Scottsdale, Desert city in Arizona, United States
Description
Scottsdale is a city in Arizona that spreads east of Phoenix across Sonoran Desert terrain. Residential neighborhoods with low-rise buildings alternate with resorts, golf courses, and shopping districts that line wide streets planted with palms and cacti.
History
The settlement began in the late 1800s as an agricultural colony after a retired military chaplain acquired farmland. During the following decades, artists and retirees moved here, drawn by the dry climate and desert landscape.
Culture
Locals gather on patios and in open courtyards during mild evenings, where social life continues late into the night. The Arts District attracts visitors who come for gallery openings, performances, and outdoor markets that reflect the community's appreciation for creativity and conversation.
Practical
A free shuttle connects the main districts and makes it easier for visitors to move between Old Town, galleries, and shopping centers. Summer months bring extreme heat, so plan walks early in the morning or after sunset.
Did you know?
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve protects more than 120 square kilometers (over 45 square miles) of desert habitat and offers hundreds of kilometers of marked trails through hills covered with saguaro cacti. Visitors often encounter desert animals such as coyotes, lizards, and birds of prey living in the natural environment.
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Taliesin West
14.7 km
Papago Park
4.9 km
Phoenix Zoo
5 kmTPC of Scottsdale
16.2 km
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
7 km
Desert Botanical Garden
3.9 km
OdySea Aquarium
8.2 km
McCormick Stillman Railroad Park
4.8 kmCosanti
8.3 km
Hunt's Tomb
4.9 km
Pinnacle Peak
26.7 km
Butterfly Wonderland
8.3 km
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
4.9 km
Black Mountain
35.9 kmScottsdale National Golf Club
30.5 km
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
325 m
Roald Amundsen
5 km
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
233 m
Thompson Peak
19.9 kmThe Estancia Club
27.9 km
Scottsdale Public Library
537 mMcDowell Peak
21.1 km
Gateway Trailhead - McDowell Sonoran Preserve
18.5 km
Mesa Historical Museum
11.2 kmEast End Peak
23.8 kmDesert Forest Golf Club
36.7 km
Pinnacle Peak Park
26.8 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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