The Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions Locals Love

Phoenix Attractions

I often tell people Scottsdale is like an onion. To really get it, you must peel back a few layers. But that's part of the fun.

There are many things Scottsdale does really well... Weather, dining, golf, luxury, nightlife, adventure.

Yet so much of its magic is wrapped up in its history. It's worth it to take a look.

Scottsdale and Phoenix attractions are where you can see, touch, taste, and feel the essence of Scottsdale.

Where you can learn about history, art, culture and of course... the beautiful Sonoran Desert. All things that define this place.

Therefore, I focus my efforts here on introducing those attractions that feed your mind (okay...and a few other worthwhile randoms). This means museums, archeological sites, botanical gardens, art and other cultural activities.

Looking for something more active? Then check out these outdoor things to do.

Otherwise, roll up those sleeves. Slick that hair back, and let's get down to business.

Humble Beginnings

Long before rubber hit the road and shiny wheels of hot rods were seen glittering through the streets of Scottsdale, the most you could find here were hoof prints and wagon wheel tracks.

Rawhide Western Town

The days of frontier towns, horse-powered transportation, saloons and cowboy shootouts may be long gone... But they are what the city of Scottsdale was founded on.

I've always been a sucker for this time period (hec...Tombstone is one of my favorite movies), and would love to go back, guns blazing...petticoats and all.

Best of Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Rawhide Western Town

Thankfully, this is a part of history that has been captured, revived and put back into the rotation at Rawhide Western Town. Yeeee-haw.

Here you can get a taste of what a real Wild West Frontier Town was like. Everything from stagecoach rides, Wild West shootouts, sundown cookouts, gold panning and much more can be experienced here.

I will be writing more about Rawhide Western Town soon.

Goldfield Ghost Town

Beyond cowboys and Indians, horse-drawn carriages and saloons, there was another endeavor that defined the 1800's. This endeavor loured thousands of people to the greater Phoenix valley...

I'm talking about...Gold mining.

Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Check Out an Old Mining Town

A little off the beaten, in the beautiful foothills of the Superstition Mountains, is Goldfield Ghost Town. It's here where you see up-close-and-personal, the remains of an old gold mining town. Its broken down buildings and dusty roads still hint of a once booming town, thriving off rich gold mines found deep within.

There are many reasons to explore Goldfield Ghost Town, and I will be writing more about them soon.

Casa Grande Ruins

Before boots and spurs, leather and lace were ever seen in these parts, Scottsdale and its surrounding area was settled by the "ancient Sonoran Desert people". Over a thousand years ago, these people brought the desert to life through irrigation farming and extensive trade operations.

Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Casa Grande Ruins

An outstanding Phoenix archaeological site.

The Casa Grande Ruins is one of the largest prehistoric archaeological sites in North America. A visit here offers the chance to explore the life of these ancient people as depicted through the preserved ruins found at this remarkable site.

More about the Casa Grande Ruins coming soon.

Deer Valley Rock Art Center

During a time where man vs. wild defined human existence in the valley, ancient people were making their mark that would endure thousands of years beyond their time.

It was a period in history when people communicated and told stories through pictures and symbols. These ancient symbols, or petroglyphs, have been found in countless locations throughout the valley.

Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Deer Valley Rock Art Center

If learning about ancient cultures (while enjoying the sites of the Sonoran Desert) piques your interest, then the Deer Valley Rock Art Center is the place for you. It has the largest concentration of Native American petroglyphs found in the Phoenix area.

I will be writing more about this Phoenix attraction soon.

Gettin' Down with the Desert

What do you think of when you imagine a desert? Lots of rocks? Plenty of sand? ...An occasional lizard?

Well let me tell you, there are more than just tumbleweeds and dust in here.

Scottsdale is in the heart of the most lush and diverse desert on the planet, the Sonoran Desert. Many people, like me, find it surprisingly beautiful when they first see it.

The natural setting is one of the main reasons Scottsdale is such a unique and magical place.

Here are a few attractions that get you up-close-and-personal with our beautiful desert.

