Family Friendly Fun In Arizona: JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa recently underwent an $80 million resort-wide transformation and well, we are beyond impressed. This resort is ideal for friends, couples, or families looking to get away for some sun, pool time, and really good food.
Accommodations
Set on 316 acres of sweeping Sonoran Desert, the resort features 950 rooms of various sizes all boosting dramatic desert and mountain views within the lush grounds and gardens. For the workout junkies, there’s even a wellness suite featuring an in-room Peloton and weights. And for those that just want a little R&R, choose a room with a balcony.
Restaurants & Bars
No matter what your vibe is, the property has a dining option for you.
MERITAGE, an urban tavern: innovative American cuisine, craft beers and cocktails, an expansive outdoor patio, and a lawn with bocce ball and corn hole.
twenty6: A casual, chic setting offering the signature JW Marriott wine program and charcuterie.
Revive Spa Bistro: inside Revive Spa featuring a smoothie bar and full bar, and a healthful menu of breakfast and lunch.
Just a Splash Bar & Grill: sunken fire pits, eight flat-screen TVs, and traditional poolside favorites.
Tía Carmen
This is Top Chef Angelo Sosa’s first restaurant at the property. Named after his aunt Carmen, Tía Carmen celebrates the local landscape, farmers, and community of the Southwest while reflecting a mix of tradition and modernity with bold, elemental cooking and a diverse beverage program. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, equipped with heaters and fire pits to keep the vibe romantic and comfortable. This place is always buzzing on the weekends with hotel guests and locals so you know it’s amazing.
The newest signature restaurant at the resort comes from Chef Angelo Sosa and features an Asian street food style concept. The delish menu is like getting a sneak peak into Angelo's personal journey through cooking, traveling, and tasting throughout Asia and his lifelong passion for Asian cuisine, pulling inspiration from Chiang Mai to Hanoi to Tokyo to Penang, and beyond. Highlights include vegetable fried rice, lamb spring rolls, and chicken satay.
AquaRidge Waterpark & Pools
Welcome to the ultimate waterpark destination: a 140,000-square-foot reimagined and expanded pool experience featuring an enhanced lazy river, the refreshed Wildfire Grove made up of two pools and a waterfall, and the Havasu Playground. The playground includes three new water slides, including Gullywasher, a dual-person vertical wall tube slide; The Drop, a high-speed slide with twists and turns; and Little Eddy, a beginner body slide with gentle slopes and tiny turns.
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa recently announced the completion of AquaRidge WaterPark with the addition of Sedona Springs, a luxurious sanctuary for all ages, and the exclusive adults-only Sky Island.
Revive Spa
28,000-square-feet of sheer luxury. This full-service spa features 41 treatment rooms and an array of massage, body, facial, and salon hair and nail treatments. The spa also offers retail skincare and body products including Revive Spa's signature line of bath and body products utilizing herbs from the resort's Chef Garden. There is a daily access fee of $35 per day for resort guests, or complimentary with a 50-minute service.
There is also an equally impressive 3,500-square-foot fitness area offering Life Fitness exercise machines, six Peloton spin bikes, yoga lawn, and cardiovascular equipment with WiFi capabilities and TV screens.
Resort Activities
There’s never a dull moment at the resort. For sports enthusiasts, the hotel boasts one of Phoenix's premier pickleball facilities, with 17 courts, a fully stocked pro shop and certified instruction. Golf lovers can tee off on two championship courses, complete with PGA professional instructors, tournament play and club fittings.
For the kiddos, the JW Marriott Phoenix offers Golf-4-Free which allows kids 15 years old and under to play for free after 3pm, when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Additionally for kids, there’s an arcade, lawn games, and more child focused activities.
How to get here and around
The resort is 20 minutes north of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and just seven miles from Scottsdale Municipal Airport. With easy access to the Loop 101 freeway, the resort is within
minutes of many of the destination’s most popular sites and attractions. Uber and Lyft are great options to get around if you don’t want to rent a car.
Accessibility & Dietary
Travelers requiring accessibility assistance are encouraged to reach out to the JW Marriott concierge team for personalized support ahead of their stay.
Elevators surround the lobby, offering multiple entry points to ensure easy access to guest rooms and suites. Accessible guest rooms feature a 32-inch wide opening. For guests who require a wheelchair, ramps are located throughout the resort including AquaRidge WaterPark. Additionally, the resort is also equipped with visual alarms in hallways and offers assistive listening devices upon request.
Kembara offers a fully vegetarian menu offering modifications to existing dishes on the menu plus the ability to accommodate additional dietary restrictions. Over at Tía Carmen, guests can enjoy a variety of vegan and gluten-free dishes. Both restaurants have no stairs and can be accessed from the lobby elevators.
