Stay & Play

The biggest and best summer staycation experiences in the Valley

By Alison Bailin Batz

The temperature is not the only hot thing in the Valley this time of year thanks to these local resorts, each of which is pulling out all the stops to create unforgettable seasonal experiences for visitors and locals alike all summer long.

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

In August, JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa offers a captivating mix: adrenaline-pumped waterpark days, glowing evening adventures, active sporting options, spa serenity, and family-oriented fun – all wrapped in luxurious service and desert elegance. The expansive 140,000-square-foot AquaRidge WaterPark keeps guests cool all day with a lazy river, multiple splash pools, and three thrilling water slides, not to mention specialty cabanas complete with air conditioning and private bathrooms. Dedicated family programming includes activities like movie nights, crafts at the kids club, plus a cosmic arcade called Copper Alley. Every evening, AquaNights extends the fun – the pool stays open until 8 p.m. during the week and 9 p.m. every weekend – with nightly themes. The resort’s offerings extend beyond water thanks to 17 lighted pickleball courts, plus championship-level Wildfire Golf Club’s courses, and several spa specials. Culinary offerings include poolside snacks at Havasu Bar & Bites and Just a Splash Bar & Kitchen, plus full-service options like Tía Carmen, Kembara, and Meritage. Want to stay the night? Guests who book a one-bedroom, wellness, or studio suite for two nights will get a third night free. Through the AquaNights Summer Package, guests will get up to $100 in daily resort credit as well as a credit for Copper Alley and free parking. www.jwdesertridge.com.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort & Spa

This year, Summer at the Princess is back at the beloved Scottsdale resort, with a slew of activities and events for the entire family all themed around the Wild West. Bigger and bolder than in years prior, the entirety of the 65-acre resort has transformed into an adventure-filled frontier, with surprises around every corner. The resort’s Trailblazers Kids Club provides children ages 5 to 12 with daily themed adventures, including gold panning, fishing derbies, and arts and crafts. For younger guests accompanied by an adult, the Trailblazers Recreation Center offers complimentary games and activities in the afternoon. Families can also enjoy the Mineral Creek Mining Co., where they can pan for gems; and the rodeo area, featuring barrel races, axe throwing, and roping challenges. There is also a Wild West-inspired mini golf course this year. As the sun sets, the resort offers a variety of evening entertainment options, including country music at the Plaza Bar, and several days a week there is a foam party for kids at the sandy Sunset Beach pool. Dive-in movies are held Fridays and Saturdays, allowing guests to watch family-friendly films while floating in the pool. Every Saturday, the Great Frontier Fireworks Show lights up the night sky, providing a spectacular end to the week. www.scottsdaleprincess.com.

Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

Summer at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is packed with vibrant programming designed for every kind of traveler. From sunrise to starlight, guests can enjoy a dynamic mix of activities tailored for families, couples and solo adventurers. Little ones can dive into daily kid-friendly fun at the Adventure Water Park, complete with a 110-foot waterslide, a lazy river, and the exhilarating FlowRider wave simulator. Glow Flow lights up the pool every weekend and Disco in the Desert returns August 16 with a high-energy after-dark celebration. Adults can unwind with morning yoga on the lawn or sip craft cocktails with a view at Antidote, the resort’s new cocktail and culinary venue. The Westin Family Kids Club offers themed activities, crafts and games – giving parents the perfect excuse to slip away for a round of golf or a rejuvenating treatment at Agave, The Arizona Spa. Foodies can indulge in weekly culinary events across the resort’s diverse restaurants, from small-bite tastings at The Rim to whiskey flights at the renowned Scotch Library. Arizona guests will enjoy a slew of added amenities as well, including a resort credit up to $100 for each night. www.westinkierland.com.

Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort

Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort invites Arizona locals and resort guests alike to experience a sizzling lineup of events and amenities as part of its Grand Summer Escape series. Now through Labor Day, the desert comes alive with music, movement, movie nights, and elevated wellness designed to celebrate the sunny season in style. Activities span across the resort’s impressive selection of amenities, from its 10 swimming pools to its two Richard Blais-led eateries, La Zozzona and Tiki Taka. Of note and taking place several times each week are regular performances by DJs and live bands, waterslide races, sandcastle competitions, Hula-Hoop contests, poolside painting, dive-in movies, candle making workshops, and the Mavericks Hat Bar. Through this program, the popular western hat bar is setting up a shop in a poolside cabana, allowing guests to personalize their very own hats. On select evenings, the pools will also stay open late for an after-dark party full of lights, cocktails, music, and seasonal bites. The newly renovated Spa Avania is offering a series of seasonal treatments including an Agave Nectar Massage, a Cold Cactus Flower Facial, and an Orange Grove Body Wrap, each designed to nourish and hydrate sun-kissed skin. www.hyatt.com.

Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa

Summer fun shines brightly at Arizona Biltmore, where guests of all ages can soak up sun, splash in the pool, and indulge in serenity. At Paradise Pool, kids (and kids at heart) can race down three thrilling waterslides or lounge in air-conditioned cabanas. Bonus: Families enjoy extra value with the kids eat free program at McArthur’s, available all summer long. Adults can escape to the serene, adults-only Saguaro Pool – where “Do Not Disturb” is more than a mood, it’s a mantra. Evenings heat up with Dive-In Movies & Twist Night from 6 to 8 p.m., offering extended slide hours, complimentary floaties and family-friendly films under the stars. Wellness seekers will love Tierra Luna Spa’s summer menu, featuring indulgent offers like the Salty Summerita (a 50-minute treatment plus halotherapy and a prickly pear margarita), Midweek Meltaway group discounts, and Wine Wednesday spa packages. Teens and tweens can join the wellness wave, too, at the new Tierra Luna Cabana, designed for guests ages 13 to 17. Dining delights abound – whether it’s Biltmore taco Tuesdays, Italian nights, or burger Mondays. Don’t miss the Latin-inspired prix fixe menu at Renata’s Hearth, highlighting dishes like blue crab ceviche and pollo pibil, or the Daou wine dinner coming August 16. Arizona residents will receive up to 40% off rates nightly through September. www.arizonabiltmore.com.

The Phoenician

Guests are welcomed back for another season of sun-soaked sophistication with Legendary Summers at The Phoenician and The Canyon Suites. Embracing timeless hospitality and modern indulgence, the 2025 summer lineup features the best rates of the year – including several levels that include a daily resort credit – exceptional dining experiences, signature events, and cool family fun across every corner of the property. At Postcards From Paradise in the main lobby, visitors can write and send vintage-style postcards, while the Experience the Legend Selfie Station on the west lawn offers a charming backdrop at the pool for throwback photo ops. Select Saturdays, the Splish Splash Pool Bash brings lively music, games and prizes, followed by the Phoenician Foam Zone, with waves of frothy fun. Each of the property’s eateries is offering something special as well, including a three-course afternoon tea Thursday to Sunday in the lobby starting at $85, and multicourse prix fixe menus at J&G Steakhouse, Mowry & Cotton, and The Phoenician Tavern ranging from $25 to $65. The Phoenician Golf Course is also rolling out the red (or green) carpet with summer rates starting at $99, and there are discounts on select spa treatments from Monday to Thursday as well. www.thephoenician.com.

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

Four Seasons Scottsdale has an exclusive poolside pop-up in partnership with Aperol at its adults-only pool that includes custom-designed loungers adorned with Aperol-branded pillows and towels, a menu of colorful cocktails, and an Aperol spritz cart all summer long. Guests will also receive exclusive gifts, including chic beach bags and summer hats, through September 1. On-property restaurant, Talavera, is also getting in on the fun through its La Hora del Vermut – or Vermouth Hour – series. Available Thursday to Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m., this Spanish-inspired pre-dinner experience features a seasonal menu of light bites and vermouth-forward cocktails, both designed to wake the appetite and celebrate the art of aperitivo. Four Seasons also boasts moonlight yoga and meditation sessions on select evenings. Arizona residents will receive up to 25% off room rates, inclusive of a daily $75 food and beverage credit and complimentary valet or self-parking, now through September 13, and for an enhanced fee can have a s’mores experience set up at Saguaro Blossom or in room if guests have a fireplace on the patio. www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale.

W Scottsdale

This summer, W Scottsdale is turning up the heat with sun-soaked days, electric energy and bold experiences curated for trendsetters and tastemakers. Located in the heart of the Entertainment District, the scene centers around the adult-focused Wet Deck, where DJs spin poolside beats all weekend long and stylish cabanas keep the drinks flowing. W Scottsdale takes pool season to the next level with Sun Chasers, a global campaign from W Hotels designed to capture summer’s euphoric state of mind. Inside, the party continues at Cottontail Lounge, W Scottsdale’s cocktail bar, as well as Sexy Roman, the resort’s newest high-end eatery. W Scottsdale’s summer lineup also includes fashion pop-ups, live music events, and curated dining experiences. After a day in the sun, guests can unwind at the on-site Away Spa, now featuring Aescape – the first and only AI-powered massage therapy experience in Arizona. Guests can elevate their stay with the Cheers and Chill Package, designed for the ultimate weekend getaway or staycation. The package includes early check-in and late check-out, daily breakfast for two, a $40 food and beverage credit, 30% off at Away Spa, and welcome amenities through this September. www.wscottsdale.com.

Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia

The Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia aims to transport guests to the sun-drenched coast of southern Spain, adding in a sprinkle of the romantic spirit of Morocco for good measure. Recently, the resort debuted newly refreshed Kasbah and Oasis Pool cabanas, offering misted, covered seating for up to six guests, private chaise lounges, a flat-screen television, a hot tub, poolside food and beverage service, and a pre-stocked fruit plate and water bottles. Every Wednesday evening, the resort’s Mbar offers flamenco dance performances as well as a multicourse tapas dinner that highlights regional Spanish flavors. Through September 1, the Moroccan-inspired Joya Spa at Omni Montelucia is also celebrating summer, offering a slew of packages and seasonal treatments, notably a Desert Garden Cucumber and Mint Scrub that is specially designed to both heal and protect skin that has been irritated and dehydrated from the blazing sun. If staying overnight, take advantage of one or more several offers, including 20% off three nights or more, complimentary Champagne and chocolates, and mindfulness amenities such as a journal and medication guide. www.omnihotels.com.