While travel has opened back up in recent months, there are many who are still reluctant to venture outside of the U.S. to COVID-19 restrictions and safety concerns. If you enjoy being outdoors, then Scottsdale, Arizona is a city to consider for your next getaway. The city enjoys warm and sunny weather throughout most of the year, providing a near perfect climate to enjoy the many outdoor activities the region has to offer. Even winter months are mild and have brisk night temperatures that drop to around the high 40s, with highs during the day around the high 60s, so pack layers because a light jacket or sweater is often needed. I recently published my current picks for a great Scottsdale trip in the Katy Trail Weekly newspaper. CLICK HERE to read the article in its entirety. In addition to the selections I discussed in that article, I’ve expanded my picks to give you a more comprehensive guide to the city. With its many attractions, abundance of outdoor activities, and a relaxed and fun-filled atmosphere, Scottsdale provides the adventure of a lifetime.

I worked with Experience Scottsdale on this hosted trip. The itinerary they sent me started with, “Step into the wild, untamed Sonoran Desert. Unexpected vibrancy and uncommon ease make Scottsdale unlike any other destination. World-class resorts, spas and golf are always on the horizon, but rooftop pool parties, inventive bars and authentic restaurants bring an energetic urban landscape to life.” Golly, let’s go! I got on the plane with no real expectations, and came away from my time in Scottsdale with a profound appreciation for the city. I can’t wait to return!

The bar at the Sanctuary resort provides a spectacular sunset view of the Camelback Mountains

WHERE TO STAY

With more than 70 hotels and resorts there is no shortage of options to accommodate all budgets. I recommend the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch. The beauty of the majestic McDowell Mountains, palm trees, cacti, wildflowers, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture, and the spirit of Native peoples combine to create the comfortable Southwestern elegance of the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch. Enjoy the many recreational amenities this desert oasis has to offer, including a 2.5-acre "water playground," three-story waterslide, sand beach, 27 holes of championship golf at the award-winning Gainey Ranch Golf Club, four tennis courts, miles of jogging and bicycle trails, Spa Avania, the Native American Learning Center, Camp Hyatt Kachina for children, five distinctly different restaurants and live entertainment in the new Center Stage Bar.

Mountain Shadows is a boutique resort in Paradise Valley, Arizona, adjacent to Scottsdale. Perfectly nestled below Camelback Mountain and Mummy Mountain, the resort originally opened in 1959 and earned its namesake from the shadows cast by the iconic silhouettes each afternoon. The upscale locale was an instant success, catering to the likes of international travelers, visiting families and Hollywood stars – including John Wayne and Elizabeth Taylor. It even served as the primary backdrop for “The Brothers Brannagan,” a 1960s detective drama. Traces of its iconic past can still be found around the property today, which features desert modern design, 183 guest rooms, a luxury wing with 42 resort condominiums and suites, a restaurant with an exhibition kitchen, two pools, a high-tech fitness facility, a fully revamped 18-hole short course with a golf grill and lounge, and 37,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. Mountain Shadows is independently operated and is part of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX Collection.

Hash Kitchen is a buzzy brunch spot and home of the state’s largest build-your-own Bloody Mary bar.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

With a number of award-winning fine dining restaurants, Scottsdale is a foodie's dream.

Fat Ox - Named after the iconic Italian Bue Grasso cattle, food & wine festival, Fat OX serves up modern takes on the authentic and hearty recipes of rural Italy. Housed inside a striking and stylish space, Fat OX features sharable starters such as hand-pulled cheeses, house- made pastas and signature Caesar salads made-to-order tableside. That said, the real stars here are the plate-buckling cuts of Prime steak, poultry and seafood that are slow- roasted over local mesquite inside a custom wood-burning grill & rotisserie. Pair it all with Fat OX’s extensive menu of Italian-kissed cocktails, craft beers, and a globe-straddling wine list overseen by an in-house sommelier.

The Herb Box - At the essence of The Herb Box are unstoppable energy and a quest for perfection. Savory twists on tried-and-true cuisine along with fresh, seasonal ingredients that unify regional flavors and creativity. Imaginative, sophisticated means to gourmet perfection and client satisfaction.

Ocean 44 is seafood reinvented in a vibrant, upscale atmosphere specializing in world- class seafood and the great steaks found at sister restaurant, Steak 44. Different than anything the brand has done in the past, the fine dining atmosphere is second to none, featuring a blend of dining settings ranging from dramatic to intimate. At the core of the Ocean 44 menu is the chef-sourced, highest graded sustainable fresh seafood from around the world, like oysters, lobster, and more. Seafood entrees are enhanced with unique and interesting appetizers, and side dishes that go beyond the traditional seafood menu.