Desert Botanical Garden

Being a creature of the desert gives "survival of the fittest" a whole new meaning. Plant or animal, life can be rough when temperatures reach over 115 degrees in the summer and rain is nowhere in sight.

Best of Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden offers a closer look into the diverse plant life found in the Sonoran Desert.

But a trip here offers more than just plants and cacti. The Botanical Garden is regularly host to popular music and art events in Phoenix. In fact, it's during these events that my friends and I enjoy visiting the most.

Learn more about the Desert Botanical Garden here.

Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin West

Frank Lloyd Wright is a well-known name that likely you've heard before. What's less well-known (except among locals, of course) is Frank Lloyd Wright's influence around Scottsdale and Phoenix.

Wright made significant contributions to the famous, Arizona Biltmore Hotel. And left perhaps an even larger legacy, right here in North Scottsdale, at Taliesin West.

Best of Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West

Taliesin West was Frank Lloyd Wright's personal winter home, and also functioned as a workshop for his students. In fact, it still operates as a school today.

True to Wright's philosophy, Taliesin West was constructed using native materials found around the site. I must admit, it's quite fascinating how the Sonoran Desert was defined through his art.

I am no architect buff, but I recently took a tour at Taliesin West and found it surprisingly interesting. It made me a believer of good ol' FLW.

You can read more about Taliesin West and my tour here.

Phoenix Zoo.

Not all zoos are created equal. Just because you've seen one, doesn't mean you've seen them all. And I have a few reasons why I think our zoo does it better than other zoos.

Best of Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Feeding the giraffes at the Phoenix Zoo

Especially when it comes to the kids. Ever heard of a Splash Zone? I didn't think so. But your kids will love them.

And big kids, like me, really appreciate the openness of the zoo. Much of it gives you that up close and personal feel because of the way its designed. Take a walk through the monkey exhibit and you'll see exactly what I mean.

Before you head to the Phoenix Zoo, take a look at my tips for making your trip a "10".

Museums, Museums, Museums

Unless someone invents a time machine, museums are the closest thing we have to getting in touch with the past.

Here are a few Scottsdale and Phoenix museums I would recommend for taking a step back in time.

Heard Museum

This is the museum for learning about American Indian history, art and culture. Founded in 1929 by some of the area's first settlers, the Heard Museum has grown to become an internationally recognized attraction.

Best of Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Heard Museum

Learn about these famous Kachina Dolls

Not only can you peruse artifacts and learn about Native culture, there are also hands-on activities. Visitors have the opportunity to weave with a loom, or create wearable art. The Kachina Doll section is perhaps my favorite part of the experience.

Considering a trip through the Heard Museum North? Take a look to see which location is better.

Pueblo Grande Museum

Long before Scottsdale became the great city it is, the ancient Hohokam tribe were the first inhabitants of the area. If you've already set foot on Scottsdale soil, likely you've noticed the Arizona Canal that runs right through the heart of the city. That canal was actually started by the Hohokam Indians over 1,000 years ago.

Hohokam Hut

Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Pueblo Grande Museum

Besides the canal, there are many other sites located around the Valley of the Sun, where the Hohokam tribe have left their mark.

Touring the Pueblo Grande Museum offers an opportunity to explore the ancient ruins of a Hohokam site, right in the heart of Phoenix. Visitors can tour an excavated ballcourt, a ceremonial platform and remains of irrigation canals that supplied water to the Hohokam villages hundreds of years ago.

Musical Instrument Museum

*This is Scottsdale's newest museum, and a highly sought after attraction.*

There are hundreds of countries on this planet, each unique in culture and language. Yet there is a common denominator between all of us. That is music.

Music is a language that needs no words. It is the rhythm of the soul, as they say.

Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: See the New Musical Instrument Museum

South Korean Exhibit at the Musical Instrument Museum

A tour through the Musical Instrument Museum offers the opportunity to enjoy the resonant sounds of instruments from all over the globe.

It is the first museum of it's kind, simply because it showcases instruments from every country on this planet. Other instrument museums do not do this.

