Why Scottsdale Is the Ultimate Fall Getaway in 2025

Posted on August 23, 2025November 3, 2025 by Alyse Nicole

Why Scottsdale Is the Ultimate Fall Getaway in 2025

When the desert air turns crisp and golden sunsets light up the sky, Scottsdale, Arizona, becomes one of the most irresistible fall getaways in the U.S. This season, the city is rolling out the red carpet with luxury resort renovations, celebrity-backed restaurants, immersive wellness retreats, and a jam-packed calendar of cultural events. Whether you’re a foodie, wellness seeker, art lover, or outdoor adventurer, fall is the perfect time to experience everything Scottsdale has to offer.

Luxe Resort Openings and Renovations

Scottsdale continues to raise the bar for luxury hospitality this fall. Among the biggest headlines:

Wolf by Vanderpump at Caesars Republic Scottsdale – Coming soon from TV personality and restaurateur Lisa Vanderpump, this glamorous rooftop restaurant will pair sweeping views of Camelback Mountain with an imaginative cocktail program and globally inspired cuisine.
The REMI Scottsdale, Autograph Collection – Opened this July, The REMI has already redefined downtown Scottsdale’s dining scene with four distinctive concepts, from a Japanese steakhouse to a Moroccan-inspired rooftop.

photo credit: Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale

Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale – A golfer’s dream in the fall, the newly renovated course pairs wildlife sightings with 40% lower seasonal pricing. After your round, indulge in a desert-inspired spa treatment like the Harvest Glow Wrap with pumpkin and pomegranate.
Castle Hot Springs – Named the No. 1 resort in Arizona by Travel + Leisure, Castle Hot Springs is offering falconry demonstrations, astronomer-led stargazing, and exclusive wine dinners by award-winning chefs and sommeliers.

Wellness Retreats That Inspire

Fall travelers looking to recharge will find Scottsdale at the forefront of wellness innovation.

JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa is undergoing a $24 million transformation, introducing ariVéa, a holistic wellness philosophy rooted in the Sonoran Desert. While the full spa opens in 2026, travelers can still enjoy luxury treatments inspired by desert botanicals.
The Scottsdale Resort & Spa is hosting its first Stay Well retreat (Sept. 26–28), featuring sound healing, chef-crafted meals, tarot readings, and seasonal spa treatments like the Pumpkin Silk Wrap.
CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa is offering three transformative retreats this fall: Body Blueprint with Brooke Burke, Couples Connection with Veronica Clark, and a Sleep Retreat with leading holistic doctors.

Fall Festivals & Events You Can’t Miss

Scottsdale comes alive with world-class events and festivals every autumn:

Dreamy Draw Music Festival, Nov. 7-8, 2025

Canal Convergence (Nov. 7–16) – A free 10-night festival at the Scottsdale Waterfront featuring large-scale art installations, live performances, workshops, and fire shows.
Dreamy Draw Music Festival (Nov. 7–8) – Headlined by The Lumineers, Vampire Weekend, and Father John Misty, this two-day music and arts festival will be Scottsdale’s biggest yet.
Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships (Nov. 8–9) – The country’s most-attended polo event, now bigger than ever with global teams, an art and wine experience, and high-energy matches.
Arizona Indigenous Food Symposium (Nov. 15) – A two-day event celebrating Native cuisine, food sovereignty, and cultural traditions during Native American Heritage Month.

Arizona Indigenous Culinary Experience, Nov. 15, 2025

Arts, Adventure & Family Fun

Beyond resorts and events, Scottsdale is brimming with activities for all ages this fall:

OdySea Aquarium now welcomes guests with a stunning 360-degree projection mapping experience, immersing visitors in an underwater world.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park celebrates 50 years with a $13 million train-themed indoor playground and splash pad, perfect for families.
Outdoor Adventures – Try Neon Nights paddleboarding at Saguaro Lake, or float above the Sonoran Desert on a sunset hot air balloon ride this November.

Take a sunrise balloon ride across Scottsdale with Rainbow Ryders

Scottsdale After Dark

Old Town Scottsdale continues to shine as a nightlife hotspot. The newly reimagined Maya Day + Night is back with floor-to-ceiling immersive art, a colossal 3D sculpture, and an elevated cocktail program. Meanwhile, Scottsdale Fashion Square continues to expand with new luxury brands and restaurants, including Society Swan, Catch, and Teleferic Barcelona.

And don’t leave without trying Arizona’s Original Chopped Salad, now officially recognized as a state staple and served at local favorites like Citizen Public House.

Plan Your Scottsdale Fall Getaway

With luxury resort openings, cutting-edge wellness, and unforgettable fall events, Scottsdale is the ultimate desert escape this season. Whether you’re craving star-studded dining, rejuvenating spa experiences, or one-of-a-kind festivals, fall 2025 is the time to experience Scottsdale like never before.

Ready to plan your trip? Book your Scottsdale getaway this fall and discover why the desert is more magical when the temperatures drop.

You may also like Top 7 Labor Day Weekend Events in Central Texas.

What to Pack for a Camping Trip

Posted on April 7, 2021November 12, 2025 by Alyse Nicole

WHAT TO PACK FOR A CAMPING TRIP

Last October, William and I went camping together for the first time at Big Bend Ranch State Park. We each had different camping experiences when we were younger, but this was our first time doing primitive camping. So we wanted to make sure we had everything we needed since we’d be basically in the middle of nowhere with zero cell service.

