It’s easy to spend a lot of money quickly in Scottsdale and have a great time doing it. However, after living there for over a year, I found many attractions, events and experiences, both fun and educational, for about the cost of a moderate dinner for two. The following list only scratches the surface but it will get you started. I’m sure you’ll discover many more budget-friendly ways to enjoy the beauty and charm of Scottsdale on your own.
Old Town Artwalks
Scottsdale has earned a global reputation for creative talent. Although many cities have an “art district,” few can compare with the quality and diversity of the hundreds of galleries in Old Town Scottsdale. Especially fun are the free Thursday evening (7-9pm) Artwalks, an opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Southwest, appreciate beautiful art, get some exercise, meet interesting people, and enjoy tasty food. Stimulating to the imagination and palate, this is a great way to spend an evening and possibly buy a piece of art you’ll treasure for a lifetime
Camelback Mountain
A great Scottsdale navigational landmark and popular daily hike for many residents, this attraction looks from some angles like a prone camel, at other angles, a praying monk. There is no admission charge to explore the mountain, though an early start will make for easier parking and minimize the effects of the sun. The views are spectacular in every direction, not only from the top, which is breathtaking, but will require a substantial energy and muscle commitment to “summit.”
Built by the Army Corps of Engineers, the hiking framework of Camelback includes steps carved right into the base of the mountain, iron handrails and fencing to assist hikers on the upper parts of the trail. It’s a perfect place for a gentle hike – around the base, or a challenging hike – over the top and down the other side, which includes some actual climbing. Don’t forget your camera, bottles of water, sun block, and a hat. There are plenty of hiking tips, photos and suggestions on the website.
Desert Botanical Garden
I would definitely call this attraction a “sleeper.” I hate to admit it, but it never made my “tourist list” of things to do before I moved there. With precious little time on a vacation, the idea of spending the better part of a day at the Desert Botanical Garden brought to mind of a few acres of sagebrush, cacti, and scrubby mesquite surrounded by a barbed wire fence with maybe a few pretty ground flowers in spring. Wrong. The Desert Botanical Garden was established in 1939, and encompasses 140 acres of carefully designed and showcased natural desert habitat.
This is truly a world-class venue and after one visit, became my favorite place to show out-of-town guests. It would take a lot of traveling to see all the different varieties of desert life so beautifully displayed here. The array of colors, shapes, sizes and even scents of the native Sonoran echo system is stunning. There are five main trails, meandering through the park, with separate niches dedicated to specific sections. Don’t miss the “Design for a Living World” exhibit, the butterfly Garden, and the collection of rare succulents.
The maintenance of the entire park is meticulous. It is clean and well designed. There is a restaurant with open patio area to enjoy an al fresco lunch. Remember the desert sun is strong so come prepared with a hat or cap and water to stay hydrated as you enjoy the sights. Don’t forget your camera!
Greenway Bike Trail
Running north and south through the city of Scottsdale along Hayden Road is a ten mile-plus paved track winding through open grassy areas and along ribbons of water. Larger ponds host families of ducks and large wading birds under shady trees and through quaint and impressive southwest style neighborhoods. This bike and walking trail is a fun way to exercise while enjoying the gorgeous clear sunny days and bright blue skies, which are the norm in Scottsdale.
There are many restaurants just off the trail and plenty of benches where you can sit and relax in the shade. Maps of the bike trail on the greenway are available at most Old Town stores, and I found people very enthusiastic about suggesting their favorite sections to walk or bike. There is also a public golf course, the Continental, with reasonable fees, running along the same bike and greenway area.
Taliesin West – Frank Lloyd Wright National Monument
On a visit to Taliesin West, learning about “organic architecture” and the professional accomplishments of Frank Lloyd Wright is just the beginning. The experience goes far beyond a recitation of Wright’s extensive career designing houses and professional buildings. To be sure, this national monument set on 550 acres of Sonoran Desert showcases the work of the most acclaimed Architect of the 20th century. But it does so in a personal way, by showing you his home, and exploring his tumultuous life as well as his architectural vision.
At Taliesin West, you’ll learn how he looked at a building site – in this case the desert – saw the completed design in his head, then gathered the natural elements of sand and rock and literally built his private living spaces and professional work spaces out of those materials. The Frank Lloyd Wright vision incorporated the entire site, not just the structures.
There are several different types of tours available, including a night-time opportunity to appreciate the spectacular luminescence of the structures, as the lighted sculpture elements reveal themselves in the darkness, enhanced by the sparkling city below.
This compound was Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home until his death in 1959, and is currently the site of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. The on-site gift shop has a wide range of books on architecture and interior design and as well as unique jewelry, prints, and art pieces.
http://taliesinpreservation.org
http://hikingcamelback.com
