So Much To Do in Scottsdale, Arizona!

There is SO much to do in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area, but we will try to give you our "best of the best"!

What to do on your vacation depends on what you LIKE to do. Golf? Golf courses are everywhere.The Phoenician on Camelback has a beautiful course, The TPC, where the Phoenix Open is played in January, is north on Scottsdale Rd.

Shopping? Scottsdale Fashion Square is at the intersection of Scottsdale Rd. and Camelback. The Borgata and Kierland are upscale outdoor malls north of Camelback on Scottsdale Rd.

Old Scottsdale is located south of the intersections of Scottsdale and Camelback Rds. This area has all the magnificent art galleries, Indian and Southwest craft stores, and many good restaurants.

For a treat, walk around the Phoenician Resort on Camelback and have drinks and appetizers on the veranda overlooking the pool.

Visit the Desert Botanical Gardens and the zoo.

Drive the Apache Trail, through Apache Junction, past Apache Lake, Roosevelt Dam, and back through Globe. Have breakfast or lunch at the Superstition Saloon in Tortilla Flats.

Oh, yes! And don't forget to spend some time relaxing by the pool under those palm trees! And I haven't even mentioned the spas!

Quick Tips:

The best weather months are October, November, March, April, May, and June. Contrary to popular opinion it does get chilly December through February in Scottsdale (we're talking 50's and 60's during the day and 40's at night). July, August, and September are the truly hot months.

If you stay at the timeshare, shop for food at AJ's -there is one on Lincoln.

The Desert Botanical Gardens are truly beautiful. If this interests you, don't miss it. During certain months, there are Sunday concerts in the Garden.

The Apache Trail is a day trip and lots of fun - part of the drive is on very windy narrow road, so be prepared.

Take a drive up I-17 for breakfast or lunch at the Rock Springs Cafe, famous for its homemade pies!

Take a ride up to Carefree to enjoy the shops at El Pedregal.

Kids will enjoy Rawhide, the Wild West Town at the intersection of Scottsdale and Pinnacle Peak Roads.

Take lots of extra water with you everywhere, because as everyone knows, out here, it's a DRY HEAT!

Best Way To Get Around:

Rent a car and get out and see and do everything. Scottsdale is a large city that doesn't look like a city. It is easy to get around because the roads are on a grid system. The new 101 can take you from Camelback Rd. to North Scottsdale, Cave Creek, and Carefree in a jiffy. This may be quicker at times than going up Scottsdale Road, which has a lot of lights and traffic.

Follow Camelback Rd. straight into Phoenix to go to the Heard or the Phoenix Art Museums.

Best Things Nearby:
Old Scottsdale, Fashion Square, The Phoenician, Desert Botanical Gardens, Zoo, Heard Museum, Golf.

Best Things About the Resort:
Beautiful pool, great location, very nice rooms.

Resort Experience:
We stayed at this resort twice - once in a two bedroom unit and once in a studio. The two bedroom was fantastic - lots of room, including a laundry room with washer/dryer. The studio was nice too, with a bedroom in an upstairs loft, but there is only one bathroom and that is off the master bedroom on the first floor. So if someone is staying in the loft, they have to go through the master to use the bathroom. In the middle of the night, that could be annoying.

There is a beautiful pool. It would benefit from the addition of more umbrellas or shade areas, now that we are all more sun conscious. There were some festivities by the pool, such as a Mexican buffet, that were fun. There was a house masseuse who gave me one of the best massages I've ever had.

Most of all, this resort is centrally located for seeing Phoenix, Scottsdale, and for heading off on day trips.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

This is a very cool place! The saloon is pretty much the only thing in Tortilla Flat, population six, seven, or eight, depending on when you go. It is a must-stop on the Apache Trail. There is stuff hanging everywhere - dollar bills people leave behind for good luck, and all kinds of other stuff. At the bar, the seats are saddles! Food is hamburger, hot dog, french fries - you know - American food! We stopped here at about ten in the morning, and my husband had pancakes and I had a hot dog! Both were just fine. It's fun, inexpensive, and an experience.

It doesn't look like much, but the Rock Springs Cafe is worth a 20 minute trip north of Phoenix/Scottsdale on I-17. Go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. But whenever you go, get some pie, because that is what Rock Springs Cafe is famous for! Each year, they sell about 40,000 pies!

It's very rustic - tin ceilings, wood floors, some booths, and lots of cool old things on the walls. The food is American comfort food - hamburgers, chile, ribs, meatloaf and gravy, chicken, and PIE! Cherry pie, lemon meringue, chocolate cream, strawberry rhubarb, apple, blueberry - you name it! Prices are cheap and service is good.

The Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden is a beautifully managed and maintained outdoor garden with walking trails. Entry fees are $7.50 for adults and $3.50 for children. You'll walk through desert landscape on wide walkways that meander around the base of a small mountain. You'll learn all about the amazing desert plants and their habitat.There's a Butterfly House and a Big Bug exhibit. It's very peaceful and educational. In spring and fall there are outdoor concerts on Sunday afternoons at reasonable prices. Food can be purchased at the concerts. There is a lovely gift shop and plant shop.