Scottsdale/Arizona-ABC
In the sky above the desert
07/25/2024 Reading time: 21 Minutes
The city
Scottsdale
is located in the middle of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. With just under 250,000 inhabitants on 477 km2, the region offers more high-end attractions than almost any other spot in the USA. Editor-in-chief Simone Dressler has compiled the best ones from A to Z.
When I get up in the morning, I don't need to look out of the window to check the weather. The sun is always shining anyway," say the residents of Scottsdale. And that is a pure fact: with over 330 days of sunshine a year, the town is indeed kissed by the sun relentlessly. Mild daytime temperatures of up to around 20 degrees in winter ensure that all residents and visitors are constantly drawn outside. Whether golfing, biking, hiking, climbing or horse riding - there are plenty of providers for sport, fun and games here. The small town in the middle of the Sonoran Desert has therefore become a hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts in recent decades. And when the temperatures climb above 40 degrees in summer, there are luxurious five-star resorts with enormous pools and oversized spas. There is also a very lively art scene with over 100 galleries and seven fantastic museums. So it's no wonder that the city has rocked its way up from a western town of 2,000 in the 1950s to one of the most attractive and luxurious tourist destinations in the USA.
A - ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE
The stylish resort in Paradise Valley at the foot of Camelback Mountain is one of the smaller resorts with its 185 rooms and suites, although they are spread out in bungalows over an area of almost ten hectares. The arty resort surprises with a picture-perfect lobby and the equally stylish Restaurant Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen with a glassed-in kitchen and chef's table.
From here, you can look out over the pretty Turquoise Pool with its 13 private cabanas. The atmosphere is bohemian, and some of the casitas with spa-like bathrooms come with their own courtyard and loungers from which to watch the starry nights. Lots of local art in the rooms, a unique artist-in-residence program and cozy fire pits on the grounds fuel casual socializing. On hot summer days, however, the Turquoise Pool can get pretty crowded. Those looking for peace and quiet can visit the adults-only pool, which is connected to the Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary. Next door is the "Retreat", a "resort within a resort" with 20 bungalows grouped around a third pool - ideal for private weddings and family gatherings. It is precisely for this reason, and the culinary offerings, that many local guests come to the Andaz Scottsdale.
www.andazscottsdale.com
B - BOTANICAL GARDEN
Although you are constantly surrounded by desert vegetation in Scottsdale, the Desert Botanical Garden is definitely worth a visit. For 82 years, this iconic attraction has been home to 50,000 desert plants collected from around the world and growing among the red rocks of the Papago Buttes. Conservation programs, ever-changing events and exhibitions also captivate the local population - such as the recent exhibitions by the gifted glass artist Dale Chihuly, whose organically shaped, colourful works of art pop out harmoniously among the green desert inhabitants.
www.dbg.org
C - COSANTI
The workshop, gallery and residence of Paolo Soleri is one of the historical landmarks of the region and is a one hundred percent "must see". The Italian-born architect settled with his family in Paradise Valley near Scottsdale in the 1950s to research experimental urban planning. The Frank Lloyd Wright student became famous with the invention of the "Arcology" construction method, a combination of the words architecture and ecology. The impressive cement buildings formed above ground can be admired on a guided tour. Fortunately, the artist, who died in 2013, had studied the production of ceramics in Italy, as he was able to partially finance his livelihood with his Paolo Soleri wind bells, which are now handmade and sold by local artists using a mixture of bronze and ceramics. Each of the bells is unique and makes an original, albeit somewhat heavy, souvenir.
www.cosanti.com
D - THUMBS UP!
