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Scottsdale is a sunny resort city in the Sonoran Desert of central Arizona, stretching north from the edge of Phoenix toward the McDowell Mountains. The Hohokam people farmed this valley with an advanced canal system more than a thousand years ago, and in 1888 Army chaplain Winfield Scott bought land here and promoted the area's mild winters, giving the town his name. Scottsdale grew slowly as a small farming community until after World War II, when artists, architects and resorts transformed it into one of the Southwest's premier destinations.
Today Scottsdale has about 245,000 residents and calls itself The West's Most Western Town. Old Town Scottsdale mixes Western storefronts, galleries, Native American jewelry shops and the Scottsdale Museum of the West with a lively scene of restaurants, cocktail bars and nightclubs. The city is famous for luxury resorts and spas, more than 200 golf courses in the area, spring training baseball, the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the Barrett-Jackson classic car auction every January.
The desert is never far away. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve protects more than 30,000 acres of saguaro-studded desert with over 200 miles of trails, and Pinnacle Peak and Camelback Mountain are favorite hikes with sweeping views. Frank Lloyd Wright built his winter home and school, Taliesin West, in the Scottsdale foothills, and it is now open for tours. Visitors can also stroll the Scottsdale Waterfront along the Arizona Canal, browse the art galleries on Thursday evening ArtWalks and visit the Butterfly Wonderland, the largest butterfly conservatory in the country.
The historic core of Scottsdale with Western-themed storefronts, galleries, jewelry shops, restaurants and bars around Main Street and 5th Avenue. Thursday evening ArtWalk opens galleries late, and the nightlife district picks up after dark. Free trolleys connect Old Town with the waterfront.
Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and architecture school at the base of the McDowell Mountains, built from 1937 with desert rock and canvas and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It can only be seen on guided tours, which often sell out, so book ahead and bring sun protection.
One of the largest urban preserves in the US, protecting more than 30,000 acres of Sonoran Desert with over 200 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The Gateway and Tom's Thumb trailheads are popular. Start early, carry plenty of water and avoid summer afternoons.
A city park in north Scottsdale with a well-kept trail of about 1.75 miles each way along the slopes of a granite peak, with rolling climbs and wide views of saguaro desert and rock climbing routes. There is no fee; the park opens at sunrise and closes in the evening.
A Smithsonian-affiliated museum in Old Town on the art and history of the American West, with paintings, sculpture, saddles, Native American objects and changing exhibitions. The building itself won awards for its desert design. Expect one to two hours and look for the outdoor sculpture courtyard.
A development along the Arizona Canal at the edge of Old Town with a canal-side walking path, the Soleri Bridge and Plaza with its shade sun dial, restaurants and shops. It connects to Scottsdale Fashion Square across Scottsdale Road and is a nice walk in the cooler evening.
The largest shopping mall in the Southwest, with luxury brands, department stores such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, a cinema and many restaurants. It is a cool escape from summer heat and sits close to the Old Town galleries and the waterfront. Parking is free in the garages.
A large indoor rainforest conservatory with thousands of free-flying butterflies, plus a butterfly emergence gallery, insect exhibits and a 3D film. It sits on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa land east of the city. Visit in the morning, when butterflies are most active.
One of the largest aquariums in the Southwest, with sharks, sea lions, penguins, rays and an underwater-style rotating theater that moves you between exhibits. Interactive programs let you touch rays or swim with sea lions for a fee. It is next door to Butterfly Wonderland, so combine them.
The spring training home of the San Francisco Giants, set in the heart of Old Town, with a grass berm and close views of the field. Games run from late February through March and often sell out on weekends, so buy tickets early. In fall it hosts Arizona Fall League games.
SMoCA is a contemporary art, architecture and design museum in a converted movie theater beside the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Exhibits change often, and the permanent James Turrell skyspace Knight Rise lets you watch the sky through an opening in the ceiling.
An 11-mile chain of parks, lakes, golf courses and paved paths running north to south through Scottsdale, built as a flood control channel. It is popular for walking, biking and fishing, with stops at Chaparral Park and Eldorado Park. Bring a bike for the full ride along the path.
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