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3-Nights Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Price: $1,019 - # of Days: 3 days
Experience the ultimate in luxury at the AAA Five Diamond Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Set against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, the resort's vast open spaces harmonize perfectly with the magnificent surroundings. Its 750 plush guest rooms, including suites and casitas, offer an idyllic r...

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3-Nights Sonesta Suites Scottsdale Gainey Ranch

Price: $522 - # of Days: 3 days
Whether you come for leisure or business, Sonesta Suites Scottsdale Gainey Ranch has 2,500 square feet of inside event space and more than 5,700 square feet of indoor dining and outdoor event space making this the perfect venue to host your next wedding or event. Enjoy a full hot breakfast buffet at...

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3-Nights Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas

Price: $498 - # of Days: 3 days
  This beautiful resort features an ideal location near Old Town Scottsdale, championship golf courses and world class shopping. Guest rooms are designed with comfort and convenience in mind and are decorated with elegant and vibrant style. Well-appointed private two-bedroom villas accommodate...

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3-Nights Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch

Price: $826 - # of Days: 3 days
Set amidst flowering cactus, breathtaking sunsets and framed against the majestic McDowell Mountains, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch features a spectacular 2.5-acre "water playground" complete with a white-sand beach, 27 holes of championship golf, world-class tenn...

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11-Nights Western Wonders

Price: $2,719 - # of Days: 11 days
From the gorgeous national parks to the thrilling cities, this western U.S. tour through California, Arizona, and Nevada features natural wonders, scenic drives, deep canyons, and sparkling waterfalls-not to mention fun in some of the world’s most famous cities. Your tour starts in Los Angeles, ends...

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13-Nights Golden West Adventure

Price: $3,159 - # of Days: 13 days
Come and explore the Golden West on this affordable vacation through California, Arizona, and Nevada. You’ll begin in Los Angeles with guided sightseeing in the "City of Angels." Take a drive through Hollywood and see the legendary TCL Chinese Theater, the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards, ...

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7-Nights Pioneer Adventures of the Old West

Price: $2,696 - # of Days: 7 days
Pioneer Adventures Of The Old WestUnlock your pioneer spirit of the Old West on this US National Parks Tour. Sunny Scottsdale welcomes you to Arizona. Explore bohemian Sedona, then board a scenic train through the Kaibab Forest en route the UNESCO-listed Grand Canyon National Park, before experienci...

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7-Nights Red Rocks & Painted Canyons - Tauck Bridges Family Travel

Price: $4,990 - # of Days: 7 days
Red Rocks & Painted Canyons Share the wonders of nature's handiwork and the spirit of pure adventure in the national parks where you'll experience the very best of the American West, together. Journey to three iconic national parks, visit scenic towns and landmarks, enjoy family-friendl...

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7-Nights America's Canyonlands - Land Journey

Price: $4,990 - # of Days: 7 days
America's Canyonlands Dreamers, visionaries, and unsung heroes shaped the preservation of three great national parks of the American West - Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion - so all who came after would experience their magnificence and relish the moment...  You'll start "climbi...

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Overview

Introduction

Once a simple farm community and now one of the largest cities in Arizona, Scottsdale values a high quality of life centered on a relaxed environment. It is also a city that continually reinvests in itself. An updated streetscape on Scottsdale Road provides a more pedestrian-friendly path through the city. The Scottsdale Waterfront has shops, fine-dining restaurants and luxury condos all stretched along the city's canal areas. SouthBridge is on the south bank of the canals and functions as Scottsdale's version of New York's SoHo.

Compared to most U.S. cities, Scottsdale is young. Although archaeologists have uncovered evidence that hunters lived in the area as far back as 8,000 years ago, Scottsdale wasn't incorporated until 1951, when it served no more than 2,000 citizens in a 1-sq-mi/2-sq-km radius.

But don't be put off by its youth. The best characteristics of youthfulness—energy, vigor, expectation, optimism, potential and forward-thinking—have long been its strengths. The forefathers developed a city that not only continues to celebrate its western roots (wearing jeans to fine-dining establishments is the norm in most cases), but also isn't afraid to embrace the urbanism that comes with a growing imported population. Today, millions live within the 184 sq mi/476 sq km that make up The West's Most Western Town.

Clean air, year-round warm weather, open spaces, great nightlife and the arts attract more than 7 million visitors annually. They visit to play golf, hike, climb mountains, relax at spas, shop at world-class stores and take part in the many outdoor festivals held there. As it continues its journey from dusty western town to modern metropolis, Scottsdale is not likely to lose its attractive lure.

