Fourth of July at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | Our Favorite Arizona Staycation
There are some places you visit once, have a great time, and move on. And then there are the places that somehow become a family tradition.
For us, Fourth of July at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has become one of those traditions. We’ve spent the holiday here for the past three years, and honestly, I can see why we keep coming back.
Our first year, we booked just a one-night stay. The resort now requires a two-night stay over the Fourth of July, but after doing it this way, I actually think the extra night makes the whole experience feel much more like a little vacation instead of one really busy day.
The Room Is a Huge Part of Why We Love It!
The first year we visited, we ended up with a room facing the concert and fireworks area, and now that has become our favorite way to do the Fourth.
There is something so nice about being able to enjoy all of the festivities without having to stay outside the entire night..especially with little kids.
We can go in and out of the room whenever we want. Our baby can sleep inside with her sound machine and somehow sleep right through the fireworks, while the rest of us can still enjoy everything happening outside.
And after a couple of cocktails, nobody has to worry about getting back in the car and driving anywhere. We’re already home for the night.
How We Spend July 4th
We usually arrive at the resort early on July 4th and leave our luggage with the concierge if our room isn’t ready yet. Then we head straight to the pool.
After a few hours of swimming and once everyone is sufficiently tired from the Arizona heat…we head up to the room, shower and get comfortable. Sometimes that means Fourth of July pajamas; sometimes it’s just comfy clothes.
Then we order room service and settle in for the night.
Depending on how early we get into our room, we’ve even been able to watch the sound check while we’re relaxing. I always bring a few Fourth of July games and activities for the kids, so we make an entire evening out of it.
Every year, the resort changes things up a little, including the live entertainment, so it doesn’t feel exactly the same each time we’ve visited.
Then come the fireworks.
And they are beautiful.
Watching them right outside our room has become one of my favorite parts of the entire stay. When everything is over, there’s no traffic to fight and no overtired kids to load into the car. We simply get everyone into bed and call it a night.
Our Favorite Morning Tradition
The next morning is probably one of my favorite parts of the stay.
The rooms have coffee, and they even provide Fairmont disposable coffee cups, so we make a cup and take it with us while we walk around the property.
If you live in Arizona, you already know: summer walks happen early or they don’t happen at all.
Luckily, our kids are early risers anyway.
The resort has different Fourth of July decorations and activities throughout the property. We’ve seen military vehicles and trucks on display, patriotic decorations and lots of cute photo-op areas.
It’s just a really nice way to explore the resort before the day gets hot and busy.
The Kids Club
Some years, our son has spent the morning at the resort’s kids club, and he LOVES it.
We’ll usually drop him off in the morning and let him stay until around lunchtime. He gets his own fun morning, and then we all meet back up and go eat together.
For a family staycation, having that option is such a nice bonus.
Where We Eat
We’ve actually tried all of the restaurants on property over the years, and we’ve had good experiences at all of them. Where you eat really depends on what you’re in the mood for.
But for Fourth of July, Toro has become our tradition.
We usually go for lunch, and if you go, the fried rice is one of my favorites. Their sushi is also really good.
And if you’re bringing kids, you HAVE to see the chocolate bomba.
It’s basically dessert and entertainment at the same time. They bring everything out tableside, lay down a covering and drop a big chocolate ball onto the table so it breaks open with fruit, nuts and all kinds of goodies inside.
Our kids think it’s the greatest thing ever.
We’ve also eaten at La Hacienda, which is delicious, although it opens later in the day, and Ironwood. Around Christmas, we tend to switch things up and do La Hacienda or Bourbon Steak, which makes Toro feel even more like our Fourth of July place.
This year, we also did brunch with a DJ, which was such a fun option because you could make it more of a breakfast/lunch situation before heading back out for the day.
One More Pool Day
After lunch, we usually head back to the room, change and go straight back to the pool.
And that’s one of the reasons I don’t mind the two-night stay.
Instead of packing everything into July 4th and immediately leaving the next morning, we get another full day to actually enjoy the resort. We swim, eat, relax and usually make the second night an early one.
Nothing overly scheduled. Nothing complicated.
Just a really easy family staycation.
Why We Keep Coming Back
I think what I love most about spending Fourth of July at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is that it feels special without making the holiday exhausting.
We get the pools, live music, fireworks, good food and all of the Fourth of July festivities, but we also have our room right there when someone needs a nap, the kids need a break or we’re simply ready to put on pajamas.
Three years later, it has become one of those little traditions I really look forward to.
And considering we live close enough that we technically don’t need to stay at a hotel for Fourth of July, the fact that we’ve chosen to come back three years in a row probably says it all.
We’re actually thinking about trying somewhere new next Fourth of July (because I can never resist planning a new staycation!), but I definitely see us coming back to the Princess. It’s one of those places that has given us so many fun Fourth of July memories and one I’d happily recommend to another family looking for an easy Arizona staycation. 💙🇺🇸
