Photo Courtesy: Myles McGuinness for Experience Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
Take the chill off winter with a spring visit to the desert
When it comes to embracing the best of both city life and natural spaces, there are few destinations that hit the mark better than Scottsdale, Arizona. Sure, it’s a place where A-list celebrities and professional athletes live and play, but with an official slogan of “The West’s Most Western Town,” it’s also a welcoming desert paradise offering casual rounds of golf, scenic hikes, award-winning eats and MLB Spring Training games. In spring, Scottdale really shines, when the days bring brilliant sunshine and blue skies with comfortable temps, and the evenings have just the right amount of chill beneath a canopy of stars and endless night sky. This year the city will celebrate its 75th birthday in true Southwest style and welcomes everyone to the party.
Photo Courtesy: Christine Johnson for the City of Scottsdale
Soak In Old Town Charm
Downtown Scottsdale, or “Old Town” as the locals say, spans a single square mile, but it packs something for everyone with art galleries, high-end shops and award-winning restaurants and bars.
Hop on the Scottsdale Trolley that runs through Central Scottsdale to easily get around Old Town and adjacent neighborhoods. The free transport runs by the Scottsdale Fashion Square, a destination indoor mall with boutiques and national chains that sits adjacent to Old Town. For a distinctively Scottsdale experience, take a Puzzle Ride on a chauffeured golf cart to explore the city by unlocking clues at major landmarks in order to break out of an outdoor escape room.
More than 50 art galleries offer nearly every genre, from traditional art to contemporary. For those seeking a Southwest memento, Bischoff’s Gallery and R.C. Gorman Navajo Gallery are trustworthy spots to get a piece of turquoise jewelry, Kachina dolls or traditional lithographs. Street performers and working artists provide the backdrop on ArtWalk Thursdays, when museums and galleries stay open after sunset each week.
Photo Courtesy: Jill Richards
Sun-Drenched Cuisine
There is no shortage of places to find delicious sustenance throughout Scottsdale. Find Arizona-grown produce, jams and honey, and salsa and paella made with chiles and Mexican chorizo onsite at the Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market held on Saturday mornings from October to June. Fans of Mexican cuisine flock to Los Olivos Mexican Patio to select from items on this institution’s menu lineup of favorites such as fajitas and tamales, plus chimichangas—which were invented in Arizona. For lighter fare, check out Citizen Public House’s happy hour to munch on signature bacon-fat popcorn and pretzels dipped in fondue made with Kilt Lifter Scottish-style ale from local Four Peaks Brewing Co.
Food aficionados should make a reservation at FnB, the much-lauded restaurant helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Charleen Badman and Pavle Milic, restaurateur-turned winemaker whose Los Milics Vineyards has captured national attention. The picturesque patio at Anhelo is the place for a romantic, upscale tasting menu, and the historic Hotel Valley Ho’s signature restaurant ZuZu offers a carefree and cool ambiance for American-style eats and cocktails.
Cap off the night at Coach House, a classic bar with a welcoming, neighborhood feel, or Rusty Spur Saloon, the city’s oldest watering hole—founded in 1951 and also 75 years old this year. For a dressed-up final sip, the cozy bar at Café Monarch exudes a super fine-dining atmosphere.
Photo Courtesy: Christine Johnson for City of Scottsdale
Catch the Action at
Spring Training
March is all about MLB Spring Training, with the Cactus League—15 baseball teams training at various stadiums—in full swing. Scottsdale Stadium, the spring home of the San Francisco Giants, is in the center of Old Town. Arrive early to grab a spot under a collection of mature shade trees on the grassy lawn in left field. In North Scottsdale, cheer on the Colorado Rockies or Arizona Diamondbacks, both of which call Salt River Fields home. The location is notable as the first MLB sports facility built on tribal land and the first LEED Gold-certified sports venue of its kind in the nation. Cactus and native desert plants, restroom signs in both the Maricopa and Pima languages as well as English, and the ballpark’s signature feature—a roof modeled after the traditional style of Indigenous ramadas—are among the tributes to its Pima and Maricopa tribal roots.
All 10 Cactus League ballparks are within an hour’s drive of each other, making it convenient to follow favorite teams or see them all. Watch for deals and discounts at restaurants for attendees, and remember to flash your digital tickets.
Photo Courtesy: Christine Johnson for City of Scottsdale
Soak Up Fun In The Sun
The city has 200-plus golf courses for players of every skill level. When it’s not hosting the WM Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale welcomes amateur players to its two championship courses. The highly-rated Troon North Golf Club also boasts two championship courses open to the public, and the Talking Stick Golf Club features the largest public practice range in the metro Phoenix area. For more casual players, Topgolf offers hitting bays and low-stakes games, and PopStroke—Tiger Woods’ all-ages mini golf venue—has lawn games and family-friendly play areas.
Hiking is a must in Scottsdale during the springtime, and there’s no shortage of easy-to-challenging routes that reward explorers with stunning views and cactus varieties found only in central Arizona. Head to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, where the Saguaro Loop and Nature Trail each offer relatively flat and scenic walks, and the Brown’s Ranch Jane Rau Interpretive Trail gently rolls through desert landscape. If time is of the essence, the Bajada Nature Trail’s short traverse is ideal for a quick and scenic outing. For a day-long outing, find a stretch of trail within the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt’s 11 miles of roomy paved pathways flanked by lakes, parks and golf courses.
Photo Courtesy: Christine Johnson for City of Scottsdale
History, Nature and Music
To transport to another time and place, architectural enthusiasts should visit Taliesen West, the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright. This national historic landmark sits in the McDowell Mountains, surrounded by the limitless attributes of the desert that inspired the famed architect and designer. For a truly special experience, visit for the monthly Sunsets & Sips happy hour event to admire the trademark Arizona sunset from the exclusive Guest Deck amid live music. At the March event, meet wildlife ambassadors who provide insight into the active side of nature while connecting with the landscape of the Sonoran Desert. In April, celebrate Wright’s passion for cars and travel with a road trip-themed event featuring rare film footage, scenic strolls and other adventures along a nostalgic memory ride.
Scottsdale turns 75 this year and wants visitors and locals alike to be part of the fiesta. Seven larger-than-life cowboys have been installed in Old Town, depicting Western life dating back to the city’s inception in 1951. Participate in a scavenger hunt that takes you to 75 different spots encompassing parks, local businesses, historical sites, city facilities and public art displays.
The Scottsdale Family ArtsFest runs March 6 and 7 with interactive experiences including a community art project that invites residents and tourists to participate by contributing personal sentiments and memories of the area. And those in a casual hunting mood can hit Bunnanza on April 4 at the Scottsdale Civic Center. Find any of the 75 hidden golden eggs and turn them in to receive prizes.
Take a short drive to the North Scottsdale-Phoenix border and explore a world of music at the Musical Instrument Museum. A collection of more than 7,500 instruments from around the world offers a rare look into not only how music has been embraced in global cultures, but also the role harmonic tunes play in everyday life.
Georgann Yara is a Phoenix-based features writer who has contributed to publications such as USA Today, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix New Times, Scottsdale City Lifestyle and Arizona State University News, as well as content for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
AAA Member Benefits
Travel Deals