We’re super excited to be going back to Big Bend Ranch very soon. So, I thought I’d bring you all along as we prep for the trip in case you decide to visit the great outdoors this spring or summer.

panoramic view of our campsite in Big Bend Ranch State Park — our campsite

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The Necessities

I’ll start with what you’ll definitely need for your trip. Then, we can talk about things that are nice to bring along, just in case. So, the necessities are:

a tent with stakes
sleeping bag or several blankets
lantern or flashlight
batteries
portable charger
first-aid kit
sunscreen
deep woods insect repellent
1 gallon of water per person per day
a separate gallon or more of water for cleaning and misc.
knife
firewood and kindling
matches or other fire starter
cooler
pots, skillet, cooking utensils, and eating utensils
plates, bowls, cups, or mugs (depending on what you plan to eat or drink)
towels
hand sanitizer
toilet paper
a spade or small shovel (if there’s no bathroom nearby)
washcloths
toothbrush, toothpaste
unscented biodegradable soap
canned goods and easy to cook foods
can opener
tape
trash bags

Nice to Have Items

These next items aren’t necessary for your trip, but they may make it more enjoyable.

lawn chairs
plastic tablecloth (if a picnic table is available at the campsite. Trust me!)
a small grill
sleeping pad
headlamp
small folding table (if a picnic table isn’t nearby)
hammock
cord or rope
grill rack
cards and board games
binoculars
reading material
action camera (like a GoPro)
baby wipes

Clothing

Something to remember when camping is that the weather can change at any time, especially when camping somewhere like Big Bend Ranch. The nights are waaay colder than the day. So try bringing multiple options such as:

short sleeve and long sleeve shirts
a sweatshirt
a jacket
socks
thick socks
pants
shorts
underwear (of course)
bandana or sweat band
sneakers
maybe hiking boots
flip flops
stretchy pants, like leggings or yoga pants
swimsuit
warm pajamas (a MUST)
rain gear
maybe long johns

These are all great items to have, some less necessary than others, but it’s a nice list to help you realize what you may want or need to pack for your camping trip. Did I forget anything? Let me know in the comments if you have any additional suggestions.

Your Biker Gang

Posted on March 3, 2021November 12, 2025 by Alyse Nicole

Your Biker Gang: Austin, TX

We recently had the pleasure of experiencing e-bikes for the first time through Your Biker Gang, located near downtown Austin. They also have a location in Panama City, FL. I had heard of e-bikes before but had never been on one. The rest of the crew hadn’t even heard of them. So we were all in for a real treat!

We started at the Your Biker Gang clubhouse off Cesar Chavez, took a beginner driver’s ed course (which was sooo fun), and we hit the road. Word to the wise naturalistas! You will be wearing the helmets pictured. So don’t show up with your hair in a high puff and headwrap like I did lol. I will also admit that crossing the first street kind of scared me, even though we had the light and the right of way. I’ve just always been afraid to cross streets lol. Our first stop was near the Lamar and 15th St. intersection.

We got off, checked out the amazing murals on both sides of the street, and had our first photo op. Since the bikes are motorized and you ride them in the street, no mobile device usage is allowed while operating them. We took a group pic in front of a mural on the side of a building. Then we did some individual exploring. The mural below is by Rex Hamilton. Click his name to check out his amazing work on Instagram.

After our photo op, we were back on the road. We made our way to Auditorium Shores and Butler Park, where we learned some architectural history about downtown. We also learned that the sidewalk path near the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue creates the shape pf a guitar.. I don’t want to give away too much in case you take the same tour path as us. That way you’ll still be surprised at all the hidden gems and history in good ole Austin.

After learning more about downtown, we headed to 2nd and Brazos to check out the Tau Ceti mural by Josef Kristofoletti. I actually had a photoshoot last year on the roof of the garage this mural is painted on, but that’s neither here nor there. By the time we made it to the Tau Ceti mural, we were a full blown biker gang. We had the e-biker skills locked down and were thoroughly enjoying the ride!

At the mural, we learned that Tau Ceti is a star in the constellation Cetus, about 12 light years away. The star is very similar to our sun, but is only 78% of the sun’s mass. The mural imitates what it would be like if the sunlight reflected off the windows downtown during sunset was refracted into a spectrum. If you’re there right at sunset in the Spring, you can experience just that!

So, upon leaving the Tau Ceti mural, we made the trek back towards the clubhouse, but now before making a couple more stops. We stopped in front of the Austin Proper hotel to view this pretty neat art installation down below. It was so cool seeing them in action! Thank you to the homie Derrick for the demonstration. You can see it in action on my Instagram page. (The video wouldn’t upload here for me.)

Our final stop before making it back to the clubhouse was at the Treaty Oak. This is a HUGE live oak tree said to be 500 years old. It’s the last of the Council Oaks, which was a grove of trees that served as a meeting place for the Comanche and Tonkawa tribes

Tribes would meet at places like these as neutral grounds. It’s said they would each bury a weapon to show they were done fighting, which is where the term “bury the hatchet” comes from. There’s A LOT more history behind this tree, but again, I don’t want to give too much away. So if you’d like to learn more, take the bike tour!

Thank you so much to Sweet John of Your Biker Gang for this awesome experience! We can’t wait to come back to ride and learn more about this historic city.

If you’re in the Austin, TX, or Panama City, FL, area, definitely book a tour, and use code ALYSENICOLE for 20% off your ride! Have any of you been e-biking before? Let me know if you have or if you’d try it.