Westin La Paloma, Tucson. Photo: Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa Dove Mountain, Tucson. Photo: Peter Ellegard bars where you can taste a selection of local brews that include Craft 64 and the Goldwater Brewing Company. It also has several wine bars where you can sample Arizona wines, among them LDV Winery and Scottsdale Tasting Room. Downtown restaurants serving Arizona wines include the trendy FnB.
After dinner, enjoy cocktails at bars such as Counter Intuitive, with its rotating themes and menus, and the underground Undertow tiki bar in nearby Phoenix.
Just outside Scottsdale, take a cruise on the Desert Belle Tour Boat on Saguaro Lake, a man-made reservoir cupped by hills dotted with tall cacti. Or ride all-terrain Segways, take on opponents in quick-draw shootouts, try tomahawk throwing and enjoy wagon rides and Native American dancing and singing in the desert at Fort McDowell Adventures.
TUCSON GOLF WESTIN LA PALOMA RESORT & SPA
Nestling below the high foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, the Westin resort incorporates the 27 holes of Signature Jack Nicklaus layout La Paloma Country Club. Its three nines – Canyon, Hill and Ridge – offer a mix of challenges.
Canyon is aptly named for the yawning chasms you need to negotiate from the tee or which bisect the fairways. A tip here is to play from conservative tees. It may seem short to play the 6,000-yard Silver tees, but unless you are long off the tee you won’ t enjoy the round because of the carries.
Tucson is the heart of Arizona’ s saguaro country and the courses are liberally sprinkled with them. You will find several close to tee boxes that are peppered with holes from errant shots – and some still have golf balls lodged in them!
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