Scottsdale

Find out how beautiful a desert can be.
Scottsdale, Arizona is a fancy place. It’s known as a haven for the rich and famous, and it has more vacation spas per person than any other city in the U.S. One of the best art events and Frank Lloyd Wright’s old winter home are two examples of how culturally rich the city is. Scottsdale is rough. It’s known as “The West’s Most Western Town,” and the Old Town makes you feel like you’re in an old Western movie. And once you step foot in the vast Sonoran Desert, which is the most biologically diverse desert on the continent and is home to the famous saguaro cactus, you’ll see that Scottsdale is a desert city unlike any other you’ve ever imagined, with world-class experiences that are as unique as the city itself.

Leisure and comfort
People from all over the world come to Scottsdale to enjoy its high-end services. You could meditate in a teepee and balance your chakras during a day at the spa. You could also get a massage from a stream or a facial with gold in it. One is Spa Avania at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch. The other two are The Spa at the Boulders Resort and Well & Being Spa or Sisley Paris, both at the AAA Five-Diamond Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. People can update their closets at shops in the Fifth Avenue Shopping District or at Scottsdale Fashion Square, which has over 250 stores and is Arizona’s biggest shopping center. For more pampering, visit well-known places like The House Brasserie, which is in the second-oldest house in Scottsdale; Marcellino Ristorante, which is on the water; or Old Town Tortilla Factory, which is in a 75-year-old adobe home with a patio surrounded by 100-year-old pecan trees.

 

A Dream in the Desert
It rains the most in the Sonoran Desert. Some of the most diverse plant and animal species on Earth live in deserts because of this one-of-a-kind trait. There are eight rivers and lakes that are great for all kinds of water sports. The huge area of mesas, brush, and mountains is full of plants and animals, including the famous saguaro cactus, which can only be found in the Sonoran Desert. There are a lot of fun and interesting ways to discover this one-of-a-kind ecosystem. You can go hiking in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, on Pinnacle Peak, or, for more experienced walkers, on Camelback Mountain. At sunrise or sunset, ride a hot air balloon over the desert. Off-road in a Hummer, Jeep, UTV, or ATV. Travel by horses or Segway. Kayak down the Salt River. If you don’t like the heat in the summer, schedule your tour for early in the morning and spend the rest of the day by the pool. The weather is very warm in the fall, spring, and winter.

 

Strange Attractions
Scottsdale has something for everyone, whether they’re interested in arts and culture, history, or famous places in the area. At Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, you can learn about Native American art and horse culture. OdySea Aquarium is a haven in the middle of the city. The escalator that leads to the shark display is the only one of its kind. The Musical Instrument Museum in nearby Phoenix has 6,600 instruments from around the world. They will amaze even the most experienced music fans. American builder Frank Lloyd Wright spent the winters at Taliesin West, his famous home, for more than twenty years. Taliesin West is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure not to miss a tour of this amazing home. Also, Scottsdale is in a good spot for day trips to both the Grand Canyon and Sedona. Come back at the end of the day and get a drink at the Rusty Spur Saloon, which is Scottsdale’s oldest bar, or Sugar Bowl, an old-fashioned ice cream shop in a bright pink building.