, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego, a legacy-rich destination tucked in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter that has been, in various iterations, an operational hotel for over a century. Housed in a stately building that was completed in 1910, THE US GRANT is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Surrounded by Art Deco splendor, visitors may grab a bite and an Old Fashioned at Opens in a new windowGrant Grill, or venture forth to one of San Diego’s many attractions: the baroque enticement of Balboa Park, the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, Mission or Ocean Beaches for some surf and sun, and so much more. If you’re lucky, you may catch the sight of gray whales breaching on the horizon—every year they migrate past this bustling, vibrant region of California. 

Discover more of San Diego with THE US GRANT’s Opens in a new windowGuide to San Diego.