Your Guide To a Desert Getaway, An Easy Flight from Sonoma County Airport STS

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Stay at Hotel Valley Ho: Built in 1956, this midcentury modern landmark was once a popular getaway for Hollywood legends like Natalie Wood, Bing Crosby, and Tony Curtis. With a colorful retro flair, there’s something to appreciate at every turn. Rooms start at $119 in low season, $299 in high. 6850 East Main Street, Scottsdale, Arizona, 480- 376-2600, hotelvalleyho.com (Courtesy Photo)

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All 241 rooms and suites at Hotel Valley Ho have been completely renovated, but the hotel’s playful character remains. The Tower, a seven-story building within the hotel, boasts rooms and suites with kitchens, walk-in closets, and postcard-worthy views. (Courtesy Photo)

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Spread out over eight green acres, Hotel Valley Ho features two pools and hot tubs. The hotel is an easy walk to downtown Scottsdale’s art galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars. (Courtesy Photo)

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Stay at The Scott Resort & Spa: Lush and green, this resort features 204 guest rooms and has the feel of a Caribbean oasis. Rooms start at $119 in low season, $229 in high. 4925 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona, 800-528-7867, thescottresort.com (Courtesy Photo)

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The Scott Resort & Spa was built in the 1960s. Get a room overlooking the pool and it’s easy to forget you’re in the desert. One of the two pools has a beach entrance. (Courtesy Photo)

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A mix of Caribbean details and Bauhaus-inspired design, The Scott Resort & Spa has a hip and comfortable vibe. The Canal Club bar and the nearby fire pits are popular spots to linger. (Courtesy Photo)

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See the desert from above with Hot Air Expeditions: Up, up, and away! It’s hard not to get excited as you watch blazing propane burners inflate a hot air balloon. But the real treat comes after liftoff. Deer Valley Airport, 702 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, 800-831-7610, hotairexpeditions.com (Courtesy Photo)

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It’s amazing how quiet and still it is when you’re floating through the clouds. Your Hot Air Expeditions pilot will point out all sorts of desert sights and sounds. (Courtesy Photo)

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Morning hot air balloon rides with Hot Air Expeditions run all year long. Afternoon expeditions are available seasonally, November through March. (Courtesy Photo)

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Regardless of when you soar, post-flight you’ll enjoy either breakfast or hors d’oeuvres. Morning flights with Hot Air Expeditions start at $179, sunset flights at $199. (Courtesy Photo)

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See wildlife with Arizona Outback Adventures: It’s easy to stay cool in the desert when you’re kayaking the lower Salt River. 17465 N 93rd Street, Scottsdale, (866) 455-1601, aoa-adventures.com (Courtesy Photo)

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As you float along with Arizona Outback Adventures, keep your eyes open for wild horses and bald eagles. (Courtesy Photo)

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Fantastic views and calm water make it a fun adventure for paddlers of every level. (Courtesy Photo)

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Half-day tours with Arizona Outback Adventures start at $116 per person for groups of four or more. (Courtesy Photo)

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See Taliesin West: This historic landmark was architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school in the desert from 1937 until his death in 1959. Today, it is the main campus of The School of Architecture at Taliesin. The property was built and maintained almost entirely by Wright and his apprentices, using materials from its desert backyard. 12621 North Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Scottsdale, GPS Address: 12345 North Taliesin Drive, Scottsdale, (480) 860-2700, franklloydwright.org/taliesin-west. (Courtesy Photo)

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There are more than a half-dozen guided tour options at Taliesin West, ranging from one to three hours long. Prices range from $19 to $75. Reservations are strongly recommended. (Courtesy Photo)

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Eat at The Mission: The modern cuisine at this popular eatery takes influence from Spain, Mexico, Central America and South America. Menu selections include table-side guacamole, grilled street corn, nine types of tacos, chorizo porchetta, and green chile duck confit. 3815 North Brown Avenue, Scottsdale, (480) 636-5005, themissionaz.com (Courtesy Photo)

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Tortillas, arepas, and salsas are made fresh daily at The Mission. Dishes range from $8 to $65. (Courtesy Photo)

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You’ll recognize many names from home on the wine list at The Mission, but with nearly 30 signature cocktails to choose from – including nearly a dozen margaritas – you could be easily swayed to try something new. (Courtesy Photo)

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Eat at Hash Kitchen: With more than 60 toppings to choose from, like onion rings and pickled eggs, you could make a meal out of a trip to the build-your-own-Bloody Mary bar. If Bloody Marys aren’t your thing, chances are the Mimosa flight, or cereal shooter flight, will bring a smile to your face. Two Scottsdale locations: 8777 North Scottsdale Road, (480) 947-3214, and 14838 North Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, (480) 361-5228, hashkitchen.com (Photo Courtesy Aniwat Pluemjit)

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The brunch menu at Hash Kitchen includes specialties such as Huevos Rancheros Hash, S’mores French Toast, Herb Fried Chicken & Waffle, Cannoli pancakes, and a Craft Bacon Board. So telling you to arrive hungry is a bit of an understatement. (Photo Courtesy Aniwat Pluemjit)

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Hash Kitchen is open Monday through Friday, 7am to 2pm, weekends until 3pm, so plan accordingly. (Courtesy Photo)

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Eat at Craft 64: House-made mozzarella and local ingredients top pizzas cooked in a wood burning oven heated to more than 900 degrees. There's a rotating selection of more than 30 Arizona craft beers on tap, in addition to local and imported bottles. 6922 East Main Street, Scottsdale, (480) 946-0542, craft64.com  (Courtesy Photo)

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The cocktail program at Craft 64 features an impressive selection of mules made with fresh pressed lime juice and real ginger beer, and the digital wine list is more than 200 bottles strong. This is a Blood & Roses cocktail, featuring Four Roses bourbon. (Photo courtesy of Dana Vollmer Brown)

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See Old Town Scottsdale: Loaded with shops, art galleries, restaurants, and bars, Old Town Scottsdale is easy to explore by foot. But walking isn’t nearly as much fun as zipping around town in a golf cart. The JoyRidesAZ Urban Historic Tour will help you get your bearings and show you spots you might not discover on your own. (480) 675-7857, joyridesaz.com (Courtesy Photo)

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JoyRidesAZ also offers culinary, craft beer, and wine tasting tours. Reservations are required. Some tours are priced per person, others per golf cart. The Twinkle Urban Historic Tour is $65 per cart. The Evening Craft Beer Tour is $95 per person. Tours with food and drink last about three hours, others last about an hour. Golf carts comfortably seat five. Blankets are provided on those rare, chilly desert nights. (Courtesy Photo)

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See the McDowell Sonoran Preserve: Get outside and get up close with a Saguaro cactus or two on a sunrise or sunset hike. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve boasts more than 30,000 acres and more than 200 miles of trails. 18333 N. Thompson Peak Rd, Scottsdale, (480) 998-7971, mcdowellsonoran.org/trailhead/gateway (Photo Courtesy Tom Mackie)

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The Gateway Trailhead is the main entrance into the preserve. Open from sunrise to sunset, there is no charge for parking or entrance. (Courtesy Photo)

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Break a sweat, or go for a relaxing stroll. There trails for all levels. Arizona Outback Adventures offers guided half-day tours starting at $60 per person for groups of four or more. 17465 N 93rd Street, Scottsdale, (866) 455-1601, aoa-adventures.com (Photo Courtesy Halie Sutton)