A winter wonderland doesn’t have to mean snowmen and the desire, make that need, to curl up by a fire. Depending on where you are, the wonder of winter can be a glorious time among flowering shrubbery and towering cacti. Find out what winter looks and feels like in the Arizona desert in this article by Jimmy McDonough, Real Food Traveler’s Eco-Friendly Food, Travel and Adventure Editor. 

Save this article to Pinterest to help plan your own adventure in the Arizona desert for Christmas. Photos and graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

Where to Find Holiday Adventures in the Arizona Desert

Imagine your perfect holiday season getaway…

Like many of you, I typically think of snow quietly falling on a forest, curled up with my loved one in a cozy log cabin after a full day of skiing the slopes, relaxing by a roaring fire, hot toddy in hand. Seasonal music and special performances fill the days, as well as special meals and drinks. A general feeling of merriment takes hold of everyone, and passing strangers are friendlier to each other.

This holiday season, consider a spin on that scene…

Outside, fruity cocktail in hand by a glowing swimming pool, reflecting on a day full of unique holiday experiences, adventures in nature, and cultural exploration. Around you are flowering bushes, saguaro cactus, and palm trees silhouetted against a radiant blue-black nighttime sky. No snow, just a chill, so you snuggle up with your loved one next to a roaring fire under a blanket of stars…

Arizona’s desert offers a new type of holiday experience!

I enjoyed the holidays in Arizona’s Valley of the Sun in 2024 so much – so here are the highlights of refined and rugged adventures to help you plan your own getaway.

Rest Your Head

The Valley is chockfull of luxurious resort properties. On our visits, we enjoyed how these properties offer very diverse experiences in the desert metropolis – its historic past, as well as the energetic and artistic present.

Andaz Resort 
Palm trees with lush gardens? Check. Enormous swimming pool, cabanas, poolside bar? Check. Chic mid-century mod design rooms, with bright shower rooms that offer views of the desert sky and nearby mountains as you bathe? Check. Onsite dining, lounging, and sipping spaces filled with original art by local artists, overlooking it all? Check. Andaz Resort and spa is ideally situated in the middle of Scottsdale’s attractions, yet feels secluded and quiet. Clustered rooms dot the lushly landscaped grounds, providing a walkable village oasis in the desert. The spa offers luxurious treatments in calming spaces, designed to soothe and inspire wellness.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
The Princess certainly makes guests feel like royalty. The AAA Five Diamond resort offers just about everything you’d want in a Christmas in the Arizona Desert experience – without leaving the property. A family-friendly resort, it’s also pretty easy to enjoy an adult getaway because the place is so large. Adults get their very own pool, in fact. Known for their massive immersive holiday events, Christmas at the Princess happens across 65 acres, with a 4-story illuminated tree, 120-foot-tall Ferris wheel, Santa experiences and much more. It’s a winter wonderland for all ages and the kind of event people return for year after year.

One of the pool areas, with slide, at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

Hermosa Inn
For a unique boutique lodging experience, Hermosa Inn offers a cozy compound nestled into the desert landscape. The original homestead dates from the 1930s, expresses the authentic character of the wild southwest in hand-hewn logs, tiled floors, and warm adobe walls. Meandering the paths throughout the grounds is a delight, full of flowering vines spilling over trellises, whimsically shaped cactus varietals, fountains, and a swimming pool rimmed by towering palms complete the idyllic setting. Carefully blended into this verdant haven are spacious casitas with private patios.

The grounds of Hermosa Inn feature lush plantlife and meandering paths.

The Royal Palms Resort and Spa
Originally built in the 1920s as a winter retreat for an executive of the Cunard steamship company to escape the cold up north in old world Mediterranean style, the heart of the resort is the charming Spanish style courtyard adorned by flowers, tiles, fountain, all under soaring palm trees. Romantic AF. Come for delicious Happy Hour specials or a meal, and be sure to meander through the courtyards of the lushly landscaped grounds. For a luxurious stay, try their casita style rooms with private patios. You may even want to use ResortPass for a day pass to enjoy the pool, or even a day room; we used this as a budget-friendly way to experience this elegant resort.

Images from the Royal Palms Resort.

Holiday Experiences in the Desert

Scottsdale 
A must-attend holiday event is the delightfully-named Scottsdazzle celebration. Centered on the bridge over the Canal at Scottsdale Waterfront, activities range from live music, dance performances, dramatic lighting, food and holiday drinks, kids’ activities, and more.

Scenes from the 2024 Scottsdazzle event in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Old Town Scottsdale is a pedestrian-friendly village, filled with a mix of boutiques, touristy shops, art galleries, eateries, wine tasting rooms, as well as fountains, flowers, and palm trees. Holiday lights overhead and in shop windows add whimsy – and romance. Nearby Scottsdale Civic Center is a pretty, pedestrian mall with grassy lawns, holiday décor, and a giant LOVE sculpture perfect for selfies. Facing the mall, the Scottsdale Performing Arts Center offers holiday events; we attended a Christmas Mariachi show – a joyful expression of Mexican culture that was totally new to us and it was fantastic. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Arts is next door, and we found their exhibits of local artists to be especially meaningful. Loads to see and do, with an atmosphere of good holiday cheer, all concentrated in a walkable area.

