Especially for families with teens, this golf resort is a retreat with plenty of surprises – both on and off the course.
Situated in the sun-drenched Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa is a luxurious oasis for the entire family. While the town of Scottsdale takes its name from Winfield Scott, a retired U.S. Army chaplain, spending a few days at the Westin Kierland will make you think that there’s some sort of connection between Scottsdale and Scotland.
Yes, there’s the golf, of course, but the Westin Kierland also celebrates other Scottish traditions. Each evening, a kilt-wearing bagpiper stands on the backside of the resort overlooking Dreamweavers Canyon, entertaining guests as they gather around fire pits for cocktails. Inside the hotel, you’ll find the Scotch Library, stocked with more than 300 different labels of whisky served by a helpful Scotch Ambassador – like a librarian for liquor! Lest you think for a moment that you really have stumbled into Scotland, open your eyes. You’ll find yourself surrounded by the largest collection of cacti that I’ve ever seen.
The Westin Kierland is a complete resort with all the amenities that you’ve come to expect from a Westin property and more: two swimming pools, a lazy river, game courts, golf courses, kids’ club, and a full-service spa. But what my family truly appreciated was the extra challenges that engaged our teens – ages 17 and 19 – throughout our stay.
Accommodations at the Westin Kierland Resort
Your family will have several different accommodation options at the Westin Kierland: tradition hotel rooms, more spacious junior suites, and newly-renovated, 1-bedroom casitas with kitchen, fireplace, and sofa bed.
We stayed in a junior suite with two queen-sized beds and a sofa that also folded out to a queen bed. The room was decorated in muted earth tones with design elements that drew inspiration from the surrounding McDowell Mountain Range. The bathroom was adequate with a large tub and walk-in shower. It came with just one white robe, which my younger son claimed as his own. We appreciated the housekeeping staff that stopped by nightly to provide water bottles and attend to any last-minute needs.
KidTripster Tip: Our room faced the front side of the resort. While that vantage point did allow us to take advantage of the amazing sunsets (Arizona has some of the most beautiful sunsets that I’ve ever seen!), the room overlooked the parking lot and road. If you’d prefer a view overlooking the pool or golf course, make sure to reserve that type of room specifically.
High season at the Westin Kierland runs January through May. Cost: Standard room starts at $339; Junior suite starts at $319; Casita starts at $789.
KidTripster Tip: Heading to the desert during the summer may not be your first thought. However, if you’re looking to stay at a high-end resort at considerable discount, that’s exactly the time to go. During the summer, plan your outdoor activities for the morning and early evening – or just stay close to the pool and pack lots of sunscreen. Cost: Standard room starts at $169; Junior suite starts at $509; Casita starts at $419.
KidTripster Tip: Traveling with your pet? No problem, the resort is dog-friendly.
KidTripster Tip: No need to bring your crib or play yard from home. Just request one when you book. However, know that this property is quite large. Families with young children may want to consider packing a portable scooter to help little ones get around more easily.
One final note, Westin Kierland Villas is a separate property that borders the golf courses of the Westin Kierland. Guests of these 1- and 2-bedroom villas have their own pool areas as well as access to all the amenities of the main resort.
Activities at the Westin Kierland Resort
Let’s start at the heart of the resort – the pool. At the Westin Kierland, there are actually two pool areas. The adults-only (ages 16 and up) area has a heated lap pool and hot tub, lined with ample loungers and towering palm trees. However, your family likely will spend the bulk of your time at the Adventure Pool – a 110-foot kids’ pool with a 900-foot lazy river and 80-foot slide. While you’re floating in your inner tube, you’ll pass Tommy Bahama Paradise Point and Tommy Bahama Relaxation Reef (think private island), both decked out with loungers, sun umbrellas, and beverage coolers. These private, in-water retreats can be rented. Cost: Reef starts at $150/day; Point starts at $200/day. You’ll also find the pool lined with fully-equipped cabanas, again providing privacy and a central meeting place for your family. Cost: starts at $50/day. That being said, during our visit, we found more than enough free seating around the pool.
The highlight of my sons’ pool experience was the hour spent on the resort’s FlowRider. On this simulated wave, your kids – and you, if you’re braver than me – are put to the test. The ride is manned by two resort employees who will coach you through each ride. Each rider begins on a boogie board (belly down) and learns how to pop up on his or her knees and go with no hands. The lifeguard then will add tricks, like jumping over other boogie boards. As the rider’s confidence grows, he or she can graduate to a stand-up board that simulates surfing. Believe me, it’s harder than it looks. However, my younger son really took to the FlowRider and by the end of his 1-hour session, he was able to complete a 180-degree turn on his board! Cost: First season $60; Repeat sessions $45. All riders must be at least 42-inches tall to bodyboard and 52-inches tall to attempt the standing board. During peak periods, make sure to make reservations in advance.
