Make Scottsdale Arizona Your Travel Destination

Scottsdale Arizona is found in the Sonoran Desert but there is nothing deserted about this city. It has a population of over 217,000 (as of 2010) and is rich in attractions, culture and history.

Scottsdale AZ is praised for its many features including a thriving nightlife, which was compared to Miami’s South Beach by the New York Times. Scottsdale was even honored as the “Most Livable City” in the United States in 1993. This is largely due to the hot, sunny weather and premier golf facilities. The city is home to the Tournaments Players Club and the Waste Management Phoenix Open Golf Tournament. The sunny weather makes golf available year-round.

If golfing isn’t your style, you can spend the day shopping in some of Scottsdale’s high-end stores. The Scottsdale Fashion Square is one of the busiest shopping centers in the country, but the Borgata Shopping Center is also at the top of the list. If you wander around Scottsdale’s downtown core, you can find many boutique-style stores that will pique your interest. It’s definitely worthwhile spending at least one day browsing through the downtown area, including “Old Town” Scottsdale.

Some of Scottsdale’s stores feature unique treasures based on the Native American history in the area. These can range from elaborate jewellery that feature turquoise, which is cherished by Southwestern Native Americans, to sand paintings that highlight Native American artistic talent.

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community borders on Scottsdale and two distinct tribes are included in this Native American community. The Pima and Maricopa tribes call the 52,600-acre reservation home. The two tribes have a history that dates back over 2,000 years. Guided and unguided tours of the Huhugam Ki Museum are available Monday to Friday.

Revive yourself after a morning of shopping or golf at the Sugar Bowl in Old Town Scottsdale. The Sugar Bowl has been around since 1958. The name might sound familiar, and that’s because it’s often featured in the popular cartoon strip “The Family Circus.” The Sugar Bowl’s main feature is ice cream treats, but the menu offers full meals including sandwiches, soup and salad. It is open late so it also makes a great stop for dessert.

Even though golf and shopping is enough to fill anyone’s day, you won’t want to miss Scottsdale’s scenery. The hot sun and beautiful landscapes make Scottsdale stand out from other destinations. You can travel around Scottsdale by foot, bus, car, taxi, on a Segway, limousine or its free downtown trolley service.

When you are done touring Scottsdale, you’ll want to dine on some local cuisine. This includes are range of tastes from chain restaurants, like the Kona grill, to fine dining experiences, like the J&G Steakhouse. The J&G Steakhouse won the OpenTable.com Diner’s Choice award in 2011. Another great steakhouse is Donovan's Steak and Chop House just outside Scottsdale on Camelback Road. Donovan's was voted the 2012 Critics Best Choice Steakhouse by azCentral,com in the Phoenix area. Steak is a popular menu item in many Scottsdale restaurants, but diners can also find seafood, Mexican, Japanese, Italian and even Brazilian menus within the city limits.

After dinner, you may want to take in a show or unwind at a club. The options in Scottsdale vary greatly from a night of karaoke to techno dancing. If you want to see a show, check out the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts. This talented company has a full calendar each month. Check out their events page to see what is featured during your visit. You can expect to see comedians, dancing, musicals and plays on their attractions list. Many famous performers, such as Jane Krakowski, perform at the center.

Scottsdale is located next to Phoenix, making it easily accessible by car, bus or plane. It receives only a few inches of rain a year, so you are almost guaranteed a warm, balmy vacation when you choose Scottsdale as your destination. Winter in Scottsdale ranges from 45°F (6°C) to 68°F (20°C), while summer temperatures range from 78°F (26°C) to 103°F (39°C), making Scottsdale an ideal year-round destination. See Scottsdale Weather and Climate for average monthly temperatures and sunset times.