# things to do in Scottsdale, AZ **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 15, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004 "2013-11-15T19:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/1 "2013-11-15T19:15:07Z")
I’ll be attending a corporate retreat in Scottsdale in January. Most of my time will be filled with scheduled events, but I think I should have some free time on Friday night and Saturday morning. I’ve never been to Arizona before, and I know next-to-nothing about Scottsdale. Any suggestions for how I should spend my time? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/2 "2013-11-15T19:36:41Z")
What do you like to do? Scottsdale has excellent restaurants, great shopping, and lots of outdoor activities. If you like Contemporary Art, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is considered one of the best in the country (my wife is a docent there). Rent a bike. Go for a hike. Go to the range and shoot a few hundred rounds. ETA: what kind of food do you like- I’ll think of some restaurant suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/3 "2013-11-15T20:03:21Z")
Hike up Camelback Mountain. Walk through the botanical gardens. Go for a hot air balloon ride. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/4 "2013-11-15T20:08:20Z")
Tremendous hiking opportunities. Golf courses galore. Frank Lloyd Wright museum Downtown Scottsdale has wonderful shopping. Our favorite was [Gallery Russia](http://www.galleryrussia.com/), outstanding. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/5 "2013-11-15T20:29:15Z")
Thanks for the replies. I kept the question a bit open ended because I didn’t want to steer anyone away from anything that I just might not have thought of. I like getting the chance to experience the personality of a city, even if it’s a bit out of my comfort zone. That said, I live in Michigan so getting to spend time outdoors in the warmer climate definitely sounds nice. Restaurant suggestions would be great. I enjoy spicy food: Indian, Thai, etc., but this being the Southwest maybe I should take the opportunity to try what I imagine is more authentic Mexican food than I can usually get. I’m a vegetarian, but eggs and dairy are fine. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/6 "2013-11-15T20:37:57Z")
The “signature” hike in Phoenix is [Camelback mountain](http://www.yelp.com/biz/camelback-mountain-phoenix). This is close to old town Scottsdale. Vegetarian and Mexican cuisine are a difficult combination. [La Condesa](http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-condesa-gourmet-taco-shop-phoenix-3#query:Vegetarian%20Mexican) is very good, and has some choices you might like. The is an excellent Indian restaurant in downtown Scottsdale at the Mall (the Civic plaza) - the [Jewel of the Crown](http://www.yelp.com/biz/jewel-of-the-crown-scottsdale). This is also where SMOCA is. ETA: The Desert Botanical Gardens will be really nice in January, and I think there will be a [Chihuly](http://www.dbg.org/events-exhibitions/chihuly) exhibit going on. ETA ETA: we really like [Soi 4](http://www.soifour.com/scottsdale/). Gourmet Thai food - don’t know about the Veggi aspects, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/7 "2013-11-16T05:06:51Z")
Another vote here for hiking to the top of Camelback. Also, taking a kid to Rawhide Western Town is fun. But that’s if you’ll have a kid with you. Or if you’re a kid at heart. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/8 "2013-11-16T05:19:52Z")
Musical Instrument Museum Sad that you’ll have to miss Saturday nite in Old Town. It’s a riot [FE] ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/9 "2013-11-16T07:13:58Z")
Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright’s studio) and Cosanti (studio) and Arcosanti (experimental town) built by artist Paolo Soleri are all worth a look. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/10 "2013-11-16T12:25:48Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > Musical Instrument Museum > > [FE] This. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/11 "2013-11-16T12:50:07Z")
Please, what does [FE] mean? ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/12 "2013-11-16T12:54:32Z")
When I was in Phoenix, I visited the botanical garden and LOVED it. If you grow up in a colder climate, the sheer wonder of all those magnificent cactea (cactusses?) especially when they flower, is breathtaking. The garden is very well made and is in the middle of the landscape, so walking through it is wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/13 "2013-11-16T13:03:09Z")
I also liked the (faux?) Native American jewellery offered everywhere. Shop for the best deals, and beware that most of the opal is synthetic, and that it will probably look ridiculous on your loved ones or yourself, but it [sure is beautiful](http://www.alltribes.com/indian-jewelry.html). ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/14 "2013-11-17T16:25:00Z")
> [@campp](#): > > This. That!! ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/15 "2013-11-18T15:29:26Z")
Thank you all for the suggestions. Like I said, the trip isn’t until January, but I’ll try to bump the thread and let you know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-in-scottsdale-az/674004/16 "2013-11-18T15:32:12Z")
[Amy’s Baking Company is in Scottsdale, if you dare.](http://www.yelp.com/biz/amys-baking-company-scottsdale)