 Roam the Desert, Hike the Mountains, Visit Scottsdale and Do it All
In the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale welcomes you with the energy of a city on the move, the charm and hospitality of days gone by, and a breathtaking landscape that will inspire you to vacation-induced bliss.
By day the sunny skies and lush desert setting create an ideal backdrop for outdoor adventures, championship golf, relaxing spa treatments and upscale shopping. By night, acclaimed chefs, Art Walks and dozens of wine bars, lounges and performing arts venues await. And, throughout your stay, your upscale accomodations will pamper you with plush surroundings and the exceptional customer service for which Scottsdale is so well known.
April 04...Mary Chapin Carpenter with the Phoenix Symphony
April 05.Archaeology for Kids
April 05...Arizona Barbecue Festival
April 05-06...Arizona BBQ Festival
April 08-13... Scottsdale Culinary Festival
April 10...1st Annual Bone Appetite Artwalk
April 12...Whiskey's Quicker and Keltic Cowboys
April 12...Chalk Art Festival
April 19-20...Easter at the Princess
April 25..Park of Four Waters Tour
May-July...Free Concerts at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
May 15...Scotch Master Tasting
May 15-June...Shakespeare in the Garden
May 31-June 28...Arizona Authors Summer Time Storytelling at Pueblo
Grande Museum
Thru April 15...Fountain Hills Farmers' Market & Art show
Thru May... Native American Dancers
Thru April...Sunday A'Fair
Thru April...Smokin' Sundays and Kountry Karaoke
Thru May...Live jazz vibe on a balmy Arizona afternoon
Thru April...Spring Butterfly Exhibit
Thru April...Hike and Fish Fry at Rawhide
Hiking...Scottsdale offers nearly 100 miles of hiking, biking and horseback-riding trails. Some of the most popular spots include Camelback Mountain and Pinnacle Peak Park, but nothing beats the picturesque expanses of Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve, which offers nearly 20,000 acres to enjoy do-it-yourself or guided outdoor adventures.
Off-Road Desert Tours...If you prefer to take in your outdoor action from the comfort of a motorized vehicle, there are myriad options available in Scottsdale. Plus, you can watch the desert come alive after dark with Desert Storm Hummer Tours' night-vision goggle and stargazing tour that illuminates wildlife up to 500 yards away.
Horseback Riding...For those who want to get in touch with their inner cowboy (or cowgirl), Scottsdale offers horseback riding across the same terrain that hosted such legendary figures as Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid and renowned Apache warrior, Geronimo. These guided adventures can even take you through the cool waters of the Verde River.
Hot Air Balloon Adventures...In a landscape as panoramic as the Sonoran Desert, there's no more leisurely way to soak it all in than aboard a hot air balloon. Riders gently drift with the breeze as the pilot floats the balloon several hundred feet into the air or swoops in low to point out wildlife and native vegetation. Plus, every ride ends with a gourmet breakfast in the desert.
Water Sports...First-time visitors might be surprised by the number of wet 'n' wild adventures available in and around Scottsdale. The city's outskirts are chock-full with lakes, watering holes and rivers. Rafting, tubing and fishing are all available to visitors who want to explore Scottsdale's Sonoran Desert.
Makin' Music...At the Musical Instrument Museum, discover unique instruments and music from every country around the world. Plus, kids of all ages will enjoy making music in the hands-on Experience Gallery.
Garden Trails...Explore the unusual cacti and plants of the Sonoran Desert up-close at the Desert Botanical Garden. Seasonal events include the Butterfly Pavilion (fall and spring) and evening flashlight tours (summer).
Wild Ones..The Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 1,300 animals, including 200 endangered species. Daily activities include the Safari Train, Monkey Village, Giraffe Encounters, Wild About Animals Show and a petting zoo.
Native Culture...Hands-on exhibits at the Heard Museum help kids explore the Native American cultures of North America. You'll see colorful Hopi katsina dolls, learn about desert critters at the Southwest Puzzle Pole, and explore a Navajo hogan.
Cowboy Style...Saddle-up, pardner! MacDonald's Ranch offers a petting zoo, horseback and stagecoach rides in the Sonoran Desert, and free pony rides for cowpokes under 5 years old.
Sweet Treats...For more than 50 years, the Sugar Bowl - a 1950s-style soda fountain - has been serving frosty ice cream treats, such as Dusty Road Sundaes and Gosh-Awful-Gooey Banana Splits.
All Aboard!...Ride the Paradise and Pacific Railroad along a one-mile track at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, which also offers carousel rides, train exhibits, playgrounds and the Snackstop Caboose.
Headin' West...Rawhide 1880s Western Town boasts cowboy stuntmen at the Six Gun Theater, burro and stagecoach rides, the "Deadman's Drop" rock climbing wall, a desert train ride and the Rawhide Steakhouse.
Here are some great places to stay while enjoying Scottsdale: Camelback Resort Club at Fountains Hill Lakeside Villa Condos Legacy Golf Resort Links Resort Pillar at Scottsdale Sheraton Desert Oasis Villa Mirage | 