Hash Kitchen is Scottsdale’s buzzy brunch spot and home of the state’s largest build-your-own Bloody Mary bar is nationally recognized for its creative daytime dishes like hashes, over-the-top pancakes, and unique brunch eats. Hash Kitchen has a creative brunch cocktail program that extends from coffee cocktails to mimosa and cereal shooter flights plus an Instagrammable restaurant design and live, energetic DJ music. Created by husband-and- wife duo, Executive Chef Joey Maggiore and Cristina Maggiore, Hash Kitchen boasts a social dining experience and is designed to be a favorite locale and a brunch destination for visitors.

The Mission - Since 2008, The Mission has been serving modern Latin cuisine in a sophisticated yet casual setting. Chef Matt Carter reinvents his French culinary training with a menu focused on Latin flavor. Start with delectable tableside guacamole and try entrée favorites such as Malbec braised shortrib and chorizo porchetta. Partner Brian Raab mixes tradition and ingenuity into the restaurant’s signature cocktail menu featuring a variety of hand- pressed favorites. The interior look of the restaurant, created by local designer Charlie Morrow, includes palm wood floors, a marble bar, faux rainwater walls, ornate chandeliers and a wall of salt blocks straight from the Himalayas.

Hula's Modern Tiki is a modern, urban twist on the classic tiki restaurants and bars of the 50s and 60s. Sit on the patio and enjoy signature cocktails. See and be seen. The menu is extensive and is a fusion of Polynesian and American flavors. Try Hula’s once and you'll be hooked.

LDV Winery brought a piece of the vineyard to Old Town Scottsdale with its tasting room and retail shop located near the Waterfront on Stetson Drive. LDV produces high quality wines that authentically represent the unique Southeastern Arizona vineyard characteristics of volcanic soils and high-altitude Chiricahua Mountain grapes. LDV believes great wine is the result of smart farming and very little manipulation in the winemaking process. LDV Winery is an advocate for preserving the natural surroundings and implements sustainable farming practices to grow and produce LDV’s fine wines. Our operation is committed to sustainability including energy and soil conservation, recycling, and practical organic farming practices. LDV award-winning wines are vegan, zero residual sugar, gluten free, and additive free. LDV Winery’s tasting room in Old Town Scottsdale is where customers can enjoy wine flights, glasses or bottles of wine on the patio with a charcuterie plate or take some home to share with family and friends. Or join the growing wine club and be the first to try the newest wine releases, receive wine discounts, and connect with the winery’s winemaking in a more behind the scene manner. LDV ships to over 37 states.

Hand Cut Chophouse is changing the way people eat burgers and steaks one meal at a time. They take pride in the high quality and authenticity of their grass fed, grass finished beef and pledge that the meat they serve is responsibly sourced with respect for the animal, as well as respect for the land the animal has been raised on. With that in mind, each Hand Cut burger starts with 100% grass-finished beef, locally sourced from Arizona Grass Raised Beef Co. Walking distance from the Scottsdale nightlife district, Hand Cut provides delicious food in an electrifying atmosphere.

The best view of the Sonoran Desert is from a hot air balloon. Take a ride at sunrise or sunset.

WHAT TO DO

Scottsdale ArtWalk - Visitors to downtown Scottsdale can experience Scottsdale ArtWalk, a tradition that has taken place in Scottsdale for 40 years. “America’s Original ArtWalk” takes place every Thursday evening from 7 -9 p.m., primarily along Main Street and Marshall Way in downtown Scottsdale. Proceed at your own pace while admiring the public art and enjoying a casual stroll through downtown Scottsdale, which is home to approximately 70 art galleries. A free trolley service for the area is available.

Taliesin West, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, was built by Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices in the 1930s and was constantly expanded and modified by the iconic architect until his death in 1959. Wright and his apprentices literally created Taliesin West out of the desert by gathering rocks from the desert floor and sand from the washes to keep the design in balance with the surrounding environment. The site, considered one of Wright's greatest masterpieces, was designed to serve as Wright's personal home, studio and architectural laboratory.

Traverse Scottsdale's desert with a guide or explore on your own by renting one of the 400 high-end road, mountain, or hybrid bikes in the Adventure Center’s bike rental fleet.

