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Memorable Experiences
- Turf Paradise - Cheer on a winning thoroughbred at Phoenix's Turf Paradise.
- America's Pastime - Keep cool in a private Chase Field pool suite while enjoying a ball game.
- Camelback Challenge - Climb Camelback Mountain and view the American Southwest 2,704 feet up.
- A Moonlit Brew - Tip back a cold beer on El Chorro Lodge's patio and watch the moon rise.
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Private Horseback Ride
The clang of horse hooves on the dusty desert floor breaks the sweeping silence of the Sonoran. In this dramatic land of saguaro and agave, cactus green merges into desert brown, garnished with the occasional pink or yellow hue of wildflower. The most extraordinary way to witness this timeless terrain is on horseback,and outfits such as Windwalker Expeditions organize intimate private journeys. Experienced equestrian guides lead personalized adventures, through desert, mountains, or wilderness trails, tailored specifically to the riders level of skill and desire.
Address: 5440 East Peakview Road, Cave Creek Phone: (480) 585-3382
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Desert Botanical Garden
Among the stunning red buttes of Papago Park, desert flowers, like the delicate white yerba mansa and the soft California sage, thrive among hundreds of rare plants. Thick cactuses, covered in sharp spines, tower over the heads of all who pass through the saguaro forest. The impressive grouping of spiny succulents lies near the entrance to the "Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail," one of the Desert Botanical Gardens series of educational and beautiful nature paths that wind around this impeccably laid out land.
Address: 201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix Phone: (480) 941-1225
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Heard Museum North Scottsdale
Cactuses grow among Native American art in the garden, while inside the cool confines of the museum a treasure trove of cultural objects awaits. Tiny wooden dolls, exquisite beadwork, and extraordinary sculptures provide cultural insight into the lives and skills of Hopi, Navajo, and Apache populations, natives to this region. The Heard Museum North Scottsdale features ever-changing exhibitions, organized from a main collection of 39,000 cultural and artistic items, housed at the main branch of the museum in Phoenix.
Address: The Summit at Scottsdale, 32633 N. Scottsdale Rd Phone: (480) 488-9817
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Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West
A strip of grey stone separates the crystal blue waters of a pool from the lush green expanse of a lawn. Natural elements, geometrically aligned into works of stunning architecture, embody the philosophy of Frank Lloyd Wright's Sonoran Desert masterpiece Taliesin West. Tours of the 600-acre compound reveal a dwelling, constructed entirely of native sand and stone, that blends into the landscape with sublime harmony. Rooms, like the one where Wright designed the Guggenheim Museum in New York, lead to distinctive gardens and terraces that offer unrivaled panoramas.
Address: 12621 North Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd Phone: (480) 860-2700
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Guadalupe Farmers Market
Within a cool interior, bushels of fragrant, yellow grapefruit fill one bin, while shiny red peppers tempt from another. This popular store in the town of Mesa, 13 miles south of Scottsdale, offers some of the freshest produce in the region. Most goods come from local farms and include a large range of Mexican items such as fresh tortillas and homemade salsas. This family-owned business also makes their own honey, jam and kettle corn.
Address: 4011 S. Power Road, Mesa Phone: (480) 497-0706 Shops & Boutiques
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Saba's
Crafted from glistening snakeskin, ostrich skin, or cowhide leather, and emblazoned with the feather of a phoenix or a simple row of stitching, cowboy boots epitomize classic western wear. Since 1927, when customers rode up on horses, Saba's has been outfitting men, women, and children in the finest boots, hats, belts, embroidered shirts, and other authentic attire worthy of the ranch. Respected western wear brands like Stetson, Wrangler and Tony Lama line the shelves and the racks of this renowned department store.
Address: 7254 Main Street Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 Phone: (480) 949-7404
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Gilbert Ortega
Inlaid with turquoise stones, the silver bracelet radiates beauty, and according to the Apache, Navajo, Hopi, and Pueblo peoples who have cherished the stone for thousands of years, it provides strength and protection. Bracelets, necklaces, and earrings fill the jewelry case at Gilbert Ortega, each one unique and distinctive of its culture. They join an assortment of handmade wares including vibrantly patterned baskets, Kachina dolls, earthenware pots, and bright geometric rugs that cover this emporium of Native American art.
