Scottsdale is a resort and
high-level shopping community bordering the northeast
edge of the city of Pheonix. This is where people come to
play golf, shop in the department stores and boutiques,
and engage in fine dining. Several of the most prominent
resort hotels are located in Scottsdale, as are some of
the most magnificent Arizona mansions.
This is one of the West's newest and
richest cities. Only a generation ago, this was a vast
desert area. Now, Scottsdale is a magnificently
landscaped oasis with parks, gardens, large shopping
centers, and resort hotels, mixing with replicas of
Victorian and Old West buildings. The resorts and
shopping centers are located in the northern part of the
city, an area where high class restaurants have sprung up
by the dozens, along with beautiful parks, bicycle
trails, artificial lakes, and much more.
What to See & Do in
Scottsdale
Golfing
Scottsdale is the golf capital of Arizona,
and vacationers flock here for the winter season. More
than a dozen coursess are spread across the city, and
most are open to the public. These include Continental
Golf Course, and Ramada Pines Golf Resort, which are
public 18-hole courses.
Family Activities
Fountain Hills boasts the world's
highest fountain, with plumes shooting over 550 feet into
the air, over a huge pond. This is a fine place to take a
walk in the park area, or to visit the nearby boutiques.
McCormick Railroad Park, at Indian
Bend Road & Scottsdale Rd., features restored
1900s-era railroad buildings,mwith a full-sized steam
engine and other artifacts of the early railroading
period. The kinds will enjoy riding on the free model
train around a loop of track in the park.
Indian Trails Horse Country Club
offers rides (with guides), cookouts, and hayrides, pluss
longer pack trips taking two days or more. This is a
sophisticated equestrian center with an arena and
extensive stables. It's found at 9001, East Indian Road.
A network of bicycle paths leads through
the city, in the greenbelt areas created to separate the
urban and desert areas.Paved paths run into the desert
hills, north of the city.
Taliesin West (on 108th Street, via
East Shea Blvd. and N St.) This striking architectural
school was a winter campus created by famed American
architect Frank LLoyd Wright, some 55 years ago. Tours of
the grounds are enjoyed by visitors, and you can see a
slide presentation on Wright's work, as well as models
and photos. The landscape design is particularly
fascinating.
The Cosanti Foundation, at 6433
Doubletree Road, is a tribute to, and the studio of famed
architect and craftsperson Paulo Soleri. The designer
espoused a new type of city -- with space and energy
saving features. The scale model of "Arcosanti," his
prototype city, is on display, along with Soleri's
windbells, sculptures, and books. Workshops are offered,
and daily guided tours are available.
The Scottsdale Civic Center, as
befits one of the newset cities in the nation, is a
magnificent collection of cultural and government
buildings, including the city's main library, City Hall,
and the Scottsdale Center for the Arts. The latter offers
theatre, music, and motion picture performances. The
Chamber of Commerce is located in the "Little Red School
House," and this is the best place to gather information
on Scottsdale attractions, including restaurants and golf
courses. All around the Civic Centre buildings are
walkways through lush landscaped gardens with waterfalls,
fountains, and reflecting pools. The complex is located
downtown, on 2nd Street.