At the hip petrol station The Thumb with the "I like" symbol in the logo, you can not only treat your car to a fill-up and a car wash, but also yourself. The trendy diner serves massive burritos filled with scrambled eggs for breakfast or barbecue beef brisket and pork ribs for lunch and dinner. All in XXL portions, of course, and really tasty. Behind the slogan "Wash Up, Eat Up, Stack Up" there is also a grocery store, an original souvenir store and a wine boutique. Great for a pit stop like the locals love.
www.thethumb.com
E - SHOP
The slogan "Shop till you drop" seems to have been invented here. The shopping offer ranges from individual and very original boutiques to large shopping malls with international luxury brands. The Fashion Square in Old Town, the largest mall in the southwest of the USA, is particularly popular, where luxury with Prada, Versace, St. Laurent and Gucci is written in capital letters. You can now also indulge in culinary delights at the Nobu restaurant. There are other popular malls in North Scottsdale: in the open-air shopping centers Common Kierlands and Scottsdale Quarter. The best place to find original Arizona souvenirs is in Old Town around 5th Avenue. A good tip for Western lovers is Bischoff's Shades of the West: here you can buy Western outfits such as boots and hats, as well as rustic tableware, Western jewelry, blankets or books and culinary specialties from the Southwest. A wonderful place to browse!
www.shadesofthewest.com
F - FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
In the 1930s, much earlier than Paolo Soleri, the world-famous American architect built a winter retreat in Paradise Valley with the help of his students. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, guided (audio) tours offer an insight into his creative and philosophical world of thought. The architect was a great lover of the Sonoran Desert and built his residence as sustainably and naturally as possible using local rocks, desert sand and wood. The property thus reflects the magnificent magic of the surrounding landscape. His house in Scottsdale is still considered one of his masterpieces. Incidentally, you can buy replicas of his work in the fantastic museum store.
www.franklloydwright.org
G - GOLF
Scottsdale and the whole of Arizona are known as "Golfer's Heaven". There are around 200 golf courses, most of which are public, in Scottsdale and the surrounding area alone. Green fees are available for all budgets, and in the summer months from June to September they are even reduced by 50 percent. Scottsdale's golf courses are picture-perfect, a fantastic natural phenomenon, many with views of the McDowell Mountains and lined with saguaro cacti. Particularly impressive: the "Monument" and the "Pinnacle Course" at Troon North Golf Club. If you come in summer, you can chill out in the pools of the elegant Four Seasons at Toon North Resort after your game.
www.fourseasons.com
H - Hotels & Resorts
Almost all major international luxury hotel groups are represented in Scottsdale. At the end of 2022, the long-awaited
Ritz Carlton The Palmeraie
, a modern 215-room resort on almost 90 hectares with a 1,500 m2 spa and a 120-metre outdoor pool, is due to open in Paradise Valley at the end of 2022.
www.ritzcarlton.com
More hotel giants will be added next year: Ceasars Corporation is opening the
Caesars Republic Scottsdale
its first resort without a casino www.caesars.comand the Accor Group is planning the
SLS Scottsdale
the brand's first hotel in the state of Arizona.
www.sbe.com
My hotel favorites have a few more years under their belt:
Hermosa Inn
one of the few boutique hotels built in the 1930s by cowboy and artist Lon Megargee: CasitaStyle rooms, original artwork and a great garden bring back times gone by.
www.hermosainn.com
Since 1988 the
The Phoenician
A Luxury Collection Resort has been a majestic institution in Paradise Valley. And with a total of 645 rooms and suites, eight pools and the boutique hotel integrated into the resort
Canyon Suites
also one of the largest resorts. Tip: In the evening, you can enjoy fantastic views of Paradise Valley from the terrace of "The Thirsty Camel" bar.
www.thephoenician.com
Boulders Resort & Spa, A Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton
is a long-standing evergreen with a fantastic spa, two highly decorated golf courses and two excellent restaurants.
www.theboulders.com
The hotel
Valley Ho
designed by Frank Lloyd Wright student Edward L. Varney and located near the Old Town, is a successful ode to the 50s, when the hotel first opened its doors and was a sought-after celebrity hotspot. Perhaps not the most luxurious resort, but certainly the hotel with the most fun factor.
