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Looking for a family-friendly resort in Scottsdale, Arizona? The Westin Kierland has what you need – large rooms, a kids club and on-property dining. Add in the fun water activities including a FlowRider and lazy river and you may never want to leave. Here are nine reasons why the Westin Kierland is a great resort choice when visiting Scottsdale with kids.
Finding a family friendly resort can be challenging, especially one that appeals to all ages. I’ve stayed at the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, Arizona with my husband and son on two different occasions — and we loved it…both times. From a kids club to a lazy river, here are 9 reasons why the Westin Kierland is one of the best Arizona resorts for families.
Did We Mention Family Friendly Resort in Arizona?
My family and I enjoy staying at the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, Arizona. We first visited when my son was a toddler and the second time, my son was a tween. Our main goal was relaxation. But we also want a true family friendly resort in Arizona. Mission accomplished.
From the kids club and activities to the lazy river and more, here are nine reasons why the Westin Kierland is a family friendly hotel.
1. The Rooms at Westin Kierland
We stayed in a suite with a balcony overlooking the golf course. The suite easily accommodates my family of three. When traveling with family, there’s nothing worse than being crammed in a small hotel room. This particular suite, though, has plenty of sitting areas, and the beds are super comfortable. I’m also a light sleeper so I was happy that the walls are well insulated, keeping the noise from outside away. Add in a mini-fridge in the room and a coffee maker, and our stay was about as perfect family friendly as a hotel can get.
2. The Friendliness and the Ambiance
Every Westin Kierland staff member we encountered were extremely friendly and went the extra mile to make our stay as enjoyable as possible.
For example, we bought lunch one day at Coffee Flats, a coffee shop inside the hotel. I ordered a ready-to-go grilled cheese panini, and the cashier asked me if I would like to have it warmed up. Yes, please! She didn’t need to offer it, but those are the little details that go long way.
As for the ambiance, this Arizona resort has a very casual and relaxing vibe around it, along with a cool light show in the main lobby.
3. The Mining Company
The Mining Company is the hub of resort activities and one of the major reasons the Westin Kierland is a family friendly resort in Arizona. There, you can purchase s’mores, pick up a newsletter listing times and locations of activities or pick up a Compass, which is similar to a scavenger hunt. The Compass is a great way to learn where everything is located. Wherever you go that’s detailed on the compass, you can collect a stamp and once you collect all the stamps, earn a pin. It’s a great way for families to work together.
4. The O.K. Corral
The O.K. Corral is an area of the resort where kids can play games like chess, and participate in other activities. We also made s’mores over a fire pit on a Saturday night (s’mores are complimentary on Saturday nights) and my son kept talking about it.
5. The Kids Club at Westin Kierland
The kids club is currently closed but it’s ranked high on my list and also one of the reasons the Westin Kierland is a family friendly resort. The FUN members went out of their way to make my son, and other children, feel special. I noticed that they made an effort to remember everyone’s names.
My son’s highlight when he was four years old was the pajama party. The pajama party occurred on select nights, although I wasn’t sure how my son would react if my husband and I dropped him off there. It turns out I didn’t need to worry because as soon as we arrived at the kids club, he quickly left us in the dust. My husband and I went to dinner by ourselves, which is rare these days. When my husband picked my son up a few hours later, he wanted to know why he had to leave. And then told me that he was sad because my husband picked him up!!
6. The Pools
This is by far my family’s favorite part of the resort. Two main pool areas are separated from one another: one for adults only, and the other, called the adventure pool. At the latter, discover the FlowRider, the splash pad, the zero entry pool, a slide and the lazy river. As a result, I’m separating this in different categories. Give us a lazy river any day, and we are happy campers.
The Splash Pad
The splash pad is a great option for younger children.
Zero Entry Pool
Now that I’m a parent, I have a greater appreciation for zero entry pools. The zero entry pool allows younger children to enjoy the pool while being able to still touch the bottom of the pool. I also like that the pool in its entirety isn’t too deep.
The Lazy River
Did I mention there’s a lazy river?! It was very relaxing, and there are even a few waterfalls.
The Slide
During our first visit at the resort (when my son was four years old), I asked my son several times if he wanted to go down the slide. He kept saying no, so I figured that the slide would be a no-go.
I was wrong.
The following day, I went to the spa while my husband took our son back to the pool area. And according to my husband, our son insisted on going down the slide. Not once, but twice.
For our second visit, my son was 8 years old and he still had a blast going down the slide.
The FlowRider
We didn’t get the opportunity to experience the FlowRider during our first visit, but it looked like a lot of fun and something I would have tried if I was in better shape. It’s more appropriate for older children and adults, so my son was too young to try it out during our first visit. During our second visit, my son wanted to give it a try; however, guests need to make reservations as soon as possible and by the time we got around to it, it was too late. Lesson learned – this is something you’ll want to reserve as soon as you check into the resort.
7. The Entertainment
During certain nights, a bagpiper plays music on the golf course, near the main courtyard. We ate dinner the first night outside at Nellie Cashman’s Monday Club Cafe and we all enjoyed listening to the music. A band also played later in the evening, and we enjoyed that as well. My son was very fascinated by both the bagpiper and the singers.
The Westin Kierland resort is beautifully lit at night.
8. The Spa
While my son and my husband shared pool time during one of the afternoons, I opted for mom-time massage at the spa thanks to a Groupon I purchased that same week. The spa is easy to locate and very relaxing. It was a win-win situation for all of us. Since the spa is located near the pool area, I met up with my husband and my son after my spa treatment.
Traveling Mom Tip: Always check Groupon to see if the resort is offering either a dining special or a spa special. But make sure you look at the fine print. I would not have been able to use my Groupon on a Saturday because it was one of the restrictions. I was able, however, to use it on a Sunday.
9. The Location of the Westin Kierland
The Westin Kierland is conveniently located near major shopping centers, restaurants and attractions. We drove about ten minutes to visit the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. But that’s just one of many things to do and see in Scottsdale, like visit Butterfly Wonderland and the Phoenix Zoo.
Mostly we dined at the restaurants on property, for convenience. Nellie Cashman’s is kid friendly, and the food is delicious. But for those who want to stay within a budget, choose from an array of restaurants nearby.
Mary says
I liked this article on the beautiful hotel.