I have probably visited Scottsdale, Arizona a dozen times. It is so nice to have family you can visit any time in such a gorgeous place and not too far away. With only a 3 hour flight from the west coast of Canada it makes for a perfect trip to a destination that offers so much to see and do. It always amazes me that I can find something new to do every time I visit. Today I thought I would share my top 10 things to do in Scottsdale.
Since the weather is so great year round outdoor shopping malls are the best way to shop. Scottsdale Quarter is a great mix of boutiques and high end stores and restaurants. I could literally spend the whole day there. We stayed walking distance to here this time and I loved that we could walk to dinner or shopping everyday.
HIKING
There are too many trails to hit up from easy to very difficult. I usually opt for the easy as I usually hike with family. One of my favourite hikes is Pinnacle Peak, it has a moderate incline to ge the heart rate going and the views along the way are incredible. You don't have to wait till you get to the top to take in the views. If you want something more challenging try hiking Camelback Mountain its one that will challenge you and reward you with the incredible views up top.
If you have ever heard anyone mention the hole in the rock hike this is where you can find it. It is located here along with tons of other trails as well as the botanical gardens. There is literally something here for everyone. The trails are mostly flat so its a great place to take small kids. Its also right next door to the Phoenix Zoo so you can make 2 stops in one.
This is a must if you ever get to Scottsdale, such great shops and restaurants and history. I love all the jewelry shops here, so many great things to buy. Spend the day walking around and enjoying all the history. This is also a huge night spot hub, so many great places to party the night away, we spend the night At The Beverly on Main St and it was so great, Great food, cocktails and atmosphere, I highly recommend it.
FOOD AND DRINK
Every time I come to Scottsdale I always feel like I am eating my way though my vacation. There are so many great restaurants its actually really hard to decide on where to go because there are so many to choose from. I really try to check out new places I have not tried each time I visit, the options are endless, here is a list of my favourite restaurants
PHOENIX SUNS GAMES
My whole family are NBA fans, every time we are in Scottsdale we try to get to a game, we love it so much fun and a great way to spend time together.
OUTLETS
You cannot leave here without hitting at least one outlet mall, we usually hit up 2 or 3. I love shopping at the outlets, such great prices and you can get designer things too. I really love how they are all outdoor malls and you can walk though while enjoying the great weather. My 2 top outlet malls are Anthem Outlets and Westgate Outlets.
OK, you may remember seeing my stories while we were there. We decided to try this place out on a day it was pouring rain and we did not have anything else to do and I am so glad we did, I absolutely loved it even thought I have never played golf before, So fun with a group of people. You can enjoy drinks and food while you try to get the highest score and beat your friends
This is one of the best zoo's I've been to. So many great exhibits, it feels like the animals here are so active and not just sitting around. One of my favourite things here is the monkey exhibit, getting up close and personal with monkeys is always so fun. We did not do this this trip but I love it so much it needed to be added to my list.
RESORT STAY
Scottsdale is know for some of the best resorts out there, with desert views and endless pools you can't really go wrong. We stayed in a condo this time around since we were there so long but we always take time to enjoy some days at a resort. The Westin Kierland is one of our favourites..Its nice to be pampered, lay by the pool and order a cocktail and hit up the spa.
I really hope you guys get a chance to visit Scottsdale and do some of my favourite things, if there is anything you think I should add to this please comment below.