Desert living comes with an air of sophistication in Scottsdale, with more than 200 area golf courses and 50 luxury spas. Located in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert at the bottom of the McDowell Mountains, the city sits in the center of the area’s cultural hubs: a few miles south of Paradise Valley, six miles north of Tempe, about 13 miles northeast of Phoenix, 20 miles southwest of Fountain Hills, less than 20 miles southeast of Glendale, and 30 miles south of the Western town of Cave Creek. With upscale dining in North Scottsdale, shopping centers in Kierland Commons, vibrant nightlife in Old Town, and plenty of natural wonders to explore — whether it’s hiking Camelback Mountain or driving the Apache Trail — every Scottsdale experience comes with a distinctly Southwestern flavor.

Finding a flight to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) — located seven miles west of downtown Scottsdale — should be easy no matter where you’re traveling from, as the airport offers service from 100 domestic and 23 international cities. Flight times are about five hours from New York, three and a half hours from Chicago or Atlanta, and fewer than two hours from San Francisco or Los Angeles. (Bonus: The airport bills itself as America’s Friendliest Airport.) There is also a smaller Scottsdale Airport, nine miles north of downtown, for private jet travel. A bus system and rideshare services are available, but if you’ll be traveling around the region a bit, a car rental is more convenient, as wait times can vary since sites are spread out. The free Scottsdale Trolley also runs four routes to popular locations.

With 330 days of sun a year, it’s always the right time to pack light clothing for a Scottsdale visit. The sizzling desert heat reaches triple digits in the summer, with average highs above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and lows in the high 60s and 70s from June through September. Winter days remain warm with highs in the high 60s to low 70s, but lows can dip down into the high 30s and 40s, so always carry a jacket or extra layers. March, April, and November strike a balance, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s — the perfect months for outdoor adventures without the scorching heat or the chilly night air.

Old Town Scottsdale

Downtown Scottsdale is better known as Old Town, but it's filled with contemporary Fifth Avenue shops, local coffee shops, and boutiques with a dose of Southwestern spirit. Turn back time in the Historic Old Town section around Scottsdale Road and East Main Street, where the buildings date to the turn of the 20th century. Stop by the Little Red School House, built in 1909, now home to Scottsdale Historical Museum.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

With more than 225 miles of trails on its 30,550 acres, the preserve is a protected desert habitat filled with cacti forest, geological formations, and wildlife.

Taliesin West

Tours are available through the architect’s winter home, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and also a working architecture school.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

The 30-acre park offers rides on the Paradise and Pacific Railroad, as well as the vintage carved Scottsdale Charros Carousel from the 1950s.