On Easter weekend my little family and I packed up and headed down the road for a "staycation" at Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley, AZ. Since I'm not from here, I had NO idea that this place has MAJOR history. Rather, it's ICONIC, and not just to Arizona, it's known all over the U.S.

Mountain Shadows Resort originally opened in 1959. Designed by architect Martin Stern, Jr., it was a stylish paradise enjoyed by tourists, locals and the homeowners who lived within the resort development. Mountain Shadows was truly one of the premier resorts in the entire Southwest, known for its mid-century modern design and stunning location.

The new and improved Mountain Shadows Resort kept the 1959 vibes in the remodel, but in the most modern, clean and extra chic way.

Mountain Shadows has been completely rebuilt from the ground up. It has re-emerged as the benchmark for desert luxury and distinctive design, inspired by the 1950s modernism of the original resort. Stunning mountain and desert views linger in your memory long after you visit.

At every turn there is an insane view.... I MEAN. Surrounded by breathtaking mountains and golf courses, this resort is perfectly placed to give you a little bit of everything. I'm not a golfer by any stretch of the imagination but this golf course is something to see. Kevin dabbles in the golf scene but he'd rather just take pictures of it.

A DESERT ICON

The resort played host to well-heeled travelers from around the country and an array of celebrity guests. In the early 60s, the television show “The Brothers Brannagan” used the resort as its backdrop for the antics of a pair of private eyes.

We checked into our Garden Premium Guestroom on that Saturday. The room itself was beautifully done. No corners were cut here... not even close. The attention to detail did not go unnoticed. It was located on the ground floor, which was perfect for our little guy, Hemingway, to go for walks and OTHER MISCELLANEOUS THINGS that dogs do.

The sweet cards, treats, and framed photo of me and my little love were just icing on the cake!

Hemingway definitely felt the love. Every staff member in the hotel knew him by name. He felt special and thought for sure that this was his bed. They even provided treats and water and food bowls. He made himself right at home, per usual. He knows no stranger!

The next couple of nights we proceeded to have late night ice cream, lots of cocktails, and eat and eat and eat.

We lounged by the pool most of the time. Getting a little work done, sipping green juice, and getting a tan.

The resort is SO picturesque! It's a bloggers dream...

I have to admit, I'm not exactly a "resort food" kind of girl. I usually find it to be terribly overpriced and just, not that good. We were extremely surprised by how delicious all of our dishes were at Hearth 61. It's definitely tough to pick a favorite but what keeps us coming back every Sunday night is the pot roast.

Hearth'61 is my kind of restaurant. It has an open kitchen, open air bar, and a "living room" (aka a spot to grab a bite and a drink INSIDE that is Hemingway-friendly). The food is extremely fresh and vibrant, it's simple and in-season BONUS BONUS BONUS. They also have live music on the weekends, which I LOVE. What's better than a delicious meal, pup-in-tow, craft cocktails and someone to sing to you?

Our overall stay at Mountain Shadows is one for the books. We are excited about the many other staycations to come!

P.S. I recently had another opportunity to staycay at Mountain Shadows and dine at Hearth '61! Read my latest review here.