Published August 25th, 2024

Photography by Jennifer Merrick unless otherwise noted.

“Men tend to overestimate their biking ability, but women do the opposite,” said Phil, our REI mountain biking guide, as we were driving to Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

I assured him that I was truly a beginner and was apprehensive about attempting a sport that had such an extreme reputation. Though I did notice my travel companion not mentioning her experience on two wheels, which not only included previous mountain biking but also track cycling on those steeply banked velodromes.

“What was I getting myself into?” I thought as I put on bike gloves over my palms that were sweaty despite the breezy dry desert air. I gripped the handlebars tight when we first set off on the gravelly path in Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve. But with tips from our guide and encouragement from my friend, it didn’t take long for the white knuckles to disappear, and I began to relish the ride. It would have been hard not to, considering the colours and beauty of the desert landscape that surrounded us.

“The Sonoran Desert is the lushest desert in the world,” Phil said. With only seven to 12 inches of rain annually, somehow the desert plants thrive and bloom. On this late April day, the pink blooms of the hedgehog cactus and the yellow flowers of desert marigold greeted us brightly. And although not blooming at this time, we were awed by the Sonoran’s most famous cactus – the Saguaro. With an average height of 40 feet and arms stretched out high, they proudly stood as the King of Cactus and a symbol of desert itself.

During our outing, we stopped on occasion to learn more about Saguaros and other flora and fauna of the region before getting on our bikes to continue our ride. It was hard to focus on the trail ahead. It was just too scenic. Each time I thought we had seen the best the preserve had to offer, we turned a corner, and an even more picturesque vista revealed itself.

Between the eye candy and my aversion to adrenaline, I rode slowly and applied the brakes liberally on the downhill portions.

“I hope I’m not holding you back,” I said to my friend whom I’m sure could fly down the rocky paths.

“I’m loving it,” she assured me and said how much more fun it was without the speed and competition.

Encouraging each other is another thing women tend to do.

Scottsdale, Arizona as it turned out was a perfect destination for a girls’ getaway in so many ways:

Indulgent Accommodations and Spas

Photo Credit Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Scottsdale has no shortage of luxury properties to choose from, but the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is an especially popular choice among Canadians. Of course, we recognize the name from the grand ‘castles’ in Lake Louise and Quebec City. But the 450-acre Fairmont resort not only has all the luxury the brand is recognized for, but also boasts something lacking at the Canadian properties in the winter – sunshine (330 days a year to be exact). Even better for a girls’ getaway is its Well & Being Spa, a 44,000 square-foot, three-story indulgent oasis. Awarded multiple accolades, including USA Today’s ’10 Best’, it’s everything you could wish for in a spa: a relaxation circuit that includes hot tubs, a cold plunge, steam room, eucalyptus inhalation room, dry sauna and outdoor waterfall hot pool; an extensive menu of treatment options that range from salon-type services to relaxation and wellness therapies; a variety of fitness classes including yoga, spinning and TRX; and an idyllic rooftop pool with food and drink service to soak in the Arizona sunshine and the views of the surrounding mountains.

This rooftop oasis is one of six heated pools on the beautifully landscaped property, which has expansive plazas, bright gardens, 750 oversized guest rooms, a championship golf course and five restaurants. Don’t miss the margaritas and modern Mexican cuisine at La Hacienda and the ceviche and sushi at Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar.

Artsy Fun

The desert inspires, and the art scene in Scottsdale reflects the palpable creative energy it brings. Experience it with your besties on a free Thursday evening art walk in Old Town or at one of their renowned museums. One of the most original and interactive is the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) with over 5,000 instruments and an experience gallery, where visitors find their own rhythm and beat.

For something more mind-bending, check out Wonderspaces located in the Scottsdale Fashion Square. Walking through the exhibits played with perception and reality: a 3D portrait that looked 2D, a screen that captured our movements then transformed into an art display, a thought-provoking installation that brought us into a blind person’s world and a dark room, where we relaxed on pillows to enjoy a hypnotic light show.

Outside the galleries and museums, art popped up everywhere, too. Strolling around Old Town and along the canal, we stopped to admire and read about public installations like the Tributary Wall with its luminous glowing steel fish and the Soleri Bridge. Designed by Italian architect, Paolo Soleri, this pedestrian bridge not only wows aesthetically but also accurately marks solar events.

Milestone Celebrations

After checking out some of the artisan shops and stylish boutiques in Old Town and indulging in a fabulous meal at Citizen Public House, we perched ourselves on a choice patio location for two fave activities on any girls’ getaway: wine tasting and people watching. LDV Winery Gallery offered flight tastings of their organic wines from their vineyard in southeastern Arizona, known for organic farming practices and high-altitude Chiricahua Mountain grapes.

While we sampled and nibbled on the pairings, we watched as multiple bachelorette parties pedaled on ‘bars on wheel’s’ celebrating their upcoming nuptials. Who knew Scottsdale was a top destination for bachelorette parties in the US, second only to Nashville? The vibe was all sunshine, squeals, laughter and music as they pedalled through the streets. One group was singing Cindy’s Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ as they waved with both hands in the air at passersby.

We waved back and toasted our getaway to Scottsdale, where girls can most definitely have fun.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun in Scottsdale, Arizona

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