Discover McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a protected area of land consisting of Scottsdale’s McDowell Mountains and Sonoran Desert. This expanse provides a place for tourists and residents to connect with the city’s unique desert attractions like Saguaro cacti and roadrunners. In May 2009, the Gateway Trailhead opened as the main entrance into the preserve, welcoming hikers of every physical ability level and in the fall. An interpretive trail allowing people with disabilities to enjoy the park is also available. The Gateway also incorporates eco-friendly architecture, using rock and soil excavated from the area for the walls of its administration building. Today the preserve offers more than 200 miles of trails in 30,000 acres, and when complete, it will total more than 36,000 acres of permanently protected land, making it larger than the cities of Tempe and Paradise Valley combined and 36 times the size of Central Park.
Hike or bike Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, one of the major access points for the southern Preserve and consists of mostly rocky terrain with moderate level hike and bike trails, and excellent southern views. Lost Dog Wash Trailhead offers somewhat shorter and easier trails that wander around and across a natural desert wash. Kids love to explore for wildlife along the edge of the Lost Dog Wash Trail, just as native people did for hundreds of years.
Experience life outdoors with the REI Co-op on a guided day tour, adventure travel trip, hands-on class, or a curated rental experience delivered to you from the REI Co-op Adventure Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Learn all about the wildlife and unique flora that thrive in the Arizona landscape. Attention to detail and dedicated customer service, together with the largest quality bike, raft, kayak and equipment fleet in the region, creates “best ever” vacation memories for guests.

Desert Botanical Garden offers the world's finest collection of arid-land plants from deserts around the world in a unique outdoor setting. Discover the tranquil vibrancy of 50,000 desert plants nestled amid the red rocks of the Papago Buttes at Desert Botanical Garden. The garden’s plants are found throughout its five thematic trails, which illustrate topics such as conservation, desert living, plants and people of the Sonoran Desert and desert wildflowers. The garden offers a variety of lectures and workshops on desert landscaping and horticulture, botanical art and illustration, nature art and photography, and health and wellness. Visit the garden and enjoy specialized tours, special events, seasonal exhibits, concerts, family activities, an outdoor café and the garden's gift and plant shop. An Arizona icon for more than 82 years, the Garden has grown into a compelling attraction and desert conservation pioneer, offering worldly plants, vibrant trails, world-class exhibitions, festive events and so much more.

Take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise or sunset - Hot Air Expeditions has been rated “Best Balloon Flight in Phoenix” for 26 consecutive years by Fodor’s Travel, has provided hot air ballooning experiences in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona for 30 years. The Sonoran Desert is a unique and beautiful place when observed from ground level, but the view from above is astounding in its expansiveness and grandeur. Hot air ballooning is a wonderfully fun and surprisingly tranquil experience for visitors of all ages. Morning and afternoon flights provide magnificent views of desert terrain and towering mountain ranges, as well as the opportunity to spot local plant life and wildlife – all from up to 5,000 feet. The view from the balloon’s handcrafted wicker basket is virtually unobstructed during your approximate hour-long flight – a photographer’s dream. Upon landing, all hot air balloon rides include post-flight bubbly and catered fare among the saguaros, and roundtrip hotel transfers are available. Hot Air Expeditions is proud to be a woman + family-owned business, native to Arizona, and prides itself on providing awe-inspiring hot air ballooning experiences from start to finish. Morning hot air balloon rides depart daily, year-round, and afternoon hot air balloon rides are available seasonally November - March.

Shop Old Town Scottsdale - You’ll find plenty of things to do in Old Town Scottsdale – by day or night! Spend the day browsing the Fifth Avenue shops, trying on Native American jewelry in Historic Old Town or splurging at Scottsdale Fashion Square, the Southwest’s largest retail destination. After dark, dine at one of Old Town’s renowned restaurants, check out the weekly Scottsdale ArtWalk, or hit the clubs in the Entertainment District. Best of all, you can park once and explore all of the city’s downtown hub on foot or by bike!

To learn more about Scottsdale or to start planning your adventure CLICK HERE to visit Experience Scottsdale.

If physical exercise isn’t your thing, enjoy the beauty of Scottsdale at the Mountain Shadows pool with a cocktail in hand.

NOTE: Most company descriptions in this article were provided to me by Experience Scottsdale or content was taken from the brand’s website in an effort to provide accurate descriptions. This trip was hosted in most part by Experience Scottsdale. While I did receive compensation for authoring this post; product selections, descriptions, and opinions are 100% my own. Interested in a sponsored post or product review? Contact me for rates and details.

2022 Guide to Scottsdale, AZ, Valley of the Suns