Scottsdale Travel Guide

 
by jhome259
 
  •   Scottsdale
    by jhome259
  • Front of building on 2nd St
      Front of building on 2nd St
    by BruceDunning
  • The Heard Museum North Scottsdale, AZ
      The Heard Museum North Scottsdale, AZ
    by jumpingnorman
  • One of the over 25 resort and day spas, Scottsdale
      One of the over 25 resort and day spas,...
    by jumpingnorman
  • Cacti in a Scottsdale resort, Arizona
      Cacti in a Scottsdale resort, Arizona
    by jumpingnorman
 

Pro

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 Arts and Crafts, Golf and Cambleback Mountain 


Con

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 A little pricey at times! 


In a nutshell

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 If you're gonna stay anywhere in the valley, this probably the safer and prettier place to do it and you won't have trouble finding a decent place to eat at night or to shop for souvenirs during the... 

 

Explore Scottsdale

Things to Do  

Do as the Sun Devils

Do as the Sun Devils, Scottsdale

 HELEN Says:  Go to an ASU football game. Start by tailgating either the old fashion way, in the parking lot or going to bars near the stadium. There are several bars to choose from and they all have a great crowd and drink specials. It's a SCENE! Since I went to college without a... 

Hike Cammelback Mountain

Hike Cammelback Mountain, Scottsdale

 HELEN Says:  A great workout with a fabulous view of Phoenix. There are many stops along the way and you can turn around at any point, or you can get a really good workout and go to the top. The trail was a good challenge ranging from an uphill walk to climbing up rocks.It's steep and... 

Hotels  

Camelback Inn, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa

 4 Reviews and 816 Opinions  My wife and I stayed at the J.W. Marriott (Camelback Inn) Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley,... 

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

 2 Reviews and 851 Opinions  I recently stayed at the Four Seasons for work- as we were scouting locations for holding an... 

Restaurants  

Rehab Burger Therapy: Be prepared to wait

Rehab Burger Therapy: Be prepared to wait, Scottsdale

 biscits Says:  This bar/restaurant is right in downtown Scottsdale. Plenty of sports on the many televisions. Surfboards and bicycles on the walls for flair. The burgers aren't bad, but not worth the wait. Because you will wait.. first for the menus, then for the drinks, and the food.. It... 

Malee's Thai on Main: Great Food in Old Town

Malee's Thai on Main: Great Food in Old Town, Scottsdale

 Basaic Says:  $19 as of January 2013. Malee's Thai on Main is known by many locals as some of the best food in Scottsdale. It gets crowded quick so reservations are recommended. The décor is kinda fancy and the menu filled with tempting choices. Service was very good. Excellent... 

Saddle Ranch Chop House: Okay!

Saddle Ranch Chop House: Okay!, Scottsdale

 Africancrab Says:  This is your typical southwestern/ cowboy restaurant in Scottsdale. The reason I rated this okay, honestly is because I do not remember the taste of my food, but I know I ate it. It was during one of my many meet-ups and I was the host. We ordered food later than expected... 

The Sugar Bowl: Ice Cream

The Sugar Bowl: Ice Cream, Scottsdale

 Africancrab Says:  Another one of my travel meet-ups in Scottsdale took us to the Sugar bowl. This is a great place to go when you're in Scottsdale and want some ice-cream or a blast of sugary eats: The Sugar Bowl restaurant. It's located on Scottsdale Road near Indian School Road in the Old... 

Stingray Sushi Restaurant: Sushi

Stingray Sushi Restaurant: Sushi, Scottsdale

 Africancrab Says:  My friend Matthew and I had breakfast at the Good Egg Sunday morning from whence we decided to take a drive to Scottsdale to make sure our meet-up locations are confirmed. I had the W hotel pending so we decided to start with the W hotel. Well we arrived in Scottsdale at a... 

Olive & Ivy Restaurant & Market Place: Mediterranean!

Olive & Ivy Restaurant & Market Place: Mediterranean!, Scottsdale

 Africancrab Says:  I headed to the Pink Light district where the sight of water was calming and refreshing. I sat on the artistic bridge and watched the ripples in the water for a while until I felt calm and my heart raced less. Right in front of me was the Olive and Ivy restaurant, I walked... 