Address: 3925 N. Scottsdale Road Phone: (480) 990-1808
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La Cocina at Phoenix Ranch Market
The welcoming vibrato from a mariachi band fills the air, while festive crepe paper streamers span the aisles, and on occasion Ranchie the Bull, the Ranch Market mascot, comes running. The joyous atmosphere that pervades this supermarket, designed to resemble a Mexican mercado, is spectacular, and the food, served in the "Cocina," is outstanding. From the spicy carne asada tacos to the sweet horchata, everything is authentic, including the fresh tortillas churned out all day long in the markets own tortilleria.
Address: 1602 E Roosevelt Street, Phoenix Phone: (602) 254-6676
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Kazimierz World Wine Bar
Patrons sink into plush burgundy couches in the romantic speakeasy atmosphere of this downtown wine bar, known locally as Kaz. Surrounded by brick walls, oak barrels, and stained glass windows illuminated by candlelight, they choose from a menu of over 3,000 wines from more than forty countries. Small dishes are also available, including hazelnuts with pineau de charentes, Egyptian flatbreads, and fondue. On Sundays a flamenco dancer performs, and jazz vocalists take the stage every Monday and Tuesday.
Address: 7137 East Stetson Drive Phone: (480) 946-3004
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AZ88
The low lights, understated atmosphere, and impressively stocked bar evoke a 1940s film noir set at AZ88. Patrons cozy up at small tables, surrounded by an ever-changing display of artwork, while DJs spin a mix of neo-soul, disco and downtempo. The menu is a sophisticated selection of appetizers such as thin crust galettes and water chestnuts wrapped in bacon along with burgers and sandwiches. Owner Karl Kopp opened the bar in 1988, inspired by family gatherings at the home of his mother.
Address: 7353 Scottsdale Mall Phone: (480) 994-5576
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Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Vibrant, tangerine-hued African daisies cover the valley, while Mexican poppies unfurl their soft sun-colored petals on the mountainside near a patch of purple lupine. Miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails of varying degrees of difficulty wind their way through this 6,000-acre stretch of earth. Trail No. 100 traverses peaceful terrain, past dramatic landscapes where deer and coyote roam for eleven miles. Link to North Mountain Park with Stony Mountain and Piestewa Peak or branch off into myriad trails along the way.
Address: Trail No. 100 Trailhead: Seventh Avenue and Cheryl Drive Phone: (602) 390 6806
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The Red Rocks of Sedona
Referred to as "Red Rock Country" Sedona is a four seasons playground for everyone - whether you're into history and archaeology; arts and culture; shopping; outdoor sports; or the spiritual and metaphysical, imagine doing all this in a backdrop of some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.
Address: 331 Forest Road, Sedona, AZ 86336 Phone: (928) 282-7722
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McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
The kelly green Paradise and Pacific Railroad steam locomotive chugs along a one-mile track at this captivating 30-acre railroad park. Since 1975, the railroad has carried passengers in open-air cars on a stimulating journey through time. It ambles past the carved antique carousel and exhibits on historic trains. Visit the Roald Amundsen Pullman Car, which transported every US president from Herbert Hoover to Dwight D. Eisenhower or the Merci train from France, which arrived filled with toys and instruments as thanks after World War II.
Address: 7301 E. Indian Bend Road Phone: (480) 312-2312
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We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
Smooth green undulations of the fairway, cloaked in shadows cast by the rising sun, intensify the subtle variations in shade among the surrounding desert flora. Developed and owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, We-Ko-Pa is home to two outstanding 18 hole courses, the Cholla Course, and the Saguaro Course, both renowned for their majestic beauty. These premiere courses lie 15 miles from Scottsdale, amid acres of protected desert wilderness that stretches from the dramatic Superstition Mountains to the Four Peaks, a jagged rock formation.
Address: 18200 East Toh Vee Circle, Fort McDowell Phone: (480) 836-9000
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Thursday Night Art Walk
As the afternoon heat fades away and the desert air cools, downtown Scottsdale becomes an open-air art fiesta. This vibrant city is renowned as a destination for artists and collectors and, since the early 1980s, over 100 galleries along Main Street and Marshall Way have participated in the ArtWalk tradition. Each Thursday evening from 7pm to 9pm, an exceptional range of artwork from impressionist to abstract is displayed. Occasional special events feature live entertainment with dress themes ranging from "western" to "wearable."
Address: Main Street and Marshall Way Phone: (480) 990-3939
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