The Biltmore Arizona: an Iconic Southwest Resort - AFAR

"An iconic Southwest resort eight miles north of downtown Phoenix that has hosted presidents and celebrities since its 1929 debut and underwent a $170 million reinvention in 2020, now turning 95. The property features seven distinct swim areas — from the adults-only Saguaro Pool serving frosé and craft cocktails flavored with agave, lime and habanero, to the family-focused Paradise Pool with air-conditioned cabanas, a swim-up bar and Friday summer Dive-in Movies — plus a serene Catalina Pool built by the Wrigley family with art-deco royal blue and canary-yellow mosaics (a favorite sunbathing spot of Marilyn Monroe) and morning floating-mat workouts. Thrill-seekers head for the 65-foot Twist triple waterslide, which stages daily rubber-duck races whose winners receive house-made gelato from Cup & Cone in playful flavors like burnt honey strawberry and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Off-pool offerings include golf, tennis, pickleball and guided Murf e-bike rides along the Arizona Canal, while the 22,000-square-foot Tierra Luna Spa marries indoor treatment rooms with a Sol Garden — contrast bathing, a halotherapy salt room and the Sol Café — and treatments that spotlight local botanicals such as an agave dry-brush Lucid Awakening Massage and a Sage & Desert Salt Body Scrub. Dining and nightlife highlights include sunset craft cocktails at Spire Bar with views of Piestewa Peak and a light show that illuminates a 30-foot sculpture honoring Frank Lloyd Wright, plus Renata’s Hearth, which spotlights the chiltepín with a curated Summer Prix-Fixe menu. Seasonal programming ranges from a family-friendly July celebration with pool parties, pop-up sponsors and an eco-friendly drone light show to Labor Day DJs, neon bubble parties and classic resort events like waterslide nights and dive-in screenings." - AFAR