Also near the pool area, you’ll find Agave, The Arizona Spa and a 24-hour fitness studio. Parents who decide to visit the spa can leave their kids (ages 4-12) at the supervised Kids’ Club for a 10% discount.
Finally, spend some quality family time at the OK Corral, a play area with a climbing net, ping pong, cornhole, and a giant chess board with tall chairs resembling those used by tennis referees. Our family had a rousing game of pickle ball on the adjacent tennis court plus a hotly-contested game of H-O-R-S-E on the basketball court.
KidTripster Tip: The Westin Kierland is located next to two shopping areas: Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter. While both are an easy walk, the resort does provide a free shuttle service.
Looking for ideas of what else to do in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area? Click here for our Top 10 list.
Golfing at the Westin Kierland Resort
The Westin Kierland Golf Club features three, beautifully-manicured, 9-hole courses: the Acacia, Ironwood, and Mesquite. While each has its own distinct character, all the courses are very forgiving with wide fairways and limited water and sand hazards, making for an ideal family golf outing.
But what really sets the golf experience apart here is just how you move around the course. The club has a fleet of unique golf transports: Ellwees, Fat Tire golf scooters, and Golfboards. Our family tried them all! The Ellwee is like a golf ATV and is the easiest one to drive. The Fat Tire golf scooter is electric-powered and requires more balance. The Golfboard is definitely the most challenging. Think of surfing but on grass. I’d only recommend it for people who have skateboarding, snowboarding or surfing experience, as it really takes some practice, especially when navigating tight turns on the cart path. My sons absolutely loved the addition of these vehicles to our round. My youngest was the only one to really master the Golfboard, and I dare say, he spent more time practicing on it than he did on his golf game! He describes the round as his “best ever.” As an added bonus, having each player on his or her own transport really increases the speed of play. Extra cost: $39. Riders must be at least 16 years old and have the strength to handle each transport.
KidTripster Tip: You’ll have a brief training on the vehicles before starting your round. If you don’t feel comfortable, take a regular cart instead.
KidTripster Tip: The club does have a fourth option, the golf bike. However, it’s only recommended if you’re really looking for a workout during your round of golf.
If you happen to visit the resort during March or April, consider taking the family to the golf events on Friday nights. The club sets up fun games and snag golf activities as a way to get younger kids involved. Cost: $10/person.
For all these reasons, the Westin Kierland makes KidTripster’s Top 10 Family-Friendly Golf Resorts list.
Dining at the Westin Kierland Resort
You’ll be surprised by just how many dining options there are at the Westin Kierland.
Let’s start with breakfast. Despite the name, Nellie Cashman’s Monday Club Cafe is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At breakfast, we took advantage of the extensive buffet. It’s pricey, but my teenagers can eat their weight in made-to-order omelettes, fresh fruits, freshly-baked pastries, and bacon… lots of bacon. Cost: Youth (4-12) $14; Adult $28.
If you’re looking for a lighter, less expensive option, head over to Coffee Flats in the hotel lobby for yogurt, pastries, and lattes.
For lunch (or a light dinner), I’d recommend stopping by Waltz & Weiser Whiskey Bar and Cantina. This Western saloon transports you back to Arizona’s historic mining days. It may seem odd for me to suggest ordering fish tacos in Arizona, but honestly, they’re delish! If you happen to be coming off the golf course at lunchtime, eat at Brittlebrush Bar and Grill and save room for the complimentary Brittlebrush bread pudding topped with toffee pieces.
KidTripster Tip: Speaking of sweets, there’s a pop-up Sweet Shoppe in the hotel lobby every night starting at 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. or until the delectable desserts run out. We couldn’t resist sampling.
The highlight of our dining experiences at the Westin Kierland was definitely dinner at Deseo, a high-end restaurant specializing Nuevo Latino cuisine. Here, you choose from an array of tapas, or small plates, each more innovative than the last. And each one is as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the tastebuds. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys posting photos of food, be sure to bring your phone to dinner.
In addition to resort dining, you’ll find a wide selection of restaurants at Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter. In particular, I want to call out True Food Kitchen, a restaurant with a regionally-sourced, globally-inspired healthy menu of soups, salads, bowls, and sandwiches plus cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and cocktails. I highly recommend the Ancient Grains bowl with miso-sesame-glazed sweet potatoes, charred onions, snow peas, grilled portobello mushrooms, and avocado.
Getting to the Westin Kierland Resort
The Westin Kierland is less than a 30-minute drive from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Self-parking costs $16/day. Alternatively, you can book a shuttle through the hotel via Transtyle Transportation for $60/one way.
If you think you’ll need a car for just a day or two for sightseeing, you can rent from Enterprise Rent-A-Car located right at the resort.
This writer received a complimentary stay for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions expressed are solely her own.
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