www.hotelvalleyho.com
I - Indigenous art and culture
can be admired all over the city: the first port of call is the world-famous Heard Museum with its permanent exhibition "HOME: Native People in the Southwest", which is complemented by six to eight other shows every year. There are several stores and galleries in Old Town that exhibit antique and contemporary Native American art. Particularly worth seeing: the gallery
Indian Arts & Antiques
which has been a family business since 1969 and is now run by Deborah and Alston Neal. Be sure to stop by, no one knows the valuable antique pieces better than these two.
www.territorialindianarts.com
J - JOYRIDES AZ
The name says it all: if you want to take a deep dive into the history of Scottsdale's Old Town, board one of the golf buggies from Kirk and Monica Nicodemus' tour company JoyridesAZ. Thanks to their local expertise, you can discover the city's most secret highlights and hear quirky stories along the way. Joyrides also offers themed tours such as culinary, Instagram, wine tasting or art tours. Highly recommended!
www.joyridesaz.com
K - CULINARY
Scottsdale is a true "foodies heaven": There are said to be over 800 restaurants in the city. So it's impossible to create a bucket list here. But what particularly impressed me was the guacamole made fresh at the table and the pork shoulder braised for twelve hours with handmade tortillas in the
The Mission
-restaurant in Old Town. A great ambience in the former Valley National Bank is offered by the
Postino Highland
which serves a wide variety of very tasty bruschettas and creatively topped panini and salads on long wooden boards for lunch. Of course, sustainable or vegan food and farm-to-table concepts are also becoming increasingly popular in Scottsdale. You can try this out in the
Farm & Craft
and in the
Herb Box
-restaurant with individually composed poke bowls and salads, which can be vegan, vegetarian or with fish and meat, depending on your preference. For those who don't shy away from carbohydrates, I recommend a great brunch at the
Hash Kitchen Gainey Village
. Oversized portions of deep-fried potato strips and other hearty ingredients such as bacon, eggs and beans are served here. The big sensation here is the "Build your own Bloody Mary" bar, where around 50 ingredients are served with a cocktail of tomato juice and vodka - including meatballs and pieces of cheese. After enjoying your cocktail, you can actually cancel your brunch dish. Very instagrammable!
L - LDV WINE TASTING ROOM
Arizona's wines are virtually unknown here, but in the north and south of the US state there are now many winemakers who have mastered the craft really well. The wines are excellent, but complex cultivation makes them relatively expensive. This is why it is almost impossible to get a glass of them in Scottsdale's restaurants, which mainly offer wines from Europe and North America. The LDV Wines tasting room in Old Town, where the lively former management consultant Peggy with her Dolly Parton mane describes her personal experiences as a sustainably producing neo-vintner and holds tastings, provides a remedy. Guaranteed to be great entertainment!
www.ldvwinery.com
M - MUSEUM OF THE WEST
The museum, which only opened in 2015, is a highlight in Downtown from the outside alone: the modern building made of concrete, copper and glass not only reflects the shapes and colors of the desert, but is also an impressive eye-catcher building that can even boast LEED Gold status for particularly sustainable architecture. Three-metre-high saguaro cacti lolling skywards in front of the façade provide the first contact with the "Western World". Inside, it is best to be led by the tour guides - all with great entertainment qualities - because the exhibits on display here, be it photos, art, ceramics and everyday objects or weapons, saddles and spurs of the western settlers, tell a narrative and tell the story of the west of the USA, Canada and Mexico from the 19th and 20th centuries. Thousands of magnificent, sometimes very valuable pieces tell of the true "Wild West" and demystify the myth of the romanticized Western epics from the cinema of the 1950s. The exhibition on the photographer, ethnographer and adventurer Edward Curtis is currently running until the end of April 2023. With impressive photos and artifacts, it takes visitors on a journey into a controversial past. Very informative, not just for western fans.
