The Westin Kierland Magazine, 2016

12 13 THE WESTIN KIERLAND MAGAZINE THE WESTIN KIERLAND MAGAZINE ARIZONA ESSENCE of Ed Mell is one of the Arizona artists featured at The Westin Kierland Resort Spa You can see his mural size tribute to the Grand Canyon featured here in The Rim Bar SNAKE CHARMERS Snakes have long captured peoples imaginations whether its with troublemaking serpents in Edenic gardens or mythological monsters sporting venomous reptiles as hair But today visitors can separate fact from fiction thanks to the WESTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE KINGSNAKE and GOPHER SNAKE living in specially created habitats in the resort lobby The desert often feels like a different planet compared to where a lot of our guests live explains Bruce Lange Managing Director of the resort Our resident reptiles help educate them about the deserts natural wildlife The reptile exhibits which also include a Gila monster represent the hotels ongoing partnership with the Phoenix Herpetological Society PHS a reptile rescue and rehabilitation center in North Scottsdale that maintains the reptile exhibits on property Each Friday morning a caretaker from PHS comes to the resort to feed and clean the reptiles share fun facts and yes even dispel a myth or two It really has become the educational experience we wanted it to be Lange notes Because sometimes fact is even better than fiction BLAZE OF GLORY Checking into one of The Westin Kierlands distinctive rooms is exciting enough Checking into one with its very own firepit is another and better thing For guests looking to take full advantage of the deserts flora and fauna the resort recently introduced Firepit Patio Rooms Located on the ground floor each one is equipped with its own propane fueled firepit comfortable seating and privacy dividers between each patio The resulting space lets you drink in relaxing views of the lush cactus garden and in the distance the Kierland Golf Club Whether you sit outside to enjoy coffee and the birds morning serenade in the evening to roast smores and listen to the bagpiper or at night to gaze at the constellations the outdoor firepit experience is one to savor