Some noteworthy foodie spots for holiday merriment around Old Town include:

If you crave a break from hip and trendy, head to The Sugar Bowl. This nostalgic local institution with pink-hued décor harkens back to a 1950’s America, serving up simple downhome favorites. Think BLTs, iceberg lettuce salad, and old-fashioned ice cream desserts like banana splits, chocolate sundaes, and shakes.

Just a simple Club Sandwich from the Sugar Bowl in Old Town Scottsdale.

Beer breweries and tap houses abound- we enjoyed Goldwater Brewery for brews using local ingredients like cactus in their Desert Rose Kolsch.

Hula’s Modern Tiki Bar, serves up a mean MaiTai and flavorful Pacific Rim inspired dishes in a fun atmosphere inside and on their huge outdoor patio. Don’t miss their Hawaiian Ceviche with the addition of coconut milk and wonton chips for scooping.

Multiple wine tasting rooms around Old Town provide a taste of Arizona’s wine growing regions. Our fave is LDV Winery, a husband-and-wife passion project. They operate their winery and tasting room from vineyard dirt in the far southeastern part of Arizona (higher elevation vineyards provide a sunny and cooler climate with perfect soils for viticulture) to the final glass. Their wines, especially the reds, are flavorful and luscious, and their love story for wine and each other is heart-warming.

North of Old Town, head to the Scottsdale Quarter, a shopping, dining and events district, just before dusk to see the plaza area illuminate with thousands of white lights wound around rows of palm trees, reflecting in the reflection pools below. Along with life-size holiday decor, it’s an ideal place to take pictures.

As the sun goes down, the lights come up on the impressive displays at the Scottsdale Quarter Mall.

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden is our single most loved place to visit in the Valley of the Sun at any time of the year, day or night. Over the course of our visits, we have seen it grow and get better with new features and experiences. Last year, we were lucky enough to visit the gardens during the holidays – and were astonished by the desert magic of Las Noches de las Luminarias. For this event, the gardens are illuminated in beautiful and unique ways – like delicately cut metal lanterns casting fantastical shadows, and a hillside of saguaros bathed in a multi-color glow. On select nights, there is a fiesta celebration with numerous, high-quality musical performances taking place in “rooms” around the gardens. This popular event sells out on prime nights, so reserve your tickets ahead of time- though not cheap, the experience is worth every penny!

Las Noches de las Luminarias is the Desert Botanical Garden’s big holiday event.

Chandler
When you hear the chorus sing “O Tannenbaum”, a beautiful dark green spruce or fir tree likely comes to mind, right? In the Arizona desert, imagine… Tumbleweed! Yup, in downtown Chandler they pile up a whole mess of tumbleweeds, spray ’em white, and wrap ’em in lights. Sounds crazy, right? Admittedly, during the day the tumbleweed Tannenbaum is a bit, uh, shall we say rough looking up close… But at night, with the lights on, it is surprisingly delicate and “fuzzy” like a flocked pine tree. Oh, and all around are tall skinny palm trees wrapped with lights. Beautiful! There are plenty of shops and eateries around downtown Chandler to make your visit a worthwhile evening stroll to enjoy; check their community calendar for special holiday events around the Tumbleweed Tree.

What would Christmas in the Arizona desert be without a tree made up of flocked tumbleweeds? Find this one in Chandler.

Outdoor Holiday Markets
Sunny, snow-free weather allows for plenty of outdoor market browsing for a chance to score unique gifts from local artisans. Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe are hotbeds for festive outdoor (and indoor!) holiday market experiences with live music, food, and great people watching.

Scottsdale Civic Center is host to an outdoor Christmas market.

Hungry for more? Get Real Food Traveler’s Holiday Food & Travel Guide.

Outdoor Adventures During the Holidays in the Desert

The Valley of the Sun offers numerous hiking opportunities from easy going nature walks to high-intensity, dangerous trails. Even in the desert winter, take water, wear sunscreen and a hat, and start hikes early in the day to avoid heat exhaustion. Here are a few I have enjoyed:

Phoenix Desert and Mountain Parks
*Camelback Mountain – Do not underestimate this Extremely Difficult trail that happens to be smack dab in the middle of the city. THE MOST difficult trail I have ever climbed- I was on my hands and knees crawling across boulders; at times, I could not believe this could even be considered a trail! As challenging as the trail is, it is very crowded at peak times. Keep an eye out for lizards and snakes sunning on the rocks. The views at the top are amazing. Go early and take extra water.