www.scottsdalemuseumwest.org
N - Nature
Almost everyone who comes to Scottsdale instantly falls in love with the spectacular scenery, the fantastic views and the light in the area, which changes between shades of blue and pink depending on the time of day. In the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a nature reserve that encompasses Scottsdale's local mountains, the McDowell Range, and the breathtaking Sonoran Desert, you can really get a taste for hiking: On a total of 320 kilometers of trails for every fitness level, you can get to know the flora and fauna of the area up close. If you can, come in spring when the desert becomes a sea of flowers. An equally spectacular experience is a trip eastwards to the Tonto National Forest and the Salt River. Here, the rustic Lake Saguaro Ranch offers horseback rides through the desert and along the riverbed. You can even try out water sports such as kayaking and paddle boarding.
www.mcdowellsonoran.org,www.saguarolakeranch.com
O - Old Town
Scottsdale's Old Town is the place to be for shopaholics, barflies, art lovers and gourmets. Thus, the "Old Town", which covers a good 1.5 km2, is the epicenter for all the urban attractions the city has to offer. With around 100 galleries and 45 permanent outdoor art installations, it is well worth exploring the area on foot. Adobe buildings, western stores and saloons contrast with the modern architecture of imposing museums, hotels and public squares. The eclectic mix of urban chic and "Wild West" and a vibrant nightlife scene create a guaranteed irresistible "Old West meets new West" experience. Tip: The Thursday evening "Artwalk" - an art walk where visitors can talk to creative people and gallery owners about the latest works of art in a relaxed atmosphere accompanied by live music.
P - Pools
Staying cool, even in summer, works pretty well in Scottsdale. Because the humidity in the region is among the lowest in the USA, even a dip in the warm water afterwards is very refreshing. If you don't have an outdoor pool, you can purchase a day pass at many top resorts. The most beautiful pools with great views are located outside downtown. My favorites: the infinity pool at the
Sanctuary at Camelback Mountain Resort.
Here you'll find the best view of the iconic Camelback Mountain, which looks like a kneeling camel.
www.gurneysresorts.com
The water park at the resort offers huge family fun.
Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch
on a one-hectare site with ten pools, a man-made sandy beach and a three-storey speed slide.
www.hyatt.com
If you prefer a quieter atmosphere, check into a private cabana by the Phoenician's mother-of-pearl pool. By the way: the hottest pool parties take place at the OH pool of the
Valley Ho Hotel
and on the WET deck of the
W Hotel
in Down Town will take place.
www.marriott.de
Q - Quintessence
The word contrasts couldn't be written any greater: Scottsdale and the surrounding area is ideal for luxury and nature lovers alike. Rarely anywhere else can you feel more "down to earth" while at the same time being offered the full program of the luxury industry.
R - Rusty Spur Saloon
Scottsdale's first bar opened in 1951 and resides in the former Farmer's State Bank, which lost its feathers during the Great Depression in the USA. Since then, the original bar in Old Town has also been the favorite fuel and fun spot of US celebrities - from Clint Easwood to Jennifer Aniston. A hang-out here after dinner in Old Town is highly recommended: Live country music and locals dancing in western outfits provide plenty of local color, and drinks are chilled in the converted former bank vault.
rustyspursaloon.com
S - Saguaros and the Sonoran Desert
Who doesn't love them? Cacti, which are usually depicted on graphics with two arms growing at right angles to the right and left. In nature, however, these miracle plants often form several branches or none at all. In any case, they seem to be as unique as a human fingerprint. Some live to be over 200 years old and only produce their first flower at the age of 65. Various bird species also nest in the evergreens, and on golf courses they are often peppered with failed golf balls. Saguaros are considered a national treasure, are a protected species and may not be felled, but at most relocated. Another special feature: they grow exclusively in the Sonoran Desert, which stretches over around 320,000 km² from the state of the same name in Mexico to southern Arizona and California. With an annual rainfall of between 76 mm and 500 mm, the Sonoran Desert is considered the wettest and most biodiverse desert region in the world.
