Summer at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess includes cool rides down waterslides, zooming across a zip line and fireworks lighting up the night. This AAA Five Diamond resort is a play-cation paradise, from a new water ride to a world-class spa, signature restaurants and new Posh Paws program just for the pups. Best of all, summer vacations benefit Valley schools and charities.

Poolside is the place to be at the new SplashRider X-treme, a thrilling, spinning water adventure. Nearby, 200-foot waterslides are lined by shady cabanas with all the luxuries, with Dive In Movies and the Techno Glo Party taking center stage weekend nights. During the day, The Zipper zip line offers a 240-foot thrill ride across the lagoons and catch-and-release fishing is a family favorite. Meanwhile, grown-ups can sample any of 240 tequilas at La Hacienda, escape for a day to Well & Being Spa or savor an exquisite summer menu at the AAA Four Diamond Bourbon Steak.

Then, as the sun sets at the Princess, fireworks light up the sky every Saturday night, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, May 24 – August 30, 2014. The summer celebration crescendos during the Fourth of July Freedom Fest, July 4-6, with all-American picnics, concerts, vintage airplane shows and salutes to the military. Labor Day says bon voyage to summer with a “Dreamcation” cruise ship themed weekend. Every week in between, all summer long, the resort has added activities for the whole family to enjoy:

Summer Weekend Fun, Poolside

New this summer is the SplashRider X-treme, a rolling water pipe for both kids and adults on weekends at the Sonoran Splash Pool. The attraction, lasting three to five minutes, creates a constant wave which allows four to five riders at a time to body surf, while boogie boarders and those on inner tubes ride solo. Tickets can be purchased individually or packaged with The Zipper zip line for unlimited rides.

Then, it’s a disco down the slides with the after dark Techno Glo Party at Sonoran Splash. Black lights, lasers, fog, LED hula hooping, glow-in-the-dark bubbles, drinks and a DJ pulsating techno music rock the pool 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights for families this summer. Or, over at the South Pool, families can just chill at the Dive In Movies also offered complimentary Friday and Saturday nights. Movie-watchers float on inner tubes, or enjoy movie snacks, Sabrett hot dogs and a taco cart poolside, as the family flick begins at approximately 8 p.m., with an intermission for fireworks at 9 p.m.

Every weekend, the Fairmont Fun Team leads dancing games, tie dye t-shirt making, limbo and underwater bingo. Other daily activities include giant bubble making, wooden turtle races, badminton, volleyball and bocce ball.

Sonoran Splash, the resort’s 6,000 square-foot water oasis is perfect for families, with two twisting waterslides, pop-jet fountains, cabanas and games. For tots, there is a zero-entry deck area as well as a large, shaded sandbox complete with Tonka trucks and beach toys, sure to keep the little ones entertained for hours.

Whether delivering refreshing fruit water or frozen grapes to sun seekers, the resort’s pool attendants are on deck to ensure every day at the pool is one to remember. One of the cool drinks is the Parrot Punch, named after the resort’s colorful, feathery friends (Rosy-Faced Lovebirds) who now nest in the palm trees above the pools. Parrot Punch is made with coconut rum, citrus rum and spiced rum with pineapple juice, Midori and orange juice made from the orange trees on property.

Sonoran Splash is one of three pools that offer luxurious cabanas for rental, with amenities such as a flat-screen TV, ceiling fan, sofas, reserved chaise lounges, refrigerator, bottled waters and fresh fruit. The resort has five pools in total throughout the 65-acre property.

When (and if) parents do get the kids out of the pool, two other hot spots are Ironwood American Kitchen by the South Pool, which is cool, classic and comfortably residential with home-cooked favorites, an exhibition kitchen and InnoTab computer learning tablets for the kids. The Princess Shop and Coffee Market, on the main level, has grab ‘n’ go sandwiches, gelato, Starbucks coffee and an iPad lab.

Lagoon Adventures

Resort guests can soar a speedy 25 mph, 240-feet across the lagoons on The Zipper, a 37-foot-high zip line, available weekends, all summer long. There are prices for individual rides or packaged for unlimited rides, combined with the new SplashRider X-treme.

For more adventure, kids of any age cast a reel for bluegill at the new fishing derbies, steer ships in remote-control boat races or observe any of the waterfowl who make the lagoons their home.

Trailblazers Family Adventure Center & Kids Club

Trailblazers is a fun-filled program for ages 5-12 where kids pan for real gold, learn to solar cook, play sports, swim and even meet a reptilian friend or two. Themed days such as Wildlife, Wild West, Sports and Nature rotate, so youngsters may attend more than once and still discover something new each day. Half-day and full-day sessions are available year-round for overnight guests. A la carte pricing is $35 for a half-day or $60 for a full-day session. Included in the hotel’s daily resort fee of $29, up to three children per family receive half-day admission to the Kids Club, which is a savings of more than $100 per day. (Lunch is additional for $12.) Kids Club reservations are recommended 24-hours in advance.

The Trailblazers Family Adventure Center is now open 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. nightly, complimentary, year-round for resort guests to play Ping Pong, foosball, basketball, air hockey, shuffle board, videos and board games.

