Culture
The Sonoran Desert has been a source of inspiration for countless writers and artists. Because of this Scottsdale has a strong heritage in the visual arts. If you're looking for classic American landscapes Amery Bohling Fine Art is a great place to visit, where you'll find paintings inspired by the iconic backdrop of Arizona. American Fine Art features works by a number of 20th-century masters, including Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. The Calvin Charles Gallery is one of Scottsdale's most well-regarded studios and features a range of events and exhibitions, while the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is a must-visit for art lovers.
For an insight into the history of Scottsdale head to The Scottsdale Historical Museum, located in the Little Red School House, that dates from 1909. The museum is situated in Scottsdale's Old Town, a Wild West–themed part of the city with a number of period buildings.
Sonoran Desert
An area of outstanding natural beauty, the Sonoran Desert is a stunning place to explore. Whether you plan on trekking across the desert on foot, off road or even by hot air balloon, there are a number of different routes and planned trips to consider. Hikers from all over the world visit the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Here you'll find the Bajada Nature Trail – a shorter trail that's ideal for families, and the Saguaro Trail – perfect for walkers with a little more experience under their belt. Mountain biking is also very popular in the area, including the Double Bypass route that covers both the Windgate and Bell passes.
To really get a sense of the Wild West, you'll want to experience the Sonoran Desert on horseback. There are a number of companies that offer riding tours of the area, including Spur Cross Stables and Fort McDowell Adventures. If you'd rather explore the area behind the wheel of a Jeep, Apache Trail Tours and Desert Wolf Tours run a number of exciting off-road adventures. Or you could always hop into a hot-air balloon and see the desert from above. Arizona Balloon Safaris provide a range of hot-air ballooning packages to choose from.
Shopping
Away from the wild desert Scottsdale has some of Arizona's biggest shopping centres. Scottsdale Fashion Square is an ideal destination if you're planning on enjoying some retail therapy, as are Scottsdale Waterfront and Scottsdale Promenade Shopping Center. The city also has a range of speciality shops, including Saba's Famous Texas Boots.