*South Mountain – Numerous trail options at all levels. In the evening, drive the windy roads through the scenic desert to Dobbins Lookout for sunset and spectacular views of the city lights of the Valley, the stars above in the dark clear desert sky, and the surprisingly light-free Gila River Indian Community to the south.

*Piestewa Peak Summit Trail – Rated as Extremely Difficult. Steep and rocky- unforgettable views from the top. Less intense trails are also available at Piestewa.

*Papago – Next to the Desert Botanic Gardens, this city park provides moderate nature walks (unpaved trails) with great views of the Valley and the picture window rock is fun for selfies, especially at sunset.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve on the northeast side of Scottsdale, offers numerous hiking trail options with beautiful views:

*Gateway Loop Trail is a relatively flat nature trail with views of Four Peaks.

*Balanced Rock, a bit more challenging than the Loop, leads to unique rock formations.

*Pinnacle Peak and Tom Thumb – challenging and very steep at times.

McDowell Preserve is just one of the natural areas where the author, shown, enjoys a variety of sweeping panoramas in the Arizona desert.

Ballooning
A memorable option to see the Valley of the Sun is to float above it in a balloon. This adventure started before dawn with a half hour drive out of town with a friendly guide from Hot Air Expeditions to the launch zone. I climbed into a giant woven basket with other intrepid balloonists, and when the burner flames roared overhead, our basket gently floated away into the chilly blue Arizona sky. For an hour we drifted, marveling at the views. When we landed amid the cactus, a surprisingly fancy breakfast buffet was served up, complete with tables, chairs, linen tablecloths, and China plates. In the French ballooning tradition, a champagne toast with keepsake fluted glasses topped it off. Sante!

Cycling
Miles of easy going, mostly flat, bike paths (gravel and paved) follow the Arizona Canal through the city. Along the canal, you will have views of famous landmarks of the rich and famous (Biltmore resort, Wrigley winter mansion) as well as more humble neighborhoods. Our favorite starting point is the Scottsdale Waterfront area, where you can also easily ride around the charming Old Town “village” to see funky mid-century modern apartments; rise early on the weekend to enjoy the calm streets.

Desert Drives
Take a short drive through the surrounding desert to visit noteworthy small towns, including:

Carefree
North of Scottsdale, this quiet village boasts a lovely walkable downtown complete with an amazing cactus garden; sculptures, and all sorts of shops, eateries, and galleries.

Cave Creek
Down the road just a bit from Carefree is the more rambunctious town of Cave Creek. A favorite stop for motorcycle riders, there are large rowdy music joints and bars, as well as some fun shopping for antiques and lawn art. We enjoyed a tasty Mexican dinner at a surprisingly beautiful oasis, El Encanto, where tables surround an interior pond with luscious foliage all around.

Fountain Hills
Believe it or not, this sleepy small town hosts one of the world’s largest fountains! A spectacular sight to see – soaring into the clear blue Arizona sky or at night under a full moon. Check the schedule. Allow time to stroll around the park; nearby eateries offer front row views of the fountain, park, and desert mountains beyond.

Cave Creek, Fountain Hills and Carefree Arizona during Christmas.

Art and History

CattleTrack Arts Compound
For decades, this artist collective has housed painters, ceramicists, and more in a scattering of structures surrounded by native desert plants. CattleTrack is authentic, not a prettied up tourist trap. Visit for a glimpse of bohemian life in the desert, to meet and buy from artists and to attend lectures and performances.

Taliesin West and Cosanti
Dreamers and artists are drawn to the Arizona desert for inspiration and energy – and to escape the cold! Most famous of all is Frank Lloyd Wright, who established Taliesin West on the far edge of Scottsdale as a campus for hands-on design experimentation and education, as well as his personal winter home. Decades later, a visionary Italian named Paolo Soleri found his way here and established Cosanti; equal parts artistic factory (crafting sculptural bells) as architectural theory come to life, as well as his home too. Be sure to schedule “behind the scenes” tours to learn more about their vision for sustainable desert living through design.

Taliesin West (top) and Cosanti (bottom) are two must-stops to experience on any visit.

S’edav Va’aki Museum
Long before Europeans and Americans entered the Valley of the Sun, native peoples called it home and ingeniously figured out how to make the desert bloom. This museum tells their story and how they built canals and many communities along the Rio Salado (Salt River) and its tributaries. A fascinating place to visit with indoor exhibits and outdoor ruins with an interpretive trail and reconstructed dwellings. This experience forever changed my perception of the area.

Scenes from exhibits at the S’edav Va’aki Museum.

A visit to the Arizona desert for the holidays is full of surprises and unique beauty. Unique and memorable activities. Or just quiet lounging by a pool. Or hiking and cycling and ballooning. Or shopping and eating and wine tastings. Plan ahead to enjoy all of the above!

-Story and photos by Jimmy McDonough, Real Food Traveler Eco-Friendly, Food, Travel and Adventure Editor. 

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Plan your Christmas in the desert adventures in Arizona with the help of this article. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.