Scottsdale offers interesting accessible options for those exploring Arizona

Scottsdale is Arizona’s premier destination for fine dining, shopping and luxury resorts, and I am fortunate to have recently returned from my first visit to the region. Scottsdale has over 240,000 citizens, making it one of the fastest growing cities and housing markets in the United States. It borders other well-known Arizona locations such as Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Tempe.

Experience Scottsdale recently partnered with Wheel the World, an online booking platform for seniors and people with disabilities. According to the website, users can search for travel accommodations and experiences including “fully accessible accommodations, restaurants, attractions and adventures to barrier-free trails to experience nature.”

Where to stay

I chose the Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas, where I was fortunate enough to stay in a beautiful two-story villa which featured a private entrance as well as an upstairs bedroom with two queen-sized beds, and a main floor which included a living room, dining room and kitchenette. There was a bathroom on each floor, as well as a balcony on the upper level and a patio on the main floor for outdoor eating. The unit also had a fireplace for those wishing to get cozy on one of Arizona’s rare chilly evenings. The hotel offers visitors a total of five temperature-controlled pools to choose from. For an elevated pool experience, you can rent one of the hotel’s private shaded cabanas.

In search of relaxation, I had the opportunity to visit the Scottsdale Plaza’s Salon & Spa, located next to the main pool. For any dining needs while on-site, the property has a grab-and-go place and two restaurants, in addition to Café Cabana, which offers their poolside dining option.

Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas is ADA compliant. Accessible locations include the main entrance and route to the registration desk, the public restroom, the meeting and event facilities, the business centre, and many accessible rooms that include ADA phone systems and visual strobe light alarms, as well as closed captioning or closed captioning decoders for the television. Service animals are also welcome. Furthermore, each of the pools has a lift.

Dining out

Let us recommend the Lincoln Steakhouse & Bar, which is located at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa. The steaks here are nothing short of remarkable.

The House Brasserie, one of the region’s oldest standing residences, serves up a superb branzino. This is the perfect light dish for all the fish lovers out there and comes with celery root velouté, sautéed spinach, roasted corn, oregano vert, and pickled radishes. Marcellino Ristorante offers the primo course. We sampled two of the restaurant’s pasta dishes: the gnocchi sorrentina served with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella and the spinach and ricotta ravioli topped with a butter and fresh sage sauce and the branzino dish, topped with white wine and butter sauce. Each of these restaurants is wheelchair accessible.

Things to do

Looking to explore the city and its surrounding regions? There are plenty of things to do in the Scottsdale area, starting with Camelback Mountain, which is one of the most prominent outdoor destinations in Arizona. Take one of many scenic hikes in the area or consider rock climbing. The Phoenix Zoo is another nearby option. Spanning 125 acres of land, it houses 140 animals, including lions, giraffes, monkeys, iguanas, wolves, bears and more.

Additionally, the zoo has partnered with KultureCity to improve its ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory processing needs. Sensory bags containing fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones and weighted lap pads are available for checkout at the reception or the Safari Cruiser Station.

Additionally, the zoo has partnered with KultureCity to improve its ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory processing needs. Sensory bags containing fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones and weighted lap pads are available for checkout at the reception or the Safari Cruiser Station.

In the same vein, you may wish to explore Butterfly Wonderland. A limited number of wheelchairs are available on a first come, first served basis at the guest services desk. They also offer hearing assistance devices for people with and without hearing aids. For those who like to shop, there are plenty of neighbourhoods and shopping centres to explore, for example Fashion Square Mall, with its over 225 stores and 2,000,000 square feet of retail space. Wheelchair and scooter rentals are available, as well as valet parking.