Home to some of the Valley’s oldest and most storied resorts, this 6-mile strip stretching from Central Avenue to Scottsdale is a popular landing spot for spring visitors – and your runway for a high-flying day of pre- or post-game fun.
Itinerary: Cooling Off on Camelback
The corridor is crammed with hiking, high-end hospitality and trendy restaurant options. Turn it into the ultimate respite from March Madness.
- 7 a.m.: Hike Piestewa Peak
Start your day with mass-calorie-obliteration at this beloved Valley hiking spot. It’s a roughly two-hour commitment that rewards you with soaring, panoramic views of the city. phoenix.gov/parks/trails - 10 a.m.: Brunch at Chelsea’s Kitchen
Hands down the best restaurant patio in the Corridor, situated off the Arizona Canal under a breezy canopy of Chilean mesquite trees. Perfect for a mimosa or five. chelseaskitchenaz.com - Noon: Retail Therapy
Spend an hour or two perusing the juicy couture at Biltmore Fashion Park (Saks Fifth Avenue, lululemon, Ralph Lauren, et al) followed by a budget-salvaging visit to Nordstrom’s overstock outlet Last Chance – one of only two in the country. nordstrom.com - 2 p.m.: “Pool” Your Bets at Lylo Swim Club
A relatively recent addition to the Valley’s family of resorts, the Rise Uptown Hotel also boasts the best day-club experience on Camelback, in the guise of this nifty, food-forward pool deck. Treat yourself to an adults-only Dole Whipped. riseuptownhotel.com - 7 p.m.: Dinner at J&G Steakhouse
Under the adroit hand of executive chef Jacques Qualin, this penthouse-style steakhouse at The Phoenician resort and spa has turned into one of the city’s most reliably terrific palaces of gastronomy. Get the grass-fed filet Oscar style. jgsteakhousescottsdale.com - 10 p.m.: Getting Down in Old Town
Going to bed so soon? Not after that meal. Work off the calories with a post-prandial tour of Scottsdale’s notorious “entertainment district,” including celeb hot spot Bottled Blonde (bottledblondepizzeria.com/scottsdale) and hotel patio bar Cala (calascottsdale.com).
James Beard Chef Tour
The Corridor is lousy with award-winning celebrity chefs. Here are three restaurants fronted by James Beard Award-christened talents to check out.
- Hai Noon
Legendary chef Nobuo Fukuda (2007) opened this Japanese bistro in South Scottsdale last summer and subsequently earned a Best New Restaurant of the Year award from PHOENIX. hainoonaz.com - Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion
Biltmore-area mainstay Christopher Gross (1995) charmed Valley diners for three decades before opening this prix fixe pièce de résistance at the historical Wrigley Mansion in 2022. wrigleymansion.com - Pizzeria Bianco
After his celebrated appearance on Chef’s Table, Chris Bianco (2003) hardly needs an introduction – and neither do his game-changing Neapolitan-style pies. Just make sure to try the Rosa, which marries pistachios and Parmigiano-Reggiano into one perfect culinary union. pizzeriabianco.com
Snag a Souvenir
- Cosanti Originals
Preserve your Corridor jaunt for posterity with an iconic Cosanti windbell. Handmade on the desert estate of late architectural hepcat Paolo Soleri, each bell is a singular bronze snowflake – and iconically Arizona. cosanti.com
Corridor Fun: Segway Tour
Once a car-only cluster-you-know-what, Old Town Scottsdale has loosened its transportation laws considerably. Take advantage with Scottsdale Segway Tours, which offers a helmeted, two-wheel safari of the West’s Most Western Town. scottsdalesegway-tours.com
