Jon Rizzi | Colorado AvidGolfer
Love the Nightlife?
Downtown Scottsdale sizzles with late-night diversions, including more than 80 sophisticated lounges, neighborhood pubs, high-energy dance clubs—and fleets of pedi-cabs and taxis to whisk you back to your car or resort.
Fuel for the City
With more than 600 restaurants, Scottsdale has the perfect recipe for any palate. Hot spots include the vintage-chic House Brasserie, where dishes like licorice glazed pork belly come with basil and brie smashed fingerlings; Culinary Dropout, a cutting-edge gastro-pub with additional locations in Phoenix and Las Vegas; and Deseo, the Westin Kierland’s spectacularly inspired Nuevo Latino dining experience. The Kierland’s Scotch Library—featuring 125 different types—is downright magic. And for straight-up steak, beer and C&W music, there’s the Handlebar J, Rusty Spur and Pinnacle Peak Patio.
Pictured above: Culinary Dropout creations
Pictured above: The ambiance of Deseo's dining ares
Pictured above: A sunset off the Pinnacle Peak patio
Arizona Balloon Safaris, Hot Air Expeditions and Rainbow Ryders provide the uplifting experience of viewing Scottsdale, Phoenix and the colorful Sonoran Desert landscape from cloudless skies hundreds of feet above.
Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert masterpiece, is always worth a visit—especially on the Friday evening Night Lights tour (through October) when it glows in the moonlight and a fire-breathing dragon appears.
Artwalk, Scottsdale’s free Thursday evening gallery tour, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Scottsdale and Phoenix feature some of the highest concentrations of museums, galleries and studios in the nation.
Psyched to Hike?
Nine trailheads around Scottsdale lead to the 60-plus miles of trails of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. You can also hike Camelback Mountain, Pinnacle Peak Park and McDowell Mountain.
Shopping, dining and entertainment all come together in the “Main Street lifestyle center” known as Kierland Commons. The one-of-a-kind development incorporates more than 70 high-end specialty stores, live music and a variety of the Valley’s consistently ranked best restaurants like Zinc Bistro, The Greene House, Mastro’s Ocean Club, North, Tommy Bahama and RA Sushi Bar & Restaurant. Downtown Scottsdale, “where the Old West Meets the New West” features more boutiquey stores, galleries and gathering spots.
FEATURED PARTNERS AND LOCATIONS
Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
experiencescottsdale.com
800-782-1117
Culinary Dropout
culinarydropout.com
480-970-1700
The House Brasserie
thehousebrasserie.com
480-634-1600
Deseo
kierlandresort.com
480-624-1202
Handlebar J
handlebarj.com
480-948-0110
Rusty Spur
rustyspursaloon.com
480-425-7787
Pinnacle Peak Patio
pppatio.com
480-585-1599
La Hacienda at the Scottsdale Princess
fairmont.com/scottsdale
480-585-4848
Scottsdale Artwalk
scottsdalegalleries.com
480-998-4323
Cafe ZUZU
cafe-zuzu.com
480-421-7997
Kierland Commons
kierlandcommons.com
Dominick’s Steakhouse
dominickssteakhouse.com
480-272-7271
Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.