The Roaming BoomersVideo: Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Completes Space Rocket’s First Solo Flight
I wonder how long it will be before commercial travel is available to space?
Video Review: The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona
The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa ~ Scottsdale, Arizona – We were recently honored to spend a few nights at the AAA Four-Diamond Westin Kierland Resort and Spa.
The resort features:
- 732 rooms, 55 suites and 32 casitas.
- Eight different food and beverage venues from casual to upscale including the Resort’s signature restaurant, Deseo, inspired by James Beard Award-winning Chef Douglas Rodriquez.
- A full-service spa, 27-hole championship golf course, and 9,000 square-foot water park with lazy river and water slide.
- Is adjacent to Kierland Commons, one of the hottest shopping and dining districts in the Valley.
On-site Roaming Boomer Photo Journals
Here are the video highlights of our stay at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa:
As you can see, this resort is stunningly beautiful and replete with all of the upscale amenities that today’s baby boomer travelers love to enjoy.
Here are a few things that really stick out in our memories from The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa:
- The service touches were unparalleled. In fact, we can boldly proclaim that no large resort, including all of our visited Arizona AAA Five-Diamond resorts, matched the level of service we found at this resort. Clearly this is a major focus of the Westin Kierland team and it shows! Great job! You made us feel very special.
- Donna, the hostess at Nellie Cashman’s, was a real jewel. If she could bottle her charm she would be a multi-billionaire.
- Of course we loved the Westin’s signature Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Shower.
- The food that we had the opportunity to sample was outstanding. Deseo and Brittlebush Bar & Grill have made it upon our favorites list.
- Michael McClanathan playing the bagpipes each night at sunset on a golf course knoll.
- The funny little hummingbird that insisted on being in our video piece. 🙂
- Carol raved about her Rollersage in the Agave Spa.
- Making mojitos at the Muddle Bar.
- On-site resident artist Nelson Garcia-Miranda. Eye-candy!
- The separate adult pool. Although the main pool/water park is very cool, the tranquility enjoyed in our pool cabana at the adult pool was greatly enjoyed.
- Unbelievable Arizona sunsets and McDowell Mountain views from our balcony.
- I’ve got to say it again; the food and experience at Deseo was awesome!
The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa has clearly mastered the one-two punch of product and process. Our experience was most memorable and we want to go back.
Congratulations Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, you have new raving fans in The Roaming Boomers!
Disclosure: this awesome experience was provided by the fine folks at The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa. Thank you very much!
Brittlebush Bar and Grill at Scottsdale’s Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
Brittlebush Bar & Grill ~ The Westin Resort and Spa ~ Scottsdale, Arizona – The Brittlebush Bar & Grill is a Scottish Gastropub led by Scottish Chef Graeme Blair boasting some of his homeland recipes with a modern twist.
As Chef Blair was describing a few of his recipes, we could easily sense that he was greatly pleased to be able to share the cuisine of his home country, and the twinkle in his eye let us know that he was having a blast doing so.
Director of Public Relations Stephanie Dowling (left), Chef Graeme Blair, with Carol, Mrs. Roaming Boomers
I could tell that this meal was going to produce two things:
- a wonderful gastronomical tour of Scotland.
- new friends.
We hadn’t even taken our first bite and already we felt at home and amongst friends.
As we were getting to know Chef Blair, I inquired as to the whereabouts of his kilt. He gave me a quick smirk and retorted that his kilt was reserved only for formal restaurant occasions.
Our waitress brought us ice-cold bottles of the restaurant’s own label Piper’s Pale Ale, which was awesome by the way, and we started our tour of Chef Blair’s cuisine.
Up first, Short Rib Loaded Yorkshires (slider-sized pop-over style puddings, stuffed with braised short ribs and stilton blue cheese). Yabba-Dabbo Do!
Check these out! They come in sets of two or four and are absolutely out of this world!
Next on our Scottish journey was Full Scottish Breakfast Sandwich (thick cut bacon, shaved pork loin, fried egg, arugula, roasted tomato and portabella mushroom surround by a scottish potato cake).
If I remember correctly, this was a take-off on one of his grandmother’s recipes. It was a big hit around our table.
Next up was Mac & Cheese With A Twist (lobster claw, sharp scottish cheddar and roasted tomato, finished with a goat cheese panko crust and crunchy rock shrimp). Holy Glorious Comfort Food Batman! That was GOOD!
You certainly can’t visit Scotland without a sample of the local fish and chips. Here we sampled Piper’s Ale Fish and Chips (beer-battered haddock fillet served with caper and malt vinegar aioli).
Mrs. Roaming Boomer loves the deep fried goodies. This was most excellent and put a big smile on her face.
Mrs. Roaming Boomer got her grease (I mean super-high quality cooking oil) fix, and now it was time for Papa Boomer to get his.
Check out this Sticky Toffee Bread Pudding ( w/ drambuie caramel sauce). YUM!
What an absolutely delightful lunch. New tastes, new friends, and a new restaurant to add to my favorites list.
Highly recommended!
Note: this wonderful Scottish meal was provided by the fine folks at The Westin Resort and Spa. Thanks, or should I say “tapadh leat” (Scottish Gaelic)!
PS ~ While at The Westin Resort and Spa, make certain that you try Nellie Cashman’s for breakfast. The Chorizo Flat Bread (breakfast pizza) was awesome!
PPS ~ Here is one of my photographs of the Sonoran Brittlebush (namesake of this restaurant) covering the side of a local mountain.
Blog World and New Media Expo 2010
This week Mrs. Roaming Boomer and I will be speaking on a travel panel at Blog World and New Media Expo 2010. We’ll be discussing travel writing/blogging as a second career. Cool! Right up our alley!
The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman Aqua Day Bed
I was doing my typical morning scan through e-mails and such this morning when this Ritz-Carlton photograph caught my attention.
Nice, I thought to myself, I can absolutely see a day floating in the Caribbean with my bride of 25 years on one of these babies.
From Ritz-Carlton:
“Spend the day on the Aqua Day Beds and Lounges at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Not only do they come complete with snorkeling gear, sunscreen, magazines, bottled water and waterproof games, but guests can also choose to dine afloat with a beach butler who will take your order directly from the water.”
Does this look fun to you?
Our Client Testimonials
Research Travel Options
Best Way to Book a Cruise
