Scottsdale (Arizona) - Wikitravel (original) (raw)

Scottsdale is a city in the state of Arizona. It is east of Phoenix and is considered to be part of the Phoenix Metro Area.

Understand[edit]

Scottsdale is home to many galleries, high quality resorts, and golf courses. It is also one of the wealthier parts of the Phoenix Metro Area.

High end shopping destinations are one of the primary attractions of the city. For example, the Fashion Square Mall is near downtown Scottsdale and is one of the biggest malls in the United States. The extensive galleries to the west of the downtown also offer upscale shopping and strolling. The galleries in this area display works both from local artists and from around the world.

The view from Camelback Mountain

Saloons and plastic cacti for tourists in the Old Town

The Old Town section of Scottsdale is to the east of the gallery district [1]. It showcases swanky upscale style as well as a caricature of the gruff American West. Well over half the shops are gift shops. However, it is fun enough for a browse in a Disneyland sort of way.

Both "Old Town" and "Downtown" Scottsdale possess an dazing array of bars, nightclubs, pool clubs and chic eateries. Nicknamed the "Beverly Hills of the Desert," Scottsdale is second to none in terms of opportunity for high-end debauchery.

The Canals[edit]

The valley of the sun has over 130 miles of canals [2]. Most of them were built in the last 100 years to provide water for the irrigation of farm land. However, now that the valley is much less agrarian the canals are primarily used to carry away storm water. Some are also used to generate hydroelectric power.[3]

These often overlooked gems are open to the public. One can take in the beautiful desert scenery and fresh air while strolling along them. They provide walkers, joggers, and bikers with a nice refuge from traffic. But don't try swimming in the canals, aside from being an obvious bad idea because the sides are so steep it is also illegal, along with motorized vehicles [4]

Get in[edit]

By plane[edit]

Scottsdale Airport (IATA: SCF, ICAO: KSDL) is a smaller airport 9 miles north of downtown Scottsdale, in Maricopa County, AZ. It's one of the busiest single-runway airports in general aviation, and is offers services from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM PST. There are two FBO's (fixed-base operators) located on-site (Signature Flight Support and Landmark Aviation). Air charter companies such as Valley Jet and Air Charter Advisors offer access to aircraft based at KSDL, ranging from single and twin-engine props to business jets and luxury Gulfstreams.

Alternative Airports[edit]

The Phoenix metro area has several airports. The biggest and most used is the Sky Harbor Airport which is about a 20 minutes drive away from downtown Scottsdale. * Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IATA: AZA) +1 480 988-7600 [5] is located east of Phoenix, in neighboring Mesa. It is served mainly by Allegiant Air [6] and Spirit Airlines [7] although Vision Airlines [8] also offers service. Currently, this is a smaller-sized airport, but is in the process of being redeveloped into a major regional airport.

Get around[edit]

Scottsdale is undoubtedly a car-centric place. Most of the city is too spread out to reasonably walk, far more people use their own cars than ride the bus, and the light rail does not come to Scottsdale.

By car[edit]

Outside of its central core, Scottsdale is laid out for cars.

To keep the speed limits and traffic signals well enforced, the city of Scottsdale extensively uses photo radar. Residents often learn where the cameras are and slow down near them. However, sometimes they slow down a bit abruptly. Drivers are often well served by expecting this from time to time.

There are 3 types of cameras.

  1. Intersection cameras These cameras monitor for both speeding and the running of red lights.
  2. Stationary freeway Cameras These monitor for speeding and are intended to keep the speed reasonable. They generally are triggered 11 mph over the speed limit.
  3. Mobile Van cameras These cameras monitor for speeding from the back of white vans on the side of the road. These are harder to spot because they move locations regularly and park inconspicuously.

Generally it is easiest and safest to simply drive the speed limit and not run red lights. :)

By Bus[edit]

From points south:

Valley metro route 72 is one of the most heavily traveled bus routes in the Phoenix metro area. It provides convenient service to the Tempe transit center (where you can connect to the light rail) in central Tempe and parts of Chandler.

From central Phoenix

Several bus routes run along Camelback road from the heart of Scottsdale to uptown Phoenix and the light rail. Weekend travel along this corridor can be spotty and weekend travelers may find it more convenient to drive or take a cab.

By foot[edit]

Getting around by walking can take a bit of planning. Not all roads have sidewalks and distances that seem reasonable can become quite uncomfortable in the warmer months. If you have time, messing around with something like Google's street view can be well worth it.

By trolley[edit]

The "trolley" is actually a bus fashioned to look like the old style trolley such as the famous San Francisco cable cars.

Downtown Scottsdale, and the neighborhood south of downtown, are each served by a trolley. Both are free and usually come by every 15-20 minutes while running.

The downtown trolley can be a nice way to get from the waterfront to old town or the gallery district with minimal effort. Here is route and hour information for the downtown trolley.

See[edit]

Do[edit]

Buy[edit]

Eat[edit]

Drink[edit]

Sleep[edit]

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget under $100
Mid-range 101−101 - 101−200
Splurge $201 and over

Budget[edit]

Mid-range[edit]

Splurge[edit]

Stay safe[edit]

Flooding[edit]

It doesn't rain very frequently in Scottsdale. However, when the rain does come many lakes swell, bike paths are submerged, and roads become impassable.

If there is a notable amount of water on the road, don't drive through it. Drivers frequently become stranded in the middle of flooded washes. Cars can be swept away in a deceptively small amount of water. As you might guess, attempting to drive across such flooded roads is dangerous.

Arizona also has what they like to call a "Stupid Motorist Law." It says that if someone drives around a barricade to enter a flooded road they will be charged for their rescue.

Heat[edit]

In the summer it can get quite hot. Dehydration, heat stroke, and sun stroke become notable risks.

Drink plenty of water and stay indoors in the afternoon, during the hottest parts of the day.

Outdoor activities are usually far more pleasant in the early morning when it is still cool. Because the temperatures in the desert swing so much between night and day, morning temperatures can be quite pleasant even during the height of the summer.

Get out[edit]

Be sure to try one of the 200 golf courses in the Scottsdale area. Although most of the green fees are relatively high during the high season (Nov - Apr)there are a few good courses that can be played year round at a reasonable rate. Green fees are very cheap during the summer ($10 - $50 per round with cart) and if you tee-off early in the morning the heat doesn't become too bad before you finish your round.

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