Luxury resort lodging in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, with Camelback Mountain hikes, Old Town Scottsdale tours, and a thrilling Jeep adventure through Arizona’s iconic canyons—designed for women who love movement, beauty, and a little adventure.

Overall Trip Highlights

• ADERO Scottsdale Resort, Autograph Collection — Award-Winning Desert Escape
  A AAA Four Diamond resort celebrated by Condé Nast Traveler, perched above the Sonoran Desert in a certified Dark Sky Community with sweeping mountain views.

• Guided Sonoran Desert Hiking Experience
  Walk ancient desert trails shaped by time, weather, and indigenous history—surrounded by towering saguaros and wide-open Southwest skies.

• Sonoran Desert River Rafting Adventure
  A rare Arizona experience combining moving water with rugged desert scenery, offering a fresh perspective on the Southwest landscape.

• Desert Botanical Garden Exploration
  Discover one of the world’s finest collections of desert plants, showcasing the resilience and beauty of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.

• Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West (Docent-Led)
  A curated look at Western art, Native culture, frontier life, and the artists who shaped the mythology of the American West.

• Private Puzzle Ride Adventure through Scottsdale
  A clever, interactive experience that turns Old Town’s streets into a living puzzle—blending history, teamwork, and playful competition.

• ATV or Jeep Desert Adventure
  Off-road exploration across rugged terrain once traveled by ranchers, prospectors, and early desert settlers.

• Sonoran Desert to Mountaintop Jeep Tour
  Travel from cactus-lined desert floor to panoramic mountaintop views, revealing how dramatically the land changes with elevation.

• Old Town Scottsdale Walking Exploration
  Leisurely discovery of historic streets, Western architecture, public art, and the creative energy that defines Scottsdale today.

• Built-In Resort Pool & Recharge Time
  Daily time to relax, soak up the sun, and enjoy the desert calm—intentionally paced so the trip feels indulgent, not exhausting.

The Sonoran Desert unfolds in quiet grandeur, where saguaro silhouettes stand like ancient sentinels against wide, luminous skies. Light moves slowly here, warming stone and cactus alike, revealing colors that feel both spare and extravagant. It’s a landscape shaped by patience and resilience, where beauty doesn’t announce itself loudly—it waits to be noticed.

Itinerary subject to change based up activity level and weather

Day One: Arrival & Snow Bird Desert Living

Winter has a different rhythm in Scottsdale. While much of the country is layered up and watching the forecast, we arrive to blue skies, desert sunshine, and open space. This is Snow Bird season—where winter is spent outdoors, in the warmth, and at a slower, more intentional pace.

We settle into ADERO Scottsdale Resort, Autograph Collection, an award-winning retreat set high on a mountainside above the Sonoran Desert. From this elevated vantage point, the views stretch endlessly across cactus-filled landscapes and rugged peaks. The desert air is crisp, the sun is warm, and the stress of winter fades quickly.

Today is designed for arrival and adjustment. Time to unpack, breathe, and ease into desert life. Enjoy the resort’s heated outdoor pools, take a gentle walk around the property, or simply sit back and let the warmth do its work. As evening approaches, the desert quiets, the sky deepens, and stars begin to appear—brighter here than most places you’ve ever experienced.

This is how Snow Birds do winter.

Highlights

• Arrival and check-in at ADERO Scottsdale Resort, Autograph Collection

• Stay at a AAA Four Diamond, Condé Nast–recognized mountainside resort

• Panoramic Sonoran Desert and mountain views from a high-elevation setting

• Relaxation time at the resort’s two heated outdoor pools or play some Pickleball – Learn to play

• Easy property walks and fresh desert air to unwind and reset

Fun Fact

ADERO Scottsdale sits in a certified International Dark Sky Community, meaning the stars here shine brighter than in most cities—proof that trading snow for sunshine comes with a few celestial perks.

Day Two: Western Spirit & Old Town Play

The desert morning begins with sunlight spilling over the mountains as we gather for breakfast at the resort, taking in panoramic views of the Sonoran Desert. Winter here feels expansive and unhurried—exactly why Snow Birds return year after year.

Together, we step into the story of the American West at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Through a docent-led experience, we explore Western art, Native American culture, frontier life, and the evolution of the Southwest. The museum offers a thoughtful, well-curated look at how history, land, and creativity shaped this region—and continue to define it today.

In the afternoon, we shift from history to hands-on exploration with a Puzzle Ride through Old Town Scottsdale. As a group, we solve clues and navigate historic streets, uncovering stories hidden in plain sight. It’s interactive, energizing, and a fun way to experience the town together.

We end the day gathered for a group dinner at one of Scottsdale’s most respected local restaurants, continuing the conversation, laughter, and connection that define the Beatrice Bradley travel experience.

Highlights

• Group breakfast at the resort with sweeping mountain and desert views
• Docent-led group visit to Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
• Exploration of Native American art, Western masters, and frontier history
• Interactive Puzzle Ride Scottsdale experience through historic Old Town
• Group exploration of Old Town’s streets, architecture, and public art
• Group dinner at a top Scottsdale restaurant

Fun Fact

Scottsdale was founded in 1894 and earned the nickname “The West’s Most Western Town” for its deep roots in ranching, art, and frontier culture—many of which you experience firsthand today.

Day Three: Desert Adventure & Dark Sky Nights

By now, the desert rhythm feels familiar. Mornings are warm, skies are clear, and the pace is comfortably unhurried. We begin the day together with breakfast at the resort, surrounded by mountain views and crisp desert air—energized for a day that blends adventure with leisure.

