A couple weeks ago we found ourselves in the Valley of the Sun, looking to check out the best that the area has to offer. With temperatures during our stay already approaching 100 degrees, we were eager to find something tasty to help us cool down. Thankfully we learned about Sweet Republic Ice Cream in Scottsdale, but don't expect us to claim that we discovered it because it’s a huge hit on Yelp, with local foodies and Twitter; the place even just made Bon Appetit's list of ten best ice cream shops.

The ice cream parlor is located in a nothing-special strip mall about a 15-minute drive outside the hustle and bustle of Scottsdale’s shopping mecca. Everything here is made fresh daily and in small batches, so when it’s gone, it’s gone. We’re still a little miffed that we missed out on their Peanut Butter Chip. However, we did enjoy the delicious Brownie Swirl with a side of Cookie Monster. Both flavors were exactly what you’d expect and more, and had great flavor and texture—the dessert spoke for itself—and we quickly found out that this wasn’t your local scoop shop. ]]> kjb 2009-06-11T09:32:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/30/181927/339

First there were organic foods and cosmetics, then energy-efficient cars, and now, even our spa treatments are going green. Willow Stream Spa at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has just introduced Desert Purification, a bodywork treatment inspired by Native American traditions and culture.

It may sound a little out there, but they certainly don’t oversell the “all natural” thing. The 90-minute treatment begins with an optional “smudging,” or burning of a sage stick to purify the space for healing, then a therapist applies a mask all over your body. Not only are the indigenous ingredients—cornmeal, oats, bentonite and kaolin clays, among others—free from preservatives, artificial colorings and synthetic fragrances, but even the fabric used to exfoliate your skin is made from the biodegradable fibers of a local Ayate cactus plant. (Cacuts?! Sounds prickly, but we promise, it's not so bad.)

Once you’ve been sufficiently smoothed and subsequently showered, you can get what you’ve really come for—a nourishing body massage featuring an aromatic blend of organic juniper, sage and rosemary essential oils. While we’re not sure just how much a getting green treatment reduces our impact on the environment, we love the idea that getting pampered might not be entirely self-indulgent after all.

Related Stories:
· Willow Stream Spa, Scottsdale [Official Site]
· The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess [HotelChatter]
· Spas coverage [Jaunted]
· Scottsdale Spas Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: TripAdvisor]]]> The Lost Girl 2008-01-31T10:30:01-05:00 33.644358 -111.91554 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/24/12459/7636

Of all the services that you could return from a destination spa raving about, mani-pedis usually aren't among them. It's not that getting your hands and feet sandblasted, buffed and shellacked by a stranger isn't incredibly relaxing, but the perfectly polished nails you pay hand over fist for have usually chipped by the time you're back in your own area code.

That's why we were pretty jazzed by the just-introduced Double Happiness Manicure and Pedicure combo we received at the Spa at Camelback Inn. Created by skincare diva June Jacobs exclusively for the resort, the treatment is designed as a facial for the hands and feet. As our chatty, Russian-born therapist Marta got to work on our woefully neglected gams, she informed us that peppermint, the featured ingredient the scrub she was using, has both aromatic and antiseptic properties--and, as we'd soon discover, can also make your toes tingle!

Two hours of intense pampering later, we had to admit that our fingers and toes looked pretty damn good. But we didn't fully grasp how effective the treatment had been until a week or so later, when our skin still felt spa-day smooth and our Espresso Your Style OPI polish still looked freshly painted.

Sure, a full body massage might have been nice--but it was pretty cool reaping the benefits of our spa experience long after returning home.

Related Stories:
· Spas coverage [Jaunted]
· Scottsdale Spa coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Spa at Camelback Inn]]]> The Lost Girl 2008-01-24T13:30:01-05:00 33.531125 -111.96492 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/11/29/143334/02

While it's cool to check out the places Frank Lloyd Wright built for other people, his own home and studio is where you can really get in touch with his vision. That's why we've got to put Taliesin West on our map. (There's another Taliesin in Wisconsin, but we'd much rather visit the one in Scottsdale this time of year.)

Built out of the materials surrounding it--desert sand and rocks feature prominently--it's both a collection of useful structures and a meditation on how buildings should interact with their environment. Now a National Historic Landmark, the compound also houses the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, a movie theater, a performing arts theater, outdoor pools and gardens and an architectural school.

This time of year, two special tours are available in addition to the normal offerings. The Apprentice Shelter tour explores some of the structures students have devised and runs on Saturdays. The Holiday Night Lights tour on Fridays in December includes a twilight jaunt around the grounds as well as caroling and holiday treats.

Related Links:
· Taliesin West [Official Site]
· Frank Lloyd Wright coverage [Jaunted]
· Frank Lloyd Wright Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: andy54321]]]> pbb 2007-11-29T14:45:01-05:00 33.597347 -111.84306 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/5/14/225437/977

For those of you who aren't hardcore enough to get on the surf board in Maine just yet, may we suggest a warmer weather adventure: mountain biking in Scottsdale. For a place known for its copious silicone, it's got quite a bit of natural beauty.

But don't bother packing your own bike and gear. A reliable tipster let us know that Brian Jump at Arizona Outback Adventures is the go-to guy for your biking excursion. He'll set up your itinerary, load up a van full of gear and swing by your hotel to pick you up for a day in the saddle.

Granted, it's not the cheapest bike tour we've ever heard of. (A group tour for four will run you $440.) But our tipster insists the price is worth it, saying, "Anyone can do it. And the guides will show you stuff you never would notice: plants, animals, cool sights. I loved it."

[Photo: d&e]

Related Stories:
· AOA Adventures [Official Site]
· Jaunted's Biking coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2007-05-15T12:00:02-05:00 33.635757 -111.88491 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/10/12/83941/838

We're feeling the icy cold fingers of winter lately, and we don't like their terrible caress. Time to head south, where summer keeps chugging no matter the month, and the Sonoran Desert hiking and biking will keep you sweating. Scottsdale, anyone?

· Hiking: The desert both in and around town is crisscrossed with hiking trails, the most famous of which is the grueling trek up Camelback Mountain. They say the best time to go is before dawn, so you can watch the sun rise over the city. Right. We'll catch up with you. When you're done hiking up mountains, check in with Desert Biking Adventures and they'll set you up with a fat-tire bike to come crashing down.

· Lodging: If you want to bump into celebs on the lam from LA, you better check into the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa. Britney and KFed stopped in to soak up the spa treatments. (We doubt they were out hiking.) Nick Lachey dropped in at Hotel Valley Ho, the newly renovated crash pad for Rat Pack wannabes. Oh Nick.

[Photo: videoal]

Related Stories:
· Vaughniston shacks up at the Sanctuary resort [Jaunted]
]]> pbb 2006-10-12T09:38:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2005/12/2/152434/123 Will stories of stars behaving badly while on vacation ever get old? We already told you earlier in the week about Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn, and their Thanksgiving jaunt to the Sanctuary Resort in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Turns out there was a little more to that vacation than we knew about. The "couple" (oh, please) was stopped by police early Tuesday morning around 12:30 am for a routine traffic violation, then administered a field-sobriety test when the office smelled alcohol in the car. Vince was apparently under the legal limit of .08 percent, but the couple still left their car in a lot and called a friend to pick them up. Sound fishy to you, too? No, just us? When it comes to celebrities, the police and favors, color us cynical.

Related Stories
·   Vince Vaughn Pulled Over in Arizona [People] ]]> Jolie 2005-12-02T16:24:12-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/