Westin Kierland Tips

travelhacker

travelhacker

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We'll be spending Thanksgiving at the Westin Kierland. We're visiting from Colorado and we are looking forward to nice weather and the resort amenities. We'll be there for 5 nights.

This will be our first visit. We have three kids (9, 5, and 5) and are looking for any tips for the resort and for the area.

Things like:
- Useful information for first timers.
- Are there any resort activities kids would be interested in?
- Must do activities for families in the area
- Good places to eat

Thanks!
 
travelhacker said:
We'll be spending Thanksgiving at the Westin Kierland. We're visiting from Colorado and we are looking forward to nice weather and the resort amenities. We'll be there for 5 nights.

This will be our first visit. We have three kids (9, 5, and 5) and are looking for any tips for the resort and for the area.

Things like:
- Useful information for first timers.
- Are there any resort activities kids would be interested in?
- Must do activities for families in the area
- Good places to eat

Thanks!
Click to expand...
You will enjoy the facility. Weather looks sunny and slightly cooler than normal. Your kids will enjoy the pool and you can walk over to the Westin hotel pool as well. Shopping and restaurants within walking distance (Kierland), or they have a shuttle as well. Enjoy.
 
Kierland is a great property you are going to enjoy it. It’s clean, well maintained and the staff do a great job. Resort activities usually run daily on the hour at the activities pool. Ask the concierge for a weekly schedule. There are also on site activities that may cost $$. The relaxation pool is open 24/7 and is great for adult time after hours. Restaurants, not knowing what you prefer that’s hard to answer. If you are renting a car there are lots of great restaurants in the area. Several we prefer: Hash Kitchen and Matt’s Big Breakfast, Zipps Sports Grill for sports bar. Tutti Santi and Venezias for Italian. Sol Mexican in The Quarter. Tommy Bahama in the Commons for awsome deserts. There are many others. If you like to shop there is the Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter within walking distance or use the free shuttle.

If you have kids, you may want to stay in building 2 or 5. They are away from front desk but closer to the pool and activities. Buildings 6 and 7 are much quieter but require some walking across the parking lots.
 
Not sure if they still do it, but at the hotel each night around 6:00ish they have a guy dressed in Scottish clothing playing the bagpipes along with a happy hour. I‘ve stayed at the hotel a few times (never the timeshare) and it’s a beautiful property. Enjoy!
 
I love the bagpiper every night at the hotel at sunset. My kids love the s’mores nights at the hotel, sports court. They also love $2 soft serve cones at McDowell market daily from 2-4pm
We walk to over to the hotel daily, they have lots of daily kids activities, and the pool has a lazy River and the flow rider
 
ChicagoDave said:
Not sure if they still do it, but at the hotel each night around 6:00ish they have a guy dressed in Scottish clothing playing the bagpipes along with a happy hour. I‘ve stayed at the hotel a few times (never the timeshare) and it’s a beautiful property. Enjoy!
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Also, if you are a golfer, you can time it to choose the correct 9 of the 3 nines to hear that bagpiper pipe you in #7, 8, 9 downhill at dusk to the green beside the bagpiper ... amazing ... then step into the first door past the bagpiper to the Scotch Whiskey Library and scotch tasting. A super experience!
 
Last edited:
needvaca said:
I love the bagpiper every night at the hotel at sunset. My kids love the s’mores nights at the hotel, sports court. They also love $2 soft serve cones at McDowell market daily from 2-4pm
We walk to over to the hotel daily, they have lots of daily kids activities, and the pool has a lazy River and the flow rider
Click to expand...
I forgot about the S’mores!
 
Don't know if the Christmas lights displays will be out yet but my wife and I enjoyed the the drive through lights at the Salt River baseball fields.

Going for age appropriate/interesting.

A walk though the desert botanical garden perhaps, if you're not familiar with the dessert flora. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...-Desert_Botanical_Garden-Phoenix_Arizona.html

Wonderspaces - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...-Wonderspaces_Arizona-Scottsdale_Arizona.html

Penske Racing Museum - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...-Penske_Racing_Museum-Scottsdale_Arizona.html
 
The days will fly by with just exploring the villas and the hotel. I believe that you can use the hotel pool which has a lazy river and a wave rider (might be too advanced for the 9 year old but fun to watch!). Agree with others' posts that the villas and resort will have kids' activities. Be sure to go to Scottsdale Quarters in addition to Scottsdale Commons. The shuttle can take you. Lots of food places at both of these outdoor malls which are basically across the main street from the hotel. The butterfly museum at the Arizona Boardwalk (#101 & Via De Ventura exist) is good for kids and it's a fun place to walk around. There is also an aquarium. That area is part of Salt River Indian Community that includes Top Golf, Medieval Times, Wolf Lodge Indoor Water Park (day passes available) and a memorial to the USS Arizona Memorial. The significance won't be captured by the young kids but it's a very lovely outdoor display with water (just opened a couple of years ago so landscaping hasn't matured yet) and a good place to simply walk/run around. Spring Training fields are here, too. For easy hikes, try Lost Dog Trail (a pretty drive, good parking lot with restrooms) or McDowell Sonoran Preserve (closer to the Kierland; good parking lot with restrooms). Both have an easy family trail with nature signs (or at least the preserve has the signs, not sure about Lost Dog Trail - haven't actually walked that path!). Enjoy your stay!
 
These are great suggestions. Thanks so much everyone!
 
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