Seven Perfect Days in Arizona

My wife chose Arizona for her milestone birthday celebration in January, and wanted not only to go somewhere warmer, but also to include our two adult children, so here is what we chose to do - part of the time with them, and part of the time just the two of us. There were too many hikes and museums to choose from, so here is a curated selection to save a lot of research time and toiling, with a focus on the Tucson and Phoenix areas. 
     Day 1: Flew into Phoenix and checked into the charming Hermosa Inn, a boutique, historic adobe-style hotel in the heart of Paradise Valley. After settling in, we had lunch in the tree-shed courtyard at Lon's at the Hermosa Inn, the hotel's acclaimed restaurant. In the afternoon, we took a self-guided audio tour of nearby Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's famous winter home and studio, to learn about his architectural principles and vision. Next, we drove around Old Town Scottsdale and poked into some shops. Honestly, it felt a little seedy and touristy, so unless you're really curious, relaxing at the hotel or biking on the nearby trails would be time better spent.
     We finished the day touring around the iconic Arizona Biltmore Hotel, and learning about its connection to Wright and his style. Then we sat outside under a headlamp enjoying dinner at Renata's Hearth, the Biltmore's signature restaurant, which was a little price-inflated but still very enjoyable.
     Day 2: Reluctantly we departed the relaxing and well-landscaped Hermosa Inn and drove south to Tucson, but not before enjoying a scenic outdoor brunch at the exclusive and nicely renovated Wrigley Mansion (which is a private club that can be joined for a small fee). We checked into another star-studded hotel, the Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort, passing reluctantly on the chance to explore the nearby Biosphere 2 research facility, a storied 3.14-acre glass science research enclosure that simulates Earth's environments, but was once to be an attempt at simulating off-planet living for future space travelers.
     In the evening, we drove into Tucson's historic downtown district to dine at Maynards Market & Kitchen before rushing off for live jazz at the swanky Century Room in the historic Hotel Congress, to enjoy craft cocktails and local artists. Again, we appreciated the history here and efforts to revive this area, but we were a little surprised at the overall seediness (sorry!) of the city overall, which is a stark contrast to all the raves our friends have given over the years about going to Tucson. My impression is that because the surrounding area has great golf courses, resorts and hilltop homes with scenic views, it is the "area" that people are raving about and returning to, versus the city itself, which has some good restaurants, but seems to be suffering economically. 
     Days 3-4: After treatments at Hacienda's spa, we were ready to spend two full days exploring Tucson's surrounding landscape, mixing driving and hiking through the towering saguaro cacti of Saguaro National Park, which runs west, south and east of the city. If you want to see where countless Hollywood westerns have been filmed over the decade, you can stop by the Tombstone Historic Town and pay a fee to peek inside for yourself.
      One morning we drove down near the border to the historic artist's colony known as Tubac, where there are numerous shops featuring original art and high-quality jewelry. On the way back, we stopped at the Titan Missile Museum to relive the 80s Cold War of our teen years. It's impressive for its preservation not only of the facilities themselves, but the fact it still houses the only (disarmed) Titan missile available for public view.
     We also stopped by the centuries-old Mission San Xavier del Bac, known as the "White Dove of the Desert" for its beautiful white stucco facade. For meals, we sampled regional fare at local favorites like the casual Brother John's BBQ and had to dine at the original downtown location of El Charro Cafe, birthplace of the chimichanga. 
     Day 5: We had planned to enjoy a brunch at the Tohonol Chol botanical gardens, or walk around the Desert Museum, but it was drizzling out, so instead we headed north to check in to our vacation rental we picked in Fountain Hills, just east of Phoenix, and go grocery shopping in anticipation of our sons' arrivals. We had dinner downtown at Wren & Wolf, a contemporary restaurant in downtown Phoenix heavy with wolf themes and big city vibes, followed by craft cocktails at the chic White Rabbit bar after their flights arrived.
     Days 6-7: Over the next two days, we explored the scenic trails of the Phoenix mountain preserves by bike and by foot, hiking Piestewa Peak and the Cholla Trail up Camelback Mountain, a very rigorous hike. On Airbnb, I found guides who provided equipment and custom touring of the Scottsdale Sonoran preserve that provided scenic views and a good workout. At some point, we picked up lunch at the Farm at South Mountain, and also recovered from our biking event by purchasing a day pass for the Spa at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale, which we highly recommend!
      We also stopped by the vibrant arts districts of Grand Avenue and Roosevelt Row, exploring local galleries, boutiques, and testing our family's skills at the Puzzle Effect escape room. The birthday highlight was the private Italian chef's dinner (reserved on Airbnb), prepared at our Airbnb rental, to save driving and cooking effort. On our last day, we had some time to kill before hopping on an afternoon flight, so we reserved a table at the Phoenician and enjoyed a great view at an table where we watched the hotel's Master Falconer work tirelessly to deter birds from overtaking the outdoor restaurant. 
     My wife and I mostly like to take it slow, shopping and museum hopping, while enjoying views and anticipating our next meal on our vacations. But with our boys, we are willing to take it up a notch, and pack the day with outdoor and indoor activities that focus a little more on beverages than food. Arizona provided the perfect mix of cultural immersion, outdoor adventure, and quality time with loved ones – a wonderful way to celebrate my wife's 60th birthday.