A Family's Review of Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

It’s not every morning when a ruby-red northern cardinal flies from his perch on a verdant palo verde tree to join you on your patio for breakfast.

But then again, everything at The Four Seasons Resort, Scottsdale at Troon North — from the rooms and food to the flora and fauna — exceeds expectations.

Take the welcome amenities, which were far from ordinary. For my husband and me, it was two salted-rim glasses paired with mini bottles of tequila and vials of prickly pear margarita mix, accompanied by a shaker, a bucket of ice and chips and salsa.

But not to be forgotten, my 2-year-old daughter had a gift of her own. Tucked in our massive walk-in closet was a basket filled with goodies, including the book, “The Cactus Hotel,” as well as a soft bunny lovey, a kids’ bath amenity set and slippers for her little feet. (A toddler-size robe was already hanging in the closet.) 

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Again and again, the 210-room property, set in the quiet, cactus- and wildflower-dotted foothills of Pinnacle Peak in northern Scottsdale, Ariz., wowed with its ability to provide each member of our family with their own retreat.

Desert-Inspired Guestrooms

Our 1,000-square-foot Kiva Plunge Pool Suite would work well for couples on a romantic trip, but it was also perfect for our family of three, thanks to all its inclusions (for one, the outdoor portion of the room was as impressive as the indoor part). 

That is saying a lot — since the casita includes one delightfully comfortable king-size bed, a kiva (or adobe) fireplace, a spacious walk-in closet and high-end design finishes, such as hardwood floors and desert-inspired decor. The marble bathroom features a large marble tub and oversize walk-in shower that can open to a spacious outdoor shower. 

Kids’ amenities, available by request, include a beautiful wooden crib for babies and toddlers, as well as a highchair, a playpen, child-proof electrical outlet covers, swim diapers, bottles and more. Families will be happy to hear that the pull-out sofa bed contains a real, Tempur-Pedic-style mattress, and that bed rails can be requested.

The living room and bedroom can be easily split up for families, thanks to pocket doors and the fact that the living room has a powder room, as well as its own access to the outdoor patio.

The patio feels as large as the suite itself, and features a television and seating area, a dining table, a swinging chair, a telescope, an adobe fireplace, chaise lounges and a plunge pool. A pergola and curtains help create more shade during the sunniest times of day. 

Here is where we enjoyed our room service breakfast of chilaquiles, blueberry pancakes and an omelet while admiring our direct view of Pinnacle Peak and, later, the rarer site of a cardinal’s blazing mohawk.

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The Pool, Spa and More

It would have been hard to get my daughter (or me) out of our casita if it were not for the pull of the resort’s pool complex. A large kids’ pool fits into the discrete outdoor oasis by swapping waterslides and water guns for a perfectly shallow pool that is super fun and empowering for toddlers who can walk. 

At 2 years old, my daughter cannot swim, so she loved that she could move independently through the pool (with our supervision, of course). Marine animal designs on the floor — set in pool tile — delighted her, while my husband and I were happy to be hands free while floating alongside her. 

And when we all wanted to take a break from the water, we enjoyed sitting in our shaded Standard Cabana, set with towels by the attentive pool staff, who fetched us tasty eats from Saguaro Blossom, such as the Sonoran Chicken Quesadilla and the Saguaro Street Fruit.

We heard great things about the complimentary Kids for All Seasons kids’ club, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for kids 5 through 12 — allowing parents to get away for a round of golf at one of the nearby clubs (accessible via a Four Seasons shuttle), a game of tennis at the on-site courts, a hike right from the property, or a workout or yoga class at the fitness center. 

Although we did not take advantage of the hotel’s hiking trails, simply by walking from our suite to the pool, we were totally immersed in nature — from soaring saguaro cacti and blossoming trees to scurrying jackrabbits and singing desert birds — thanks to a nature pathway that provided a wonderful alternative to the road. Plus, the grounds are among the most beautiful and well-curated that I have seen. 

Fortunately, I did set aside some time one afternoon for a much-needed facial after a week of shriveling into a raisin in the desert sun. My aesthetician’s gentle touch and calming products left me with much-needed glow and hydration — and next time, I’ll be sure to try one of the spa’s locally inspired treatments, such as the Nopal Massage, which uses cactus paddles and gel to deliver antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. 

Kid-Friendly Dining at Proof

The hotel’s location outside of the hustle and bustle of Old Town Scottsdale means that dining outside of the hotel often comes with a bit of a drive. 

Fortunately, we never considered that option, thanks to the resort’s very tasty food. There’s Talvera, a fine-dining steakhouse, and Onyx Bar & Lounge for cocktails, but our family-friendly picks were to eat poolside, to order room service, or to visit Proof, which is a casual barbecue eatery complete with bi-weekly live music, shuffleboard, plenty of boardgames and beautiful views. 

My daughter and I fought over who got the last piece of the Proof Knots appetizer — the buttery pretzel bread was that good — but fortunately, the accompanying spicy cheese sauce was all for me. Her meal of marinara penne paste came with fruit and fries, while my massive plant-based Proof Burger wowed with smoked tomato jam, sweet pickles, layers of melty cheddar cheese and a challah bun. For carnivores, the restaurant’s camelback smoker is to thank for entrees such as the six-hour slow-smoked, half-rack pork ribs, finished in a Bulleit bourbon glaze.  

But perhaps nothing was as good as our dessert, which was deceptively listed as “Smores” on the menu. The deconstructed Proof version uses crumbled graham cracker, chocolate mousse and marshmallow ice cream to create a scene of two blossoming cactuses that was as tasty as it was gorgeous. 

It was just one of many times that our expectations were surpassed at Four Seasons Resort, Scottsdale at Troon North.