T - The Wests Most Western Town
The town gave itself this label when it was recognized as a town in 1951 and was given a mayor. Back then, the 2,000 inhabitants lived mainly from their work as farmers and cowboys. Today, Scottsdale has outgrown its label, but with the annual "Western Week" and the historic "Parada del Sol" horse parade, the western culture continues to be cultivated with great enthusiasm.
U - UTV AND ATV
For all those who feel the urgent need for less sustainable activities
STELLAR ADVENTURES
the necessary ingredients: With off-road vehicles, UTVs for solo use or ATVs that can accommodate four people, you can race over dusty tracks, dry riverbeds and through the narrow rocky gorges of Tonto National Park. Helmets and face masks are provided by the provider. After this fun dust ride, you're guaranteed to need a dip!
www.stellaradventures.com
V - VOGELPERSPEKTIVE
Don't be afraid of the hot air balloon, because this "up in the air" experience is one of the absolute highlights in Scottsdale. You can play it safe here with the provider
Rainbow Riders
which has been sending its customers into the desert sky for 40 years. In summer, the desert experience begins at 5.00 a.m. when the balloons are inflated with flaming gas. The sky-guided tour above the Sonoran Desert is breathtaking, and there's even champagne and certificates of participation afterwards. A highly recommended "must do" for adventurers with a head for heights!
www.rainbowryders.com
W - WONDERSPACES
A great place to experience interactive art installations. The extraordinary art gallery, which upholds the philosophy that art is accessible to all, is currently located in four cities in the USA. In Scottsdale, it is located in the Fashion Square Mall and offers a very educational art experience. Each room features an international artist. Particularly impressive: "Before I Die" by Taiwanese-American artist Candy Wang, where visitors are invited to write their last wish on chalkboards ...
www.wonderspaces.com
X - (E)XTRATOUR - desire for even more
Arizona? Many of the state's attractions can be easily reached on a day trip from Scottsdale. Heading north, it is only a two-hour drive to the city of Sedona, considered by many to be the most beautiful place in the USA. The imposing Red Rocks made of sandstone glow in beguiling shades of red, especially at sunset. A magical and dramatic place and center of the New Age movement, because the area is said to have spiritual power. Incidentally, the Grand Canyon can also be reached from here in an hour and a half by car. If you leave Scottsdale heading south, you can reach Tucson in just under two hours and the infamous town of Tombstone, which is already close to the Mexican border, in another hour. Here you can get a real taste of the western air, either in the Old Tucson Studios, where famous western movies were filmed and which is now an amusement park with western shows, or in Tombstone, "The town too tough to die", where there are shooting matches tailor-made for tourists.
Guided tours are available at: www.detoursamericanwest.com
Y - Yoga and Spa
In Scottsdale, visitors can look forward to a good 50 spa and wellness oases. Many offer treatments inspired by local ingredients and, of course, yoga, either against a
breathtaking scenery or on rooftops with a view. One of the most impressive resort spas is the Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess with the largest Sisley Paris skin care spa in the USA and a wide range of holistic spa experiences including aerial yoga. The award-winning spa at The Boulders
Resort offers Western treatments as well as Far Eastern lotus blossom massages and a meditative spa labyrinth over an area of 3,000 m2, all set amongst impressive rock formations that are millions of years old. No less exciting: The Phoenician Spa in the resort of the same name, which offers 24 treatment rooms and a chic rooftop pool in the three-storey spa building, where delicious, healthy spa cuisine is served, among other things.
Z - save time!
Good news: There is again a Condor direct connection from Frankfurt to Phoenix every Thursday and Saturday!
www.condor.com
Arizona's capital city borders directly on Scottsdale, which is why transfer times to Scottsdale hotels take less than half an hour.
All information about Scottsdale: www.experiencescottsdale.com