Must See or Do

Sights—Taliesin West, the former winter camp of architect Frank Lloyd Wright; a scheduled tour of the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center to see bobcats, coyotes, wolves and other rescued wildlife.

Museums—Scottsdale Historical Museum; Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art; Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West.

Memorable Meals—Afternoon tea at the Phoenician Tea Court; fresh and delicious pizza from Grazie Pizzeria and Wine Bar; squid ink pasta from Virtu Honest Craft; the Big Ass Burger at Roaring Fork.

Late Night—Sunset at the Jade Bar; Kazimierz World Wine and Whiskey Bar for live jazz; Handlebar J for country and western.

Walks—Long walks along the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt; strolling through Kierland Commons; meandering through galleries along Main Street and Marshall Way.

Especially for Kids—McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park; Butterfly Wonderland; Eldorado Park for fishing and skateboarding; CrackerJax for go-kart rides, batting cages, sand volleyball and driving range.

Geography

Scottsdale is located in the Salt River Valley (also known as The Valley of the Sun) surrounded by mountains and big blue sky. The McDowell Mountain range can be seen on the northeastern edge of town and is home to the area's most significant wildlife habitat. Camelback Mountain is in the center of town, west of Scottsdale Road.

On its western border are Phoenix and Paradise Valley. The town of Carefree is located to the north, and Tempe is to the south. Fountain Hills and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community are located east of Scottsdale.

Set up in a grid pattern, the city is easy to navigate by car. Scottsdale Road, the main corridor, runs north-south. From there, visitors can easily find any destination in any direction. The original part of town, called Old Town, is located downtown near the southern end of Scottsdale Road. The main freeway in Scottsdale, Loop 101, runs north-south as well.

History

The Hohokam were the first known settlers in this part of the Sonoran Desert. They arrived as early as 8,000 years ago, leaving or disappearing around the time that the gold-seeking Spaniards came with their horses. The Hohokam may have been wiped out because of massive flooding, or they may have left because of drought. Whatever the reason, they left behind evidence of a sophisticated irrigation system that stretched across what is sometimes referred to as the Salt River Valley. The Arizona Canal, which runs through Scottsdale and was built in 1883, is part of that system.

Historical artifacts on display at local museums show that the Hohokam crafted jewelry, arrowheads, blankets, baskets and other utilitarian items. They also etched petroglyphs on mountain faces, illustrating how they lived as hunters and farmers. They possibly used this rock art for ceremonial purposes, but it now serves as a lovely mystery for archaeologists and visitors to ponder. The Pima Indians followed and lived a similar lifestyle. Believed to be direct descendants of the Hohokam, the Pima still live there.

After the Spaniards arrived seeking gold, miners arrived next in search of copper, and the Cavalry soon followed to protect American interests. U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott decided this territory would be a good spot to start a farm. In the late 1800s, he lured the first settlers there and started the town that was eventually named after him in 1884. The community grew and prospered quickly on these vast open stretches of desert land. The first school opened in 1896, and the first post office a year later. In 1901, the population was more than 200. In 1917, cotton farming attracted Mexican immigrant families, who were sponsored to come and work in the fields.

The town gained further notoriety after World War II, attracting many more families to taste the open spaces and warmer weather themselves. In 1940, Elizabeth Arden of cosmetic fame opened the Maine Chance Spa, the first of many retreats for society women, celebrities and royalty. Scottsdale and its neighboring cities have since become inviting places to live and to visit.

Potpourri

Scottsdale has more spas per capita than any other city in the U.S.

The little red schoolhouse that houses the Scottsdale Historical Society Museum had many roles in its day. It once served as a two-room schoolhouse, then as a community center for Mexican laborers and later as Justice Court.

The olive trees in front of the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts were planted in 1896 by Winfield Scott, an Army chaplain who founded Scottsdale. Winfield paid US$3.50 an acre for the first land he bought in the area.

The movies Raising Arizona, Wayne's World and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure were all filmed in Scottsdale.

The Sonoran Desert is North America's hottest desert. It is about 120,000 sq mi/311,000 sq km in size, which means that England could fit twice in that area.

Scottsdale golfers play what they call the "desert rule." If you lose a ball in the desert, you play it as a lateral hazard instead of hitting it again.