Our morning brings us deeper into the Sonoran Desert on a guided Jeep Tour, traveling across rugged terrain once used by ranchers and early settlers. As we climb in elevation, the landscape shifts dramatically, revealing sweeping views, hidden desert valleys, and a deeper understanding of how this land has shaped life in the Southwest.

After lunch out, the afternoon is intentionally flexible—true Snow Bird style. Choose to head out for a scenic desert hike, enjoy a friendly game of pickleball, or settle in for pool time at the resort’s heated pools. Whether active or relaxed, the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace.

As evening approaches, we gather for dinner on site, then step outside for one of the desert’s most unforgettable experiences: Dark Sky stargazing. With minimal light pollution and wide-open skies, the stars appear brighter, clearer, and closer—ending the day on a quietly spectacular note.

Highlights

• Breakfast at the resort with mountain and desert views
• Guided Jeep Tour through rugged Sonoran Desert terrain
• Exploration of historic desert routes used by early settlers and ranchers
• Lunch out as a group during our day of exploration
• Afternoon options including desert hiking, pickleball, or heated pool time
• Dinner at a fabulous local Mexican spot
• Dark Sky stargazing in a certified low-light desert environment

Fun Fact

The Sonoran Desert is the only place in the world where the saguaro cactus grows, and under Dark Sky conditions, you can often see the Milky Way stretching across the night sky with the naked eye.

Day Four: Desert Gardens & City Nights

By now, the desert has worked its magic. Mornings feel lighter, the air familiar, and the pace comfortably your own. Day Four reflects true Snow Bird living—movement if you want it, ease if you don’t, and time to savor the day without rushing.

Early risers can start with a coffee walk or a fun pickleball match, followed by a relaxed breakfast together. We then head out to one of Arizona’s most celebrated natural landmarks, where desert beauty and conservation come together in a remarkable setting.

The afternoon brings us to the Desert Botanical Garden, set among red rock buttes and home to one of the world’s most important collections of desert plants. A light, late snack allows time to linger before the evening shifts into city energy with a lively Phoenix food tour. We return to the resort for heated pool time and nightcaps, ending the day warm, relaxed, and fully immersed in desert life.

Highlights

• Optional early-morning coffee walk or a friendly pickleball match
• Relaxed group breakfast to ease into the day together
• Optional return to Scottsdale for additional exploring and boutique shopping before lunch
• Visit to the Desert Botanical Garden, a nationally accredited museum and Phoenix cultural landmark
• Walk through one of the world’s most significant collections of cacti, agave, and desert plant life
• Garden recognized as a Phoenix Point of Pride and longtime Best of the Valley honoree
• Late snack at the garden with time to linger among red rock scenery and desert vistas
• Evening Phoenix food tour, experiencing the city through its neighborhoods and stories
• Heated pool time and nightcaps back at the resort under the desert sky

Fun Fact

Founded in 1939, the Desert Botanical Garden is one of the world’s most important desert conservation institutions, protecting plant species found nowhere else on Earth.

Day Five: Desert Trails & River Adventure

Day Five is all about experiencing the Sonoran Desert in motion. By now, the group moves comfortably together, familiar with the rhythm of the days and the beauty of the landscape. Today leans into Arizona’s natural terrain—on foot and on the water—offering two distinctly different ways to experience the desert.

We begin with a guided desert hiking experience, following scenic trails shaped by wind, water, and time. Towering saguaros, rugged rock formations, and wide-open views make it clear why this region has drawn explorers, ranchers, and outdoor lovers for generations.

After lunch at a well-loved local spot, the afternoon shifts to the river for a guided rafting adventure. Floating through desert canyons offers a surprising and refreshing contrast to the dry landscape, revealing another side of Arizona’s natural story.

As the day winds down, we return to the resort for dinner on site—relaxed, comfortable, and satisfied after a full day spent outdoors.

Highlights

• Guided Sonoran Desert hiking experience with local experts
• Scenic trails showcasing iconic saguaros and desert terrain
• Lunch at a favorite local spot reflecting regional character
• Guided river rafting adventure through desert landscapes
• Experience the contrast between rugged desert and flowing water
• Dinner together on site at the resort

Fun Fact

Arizona is home to more than 100,000 miles of rivers and streams, many of which cut directly through desert terrain—making rafting through the desert one of the Southwest’s most unexpected experiences.

Day Six: Until We Meet Again

The final morning arrives softly. The desert is quiet, the light gentle, and the air familiar in a way it wasn’t just days ago. What began as a group of travelers has become something more—shared laughs, shared discoveries, and the easy comfort that comes from moving through a place together.

We gather for one last breakfast at the resort, lingering a little longer than usual, taking in the mountain views and the warmth of the Sonoran Desert. Conversations drift from favorite moments to future plans, with plenty of “remember when…” already making their way into the morning.

If time allows before departures, there’s an opportunity for a final walk—either around the resort grounds or back in Old Town Scottsdale, where it all came together. A few last photos, a few last embraces, and the quiet understanding that this isn’t really goodbye—just until we meet again.

The desert has a way of doing that: slowing you down, opening you up, and connecting people in ways that last well beyond the trip.

Highlights

• Final group breakfast at the resort overlooking desert and mountain views
• Time to reflect on the shared experiences, adventures, and friendships formed
• Optional morning walk to soak in the Sonoran Desert one last time
• Optional return to Old Town Scottsdale for last-minute exploring if time allows
• Departures filled with warmth, connection, and plans to meet again

Fun Fact

The Sonoran Desert is known as the “living desert”—a place where life flourishes through connection, resilience, and time—much like the friendships formed here.