Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale is a popular Southwest vacation destination adjacent to Phoenix with many Spanish- and Western-style resorts, plus golf courses, art galleries, and luxury shopping. Thanks to construction codes that regulate the height of the city's buildings, the view of the surrounding mountains is never obscured.

Scottsdale was settled in the late 1800s by Winfield Scott, a Civil War chaplain. The area was known as Orangedale until 1894, when the U.S. Post Office opened and the town was renamed Scottsdale. The city was incorporated in 1951.

With its mild winters and hot summers Scottsdale is best visited from November through April. Temperatures usually range from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter, and freezing temperatures are rare.

Fewer than one out of five of Scottsdale residents were born in Arizona. Scottsdale's population has grown rapidly to around 235,000.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

• Downtown Scottsdale includes Old Town Scottsdale, an area full of historic buildings with an "Old West" feel. Visitors can stroll down the streets past dozens of shops selling jewelry, Native American handicrafts, art, and clothing. Downtown is also the arts center of the town, featuring numerous galleries and museums. Scottsdale Stadium is also located in downtown Scottsdale. This is where minor league baseball team Scottsdale Scorpions plays and also where major league baseball team San Francisco Giants hold their spring training sessions each year.
• Scottsdale Waterfront district includes retail, office, and high-rise residential buildings. A footbridge over a canal connects the Waterfront area to more Scottsdale shopping, including the Scottsdale Fashion Square.
• Resort Row is the area where many upscale Scottsdale resorts are located, many with renowned spas and fine dining.

BEST BETS

• At the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, visitors can enjoy a ride on a 5/12-scale train, ride a 1929 carousel, and look at some restored locomotives.
• Visitors can hike in the 150-acre Pinnacle Peak Park. The moderately difficult trail has an elevation of approximately 1,300 feet. Rock climbing and horse riding are also permitted.
• Hot air balloon rides are a popular way to see the desert from a unique viewpoint.
• The Scottsdale Historical Museum gives visitors a glimpse of Scottsdale history inside a 1910 schoolhouse. Visitors can also take a self-guided walking tour of Old Town Scottsdale.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The tourism industry is one of Scottsdale's biggest employers. The economy also depends on a combination of small and mid-size businesses. Scottsdale's largest employer is Scottsdale Healthcare, followed by the Mayo Clinic.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Taliesin West was architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and is now a working campus for architecture students and can be toured by visitors. Taliesin West is considered one of Wright's greatest works, since the buildings blend in perfectly with the surrounding desert landscape.
• The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art highlights art, architecture, design, and film. The museum also offers educational events for adults and young children, as well as occasional musical events and fashion shows.
• The Sylvia Plotkin Judaica Museum displays five millennia of Jewish history.

EVENTS

• Parada del Sol Parade and Rodeo, which have been around since the 1950s, are held in Scottsdale each February. The parade is the world's largest horse-drawn parade, with more than 1,000 horses participating.
• The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, which dates back to 1955, is a great place to check out show horses. Today, the show features nearly 2,000 horses from around the world.
• The annual Scottsdale Culinary Festival offers food samples from some of the world's best chefs and other culinary delights.
• The participants in P.F. Chang's Rock and Run Half Marathon and Marathon run through the city of Scottsdale each winter.

FAMILY FUN

Many Scottsdale resorts cater to families:

• The Camelback Inn was the first resort acquired by J.W. Marriott (founder of the Marriott hotel chain) in 1967, because he and his family had enjoyed vacationing in Scottsdale since 1940.
• The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch is especially popular among families, thanks to its ten pools, waterslides, lagoons, and waterfalls.
• The Phoenician is a high-end kid-friendly resort. The resort's Kids Club offers supervised activities for children ages 5 to 12.

LOCAL MEDIA

Scottsdale shares all major television and radio stations with nearby Phoenix, as well as the local newspaper, The Arizona Republic.

FUN FACTS

• Scottsdale has been named "Number One Resort Community" and "America's Best Place to Live for Golf."
• The city's slogan is "The World's Most Western Town."
• The official food of Scottsdale is chili.