More for the Little Ones, Just Ask!

To ensure families have the comforts of home, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess covers all of the bases with an assortment of in-room amenities for children. Full-size cribs complete with bedding, high chairs, strollers, night lights, safety outlet covers, portable playpens, humidifiers, baby monitors, baby bathtubs, baby shampoo, kid’s robes and step stools are available for resort guests upon request, complimentary.

Dog Days of Summer? Posh Paws!

Posh Paws, the resort’s pet program, keeps with its Five-Diamond reputation for being dedicated to the guests and creating countless memories that even man’s best friend will remember. For an additional $35 per night, dogs can experience the ultimate luxury pet resort experience. Owner and pet stay in a room that comes complete with a “Woofer” gift set featuring a plush pet bed, food and water bowl, a food mat, pet toys and of course…treats. For the crème de la crème dog experience, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Executive Chef David Morris has created a doggie menu, “Lou’s Barkery,” available through In-Room Dining as well as recipes for take-home gifts. The Princess is partnering with nearby pet retailer for doggie day care or grooming needs and Fairmont staff is available to assist with dog walking.

Well & Being Spa

Here’s a way to spend a cool summer day, sure to inspire. Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has all-new “Live it Well” programs, sizzling specials and soothing spa treatments to keep spa-goers refreshed and energized all summer long.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, every summer spa weekend kicks off with “Feel Good Fridays,” offering the new “Lunch & Enlighten”: a healthy spa lunch with a fun, informative talk from the spa’s “Good Life” team of fitness, nutrition and beauty experts. This includes access to the spa facility, pool and exercise classes for the entire day, all for just $50. Add to that a 45-minute treatment such as a facial, manicure and pedicure or massage for $99. Each week, Facebook fans can check for the spa’s “Play Well Rx,” a prescription of spa offers and feel good tips.

Well & Being Spa is a sanctuary situated on three levels with a rooftop pool, waterfall grotto, steam rooms, saunas, salon, boutique and café. Spa guests can also reserve a posh cabana package at Quench, the spa’s rooftop pool, serving spa-inspired cocktails and brimming with luxurious amenities Fridays through Sundays.

Summer Dining

La Hacienda is celebrating summer with the return of its popular “Guacamole Fest” sampler of various guacamoles, from pork belly to seafood and pomegranate, as well as Fresca Floats made with traditional Mexican sodas. (Prices of these a la carte items vary.)

Bourbon Steak offers a Post-Pool Prix-Fixe Menu, with three courses and choices of summer salads, chilled soups, market-fresh fish, Jidori chicken, mesquite grilled C.A.B. skirt steak, chef’s selection of sides and topped off with vanilla crème brulee, warm nutmeg beignet or a trio of house-made sorbet. Bourbon Steak’s summer menu is $55 and includes a wine pairing with the main course. The restaurant’s regular menu is also available.

The summer Kids Resort Dining Passport is a super deal for families for $35 per day that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner at resort dining outlets such as Ironwood American Kitchen, Trailblazers Kids Club, the pools and La Hacienda, plus a kid’s snack at the South Pool during the Dive-In Movie. These meals are from the children’s menus and are exclusive to overnight resort guests. Passports are available for purchase upon arrival at the Leisure Services Desk in the main lobby.

Day Guests, Overnight Guests
Most of the resort activities mentioned are exclusive for overnight guests. Day visitors are invited to enjoy a treatment at Well & Being Spa, take a lesson from the resort’s tennis pro or dine in any of the resort’s award-winning restaurants. Saturday nights throughout the summer are a terrific time to dine in the restaurants, which includes an after-dinner fireworks show over the lagoons at 9 p.m.

Vacation Packages

The popular Sip, Savor & Splash Package returns, starting from $149 per room, per night Sunday through Thursday and $169 weekends and includes a $50 daily credit for dining, spa, tennis or kids club.

Taking it one step further with the new Stay, Play & Pay It Forward Package, families make memories and give back to the school or charity of their choice from a list of participating organizations in the resort’s annual Sleepover for a Better Tomorrow program. This summer package also starts from $149/ $169 per night with a $50 daily resort credit and 10 percent of every dollar charged to the room folio is donated to the guest’s chosen charity. This program is year-round and is free for any non-profit organization to join. For more information, visit: http://www.scottsdaleprincess.com/special-offers/sleepover-for-a-better-tomorrow.

Also new is the Play Well Rx Spa Package, where spa-goers enjoy overnight accommodations, with a choice of one 45-minute treatment: a Body Reboot Massage, a Rejuvenating Facial or an Energizing Manicure & Pedicure, plus full-use of the 44,000 square-foot spa, exercise classes and rooftop pool. Prices of this package start at $269 single/$379 double, per night plus spa gratuities.
Summer package dates are based upon space availability, May 26-September 2, 2014. Taxes and daily resort fees are additional.

For Memorial Day weekend specifically, rates are starting at $199 with a $50 dining credit and $149 a night with a $50 dining credit for a three-night stay.

For reservations or more information on summer programs at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, please dial (800) 908-9370 or visit www.scottsdaleprincess.com. The resort is located at 7575 East Princess Drive in Scottsdale.