I recently took a trip through MIM. You can read about my soulful journey here.

Phoenix Art Museum

Whether you "get" art or not, the Phoenix Art Museum is a place most people can appreciate.

The museum itself is an architectural masterpiece. You'll enjoy looking at the building as much as you'll enjoy the art held within it.

One of my favorite Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Phoenix Art Museum

Since I've lived in Scottsdale, I've been to the art museum many times. There are pieces in the permanent collection I go back specifically to see again and again. And the traveling exhibits always keep this attraction fresh... always offering something new and compelling to see.

Find out which is my favorite exhibit and learn more about the Phoenix Art Museum here.

Arizona Science Center

Do you have a fascination with knowing how things work? If you're like my dad, then the answer would be, Yes.

The Arizona Science Center takes the mystery out of the question and puts the knowledge right in your hands. Literally.

Most Fascinating of the Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: the Arizona Science Center

As one of the most hands-on museums in our valley, the Arizona Science Center will appeal to not only adults, but kids as well. Everything from the digital world, to natural forces, to the human body are demonstrated through the 300-plus exhibits in this massive museum.

The Planetarium and IMAX theater also add to the experience.

I had a lot of fun touring this museum. Read more about my day at the Arizona Science Center here.

Looking for more museums? I will be writing about other Scottsdale and Phoenix museums soon.

The HeART of Scottsdale

The city of Scottsdale has been a source of artistic inspiration for decades, thanks to its beautiful surroundings and provocative history.

Art galleries line the streets of Old Town and beautiful bronze sculptures greet you at almost every turn.

Bronze Sculptures Line the Streets of Old Town Scottsdale

Here are a few ways to take a closer look at the artsy side of Scottsdale.

Old Town Galleries

Did you know Old Town Scottsdale alone has 150 art galleries? It's the highest per capita in the nation.

Best of Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Check out the Scottsdale Art District

A great way to enjoy a beautiful afternoon, or summer evening in Scottsdale, is to stroll through the streets of the Old Town Scottsdale Art District. There you can take in galleries of every medium and style of art, all within a square mile radius.

Insider Tip: Every Thursday evening, the Scottsdale Art Walk is held in Old Town. It's free and an opportunity to meet our local artists.

Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts

Are you a fan of the theater? Prefer to take in the arts through song and dance? Then I'd consider making a visit to the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts.

The center features over 200 performances and events annually, so chances are you will be able to catch a show (or maybe two..) while you're here.

I will be writing more about Scottsdale Performing Arts soon.

And a Few Randoms...

Mystery Castle

Most of our Scottsdale and Phoenix attractions are fascinating. Others are just funky. The Mystery Castle would be one of our more funky attractions.

Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions: Mystery Castle

Whether or not this is an attraction that would be worth seeing, I will leave up to you. However, I do have my own opinion on the matter.

Would I put Mystery Castle on the top of my "must-see" list? Probably not. I will write more about my reason for this soon.

Phoenix/Scottsdale Casinos

If you're looking to up the ante a little bit and want to try your hand at a game of chance, there are a few options for you.

Scottsdale and Phoenix Attractions

The East side of Scottsdale is flanked by the Salt River-Pima Indian Reservation. So naturally, it allows for gaming. Granted it's no Vegas, but our casinos provide enough opportunity for you to get your fix.... If that's your thing!

There are several Phoenix and Scottsdale casinos to choose from.

Fort McDowell Casino and Talking Stick Casino are both located in Scottsdale and would be the most convenient. If you feel like taking a drive, Gila River, Casino Arizona and Wild Horse Pass Casino offer more gaming options.

I will be writing more detail on these casinos soon.

With so many Scottsdale and Phoenix attractions to choose from, the challenge is not what should we do, but what should we do first.

So here's my suggestion: Don't limit yourself. Look around. Be creative. Spend the day exploring and expanding your mind.

(Don't forget: If you're looking for more fun, outdoor things to do in Scottsdale, check out these other options.)

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