Where to stay

Scottsdale is a superb destination for food lovers, with more than 800 restaurants serving everything from modern American to Mexican cuisine. The best area to stay in for dining is the Old Town, which has almost 100 restaurants in just one square mile, many of them award-winning. Choose a hotel in Downtown Scottsdale or the Waterfront for even more places to eat, from smokehouses to pizzerias and slow-food restaurants getting creative with produce from local farms. North Scottsdale is a great neighborhood to book a room for authentic local cafés, brunch spots, and restaurants with stunning views of the desert.

The best place to stay in Scottsdale if you want to shop is the Old Town, where numerous boutiques sell clothing, jewelry, and interior design items, as well as Arizona-themed gifts. The neighborhood also has a farmers market offering fresh local and organic produce. Choose accommodations in Downtown Scottsdale to be closer to Fashion Square, an upscale mall with more than 200 different brands. Stay in North Scottsdale to be nearer to Kierland Commons, a high-end outdoor shopping center, and the beautifully designed open-air precinct of Scottsdale Quarter. Both are perfect places to shop if you prefer shopping outside rather than in air-conditioned malls.

The desert around Scottsdale is a perfect outdoor playground for hikers, bikers, and rock climbers and is full of native wildlife. Those interested in the plants and animals of the desert may establish a base in Papago Park Village, a short drive from downtown. It's next to Papago Park, which has hiking trails, a zoo, and the Desert Botanical Garden containing an astonishing collection of desert plants. Stay in Camelback Village to access challenging trails to the summit of Camelback Mountain, an iconic local peak with panoramic views of Scottsdale and Phoenix from the summit. Nature lovers should also consider accommodations in Fountain Hills on the edge of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a huge park with hundreds of miles of trails to explore.