What are the hottest shows in town, and how do I get tickets?
Ballet Arizona (www.balletaz.org) does a wonderful set of shows throughout the year at the Orpheum Theater. Like most ballet companies, their annual rendition of The Nutcracker is a highlight of the year, and everyone dresses up for the event. The Orpheum Theater (203 W Adams St, Tel: 602-262-6225. www.americantheatreguild.com/phoenix) also hosts Broadway shows, concerts, stand-up comedians, and more. It’s a gorgeous theater that was originally built in the 1920s. Inside it is opulent and stunning. There’s something going on at the Orpheum every single week of the entire year.
What museums are a must see for visitors?
The Heard (2301 N. Central Ave. Tel: 602- 252-8840. www.heard.org) museum is famous around the world for being one of the best places to discover Native American culture. It’s part art museum, part natural history museum, and part anthropology museum. They also have one of the most gorgeous museum gift shops ever. It’s a great way to take a piece of Native American heritage home with you. Similarly, there’s Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West (3830 N Marshall Way, Tel: 480-686-9539. www.scottsdalemuseumwest.org), which is affiliated with the Smithsonian. It displays rotating and ongoing exhibitions of artworks and historical artifacts of the American West. It showcases both Native American cultures, as well as frontier life during America’s westward expansion. I’m probably biased because I live here, but the history of the West is so fascinating, and unlike anything else on earth.
Which guided tours do you recommend most often to your guests?
For the adventurous, there’s Stellar Adventures (3102 South Roosevelt Street, Tel: 602-402-0584. www.stellaradventures.com). They provide guided Hummer, UTV, and ATV excursions in the Tonto National Forest, as well as sunset rides in the Superstition Mountains, vineyard ATV tours, and even “Land and Lake” excursions. If you’re not afraid of getting a little dirty and a little wet, it’s an exciting day trip! For something a little more romantic (but equally thrilling in my opinion) there’s Hot Air Expeditions (702 W. Deer Valley Dr. Tel: 480- 502-6999. www.hotairexpeditions.com). Enjoy a magic carpet ride above the Sonoran Desert as the sun rises. It’s an experience to remember. Upon landing, you can even enjoy a Champagne breakfast with patisserie favorites from a local French restaurant.
Sanctuary Infinity Pool
Where can you go to get the best views of the city?
Oh, there are so many because of the mountains! Definitely Camelback Mountain for the adventurous. Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail are the most hiked trails in the Valley of the Sun. They are quite strenuous and not for the faint hearted, but the reward at the summit is breathtaking! There’s also Papago Park (625 N Galvin Pkwy). The “Hole in the Rock” hike is easy and is a great way to watch the sunset over the city of Phoenix if you hike it in the evening. If you don’t want to hike, reserve a table for dinner at the famous Wrigley Mansion (2501 E Telawa Trail, Tel: 602-955-4079. www.wrigleymansion.com). It’s a historic 1930’s home nestled on a hillside that is now a restaurant with the best 360-degree views in Phoenix.
Where are the best places to workout?
Here at Sanctuary (www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com/spa-fitness/fitness/), we have a wonderful spa and health club for resort guests. Complete with a gym, infinity pool, and tennis courts, it’s got everything you could need. We also offer a few really exciting fitness classes like standup paddleboard yoga and even aerial yoga!
Nearby there’s also Camelback Village Racquet & Health Club (4444 E Camelback Rd, Tel : 602-840-6412. www.villageclubs.com). It’s huge and has everything you could image, like CrossFit, basketball courts, squash courts, a pool, and even fencing. It’s a massive complex that’s great for finding everything you need, but I personally like the tranquility and rejuvenating aspect that our gym as Sanctuary has.
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