Scottsdale Tours & Attractions
Arizona beams brightly with over 325 days of sunshine a year and minimal rains. Therefore, outdoor attractions and tours are all over the place. Here are a few top choices to experience on your trip. Ride a hummer or rugged jeep through the desert trails, and gander upon cacti, lizards and other heat loving creatures. Take to the skies on a helicopter tour, and see the swift rolling plateaus and smooth rock formations. Venture through the magnificent red rocks of Sedona and Jerome. Billow around the desert in a hot air balloon. Admire the architectural splendor of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West.
Desert Botanical Garden
Established in 1939 to protect and display the wonders of the Sonoran Desert, this botanical garden contains over 4,000 different species of flowers, plants, trees and cacti. Fascinating exhibits include: Wildflower Trail, rich with beautiful flowers and lightning-speed hummingbirds; the Desert Discovery Trail, abounding with cacti and unique desert plants; Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert, a glimpse into how natives live off the desert land; and the Nature Trail, offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. During the springtime Jazz concerts are held in the gardens. (Open Oct.-Apr., daily 8am-8pm, May-Sept., daily 7am-8pm)
Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West
Visit this remarkable piece of architecture built solely from materials found in the desert. Nestled within the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, this magnificent masterpiece was a winter home for the most brilliant architect of his time. These days it's open to the public, and also serves as a studio for aspiring architects. (Location: 12621 N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85259)
Tours
Off-road jeep tours offer a close up view of Arizona's native wildlife and vegetation. Tree frogs, spiny lizards, big horn sheep, gila monsters, hummingbirds and spadefoot toads all inhabit the Sonoran Desert. Most intriguing is the California condor that faced extinction only a decade ago. These days, they are slowly returning to the wild and are rarely seen circling the desert skies. Also along the way, get ready for some rootin' tootin' tales of madness from your tour guide. After all, this is the Old West. If you're up for an aerial adventure, a helicopter tour is the perfect way to see the red rock laden landscape, and of course, the unfathomable beauty of the Grand Canyon.