Nightlife  

Social Tap: Good Drinks/Music, Friendly Staff

Social Tap: Good Drinks/Music, Friendly Staff, Scottsdale

 Basaic Says:  The Social Tap is right next door to DJ's but to me is a much better choice. They were playing decent rock and roll and the staff was much nicer. Unfortunately, my favorite waitress there, Heidi, is leaving. Still a decent choice for getting a few good drinks. They have food... 

DJ's Bar and Grill: Not My Cup of Tea

DJ's Bar and Grill: Not My Cup of Tea, Scottsdale

 Basaic Says:  Of the four bars I went to in Scottsdale, DJ's would rank last. It seemed to have plenty of people drinking there but neither the crowd, nor the bartender was particularly friendly. There are plenty of other choices in the Entertainment District. 

Shotgun Betty's: Voted Best Bar for Daytime Drinking

Shotgun Betty's: Voted Best Bar for Daytime Drinking, Scottsdale

 Basaic Says:  This is my favorite bar in the Entertainment District or anywhere else in Scottsdale. They played excellent 70s and 80s rock and roll and the décor was very cool. Love the Harley (see photo 2). Caters to bikers but a variety of people come here. They also offer a free daily... 

Devil's Martini North: Dancing!!

Devil's Martini North: Dancing!!, Scottsdale

 Africancrab Says:  I went dancing with a great group of travel friends, this was after the yard House dinner and chit-chats. We agreed to go the Devil's Martini located at Shea and N Scottsdale Road, apparently there another Devil's Martini in Old Town Scottsdale. Anyhow, the one I'm reviewing... 

Transportation  

The Downtown Trolley

The Downtown Trolley, Scottsdale

 HELEN Says:  The trolley is a wonderful way to get around the historical downtown area. It's free and prompt. It runs 7 days a week from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, every 10 minutes. The Trolley visits the most significant places to sightsee, so you can hop off wherever you'd like and hop back... 

Shopping  

Soca Gallery: South of Camelback

Soca Gallery: South of Camelback, Scottsdale

 Maria250 Says:  Soca means South of Camelback and South of the (Arizona) Canal, the gallery includes a boutique store called Vircille. Soca Gallery is a two-level art boutique with jewelry, antiques, rugs and other decorative furnishings to buy. A portion of the sales go to children's... 

Southwestern Reflections: Old Town shops

Southwestern Reflections: Old Town shops, Scottsdale

 Maria250 Says:  Though I'm not that much of that shopping type of person, I did like shopping through those western shops pretty much. Very interesting the days of the Old West. One can find there Native American art/crafts, hats, caps, boots, collectibles, souvenirs, and much, much more.... 

What to Pack  

Don't forget Sunblock and Sunglasses

Don't forget Sunblock and Sunglasses, Scottsdale

 HELEN Says:   You are going to the desert, during the summer it's scorching hot, during the winter it's freezing cold. But, the sun is almost always shining, so you'll want your sunglasses and sun-block at all times. 

Off The Beaten Path  

Arizona family road trip

Arizona family road trip, Scottsdale

 Maria250 Says:  Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Sedona offer a diverse range of activities for the whole family. Start in the Valley of the Sun and explore downtown Phoenix’s museums and parks. Then, head north to Sedona for a series of outdoor adventures before making your way back to... 

The Apache Trail ~ A Rugged Experience

The Apache Trail ~ A Rugged Experience, Scottsdale

 starship Says:  During our first visit to Scottsdale quite a few years ago, we learned about the Apache Trail. Beginning just on the edge of Scottsdale at Apache Junction, the famed Apache Trail ( US Rt. 88) takes you on a 41 + mile loop deep into the" Superstition Mountains" and around the... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Spring Training

Spring Training, Scottsdale

 HELEN Says:  If you are a baseball fan, spring training in Scottsdale is the place to be. Before the office baseball season begins, all teams from the west side of the country come to Arizona for "training". It's a social scene along with great baseball watching. 

Hike Cammelback Mountain

Hike Cammelback Mountain, Scottsdale

 HELEN Says:  A great workout with a fabulous view of Phoenix. There are many stops along the way and you can turn around at any point, or you can get a really good workout and go to the top. The trail was a good challenge ranging from an uphill walk to climbing up rocks.It's steep and... 

Comments (1)

  • toddecus's Profile Photo
    Nov 29, 2012 at 5:11 PM

    I am really wondering if Devil's Martini is still the hotspot for 30 somethings.

 
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