Nobody likes to look like a tourist. It’s hard to look cool fumbling with a map, wearing an “I love (insert city here)” T-shirt and snapping like an amateur paparazzi. You learn more about a place Wisata di Toraja when you experience it like a local! In this article I will tell you about the (cool) places of interest in the Scottsdale & wider Phoenix Area.

Scottsdale was once voted “Arizona’s Most Livable City”. I’d have to agree.

It’s a hip, up-and-coming spot with great restaurants, chic clubs, huge malls, great shopping, a picturesque desert landscape, beautiful people and a myriad of things to do.

It’s a literal oasis in the desert. Below is a quick list of things to do and places to go while visiting ( or living for that matter ) in Scottsdale, AZ.

COOL SPOTS:

Restaurants:

AZ -88: Great, inexpensive burgers and salads, fantastic ambiance

Olive & Ivy: A little more posh, American/Italian cuisine with a GREAT wine list on the ‘waterfront’

Chelsea’s Kitchen: Wonderful American Cuisine

Malee’s Thai: Authentic Thai

Breakfast Club: AWESOME breakfast – long wait but worth it!

Wine Bars:

Kasmirez: wine, fondue and jazz

Postino: breschetta and GREAT wine selection

Fun Bars:

Dos Gringos: Mexican spot with great happy hour and patio

The Dog: A true DIVE. an old biker bar with wood chips on the floor and hot bar -dancing female bartenders

Hotels:

Hotel Valley Ho: A renovated historic Scottsdale Landmark- truly retro done well

Royal Palms Resort: A little piece of Italian Villa-esque heaven at the base of

Sanctuary Resort: GORGEOUS sunset views nestled on the side of Camelback Mountain

The Mondrian: truly contemporary and interesting decor

Artsy Must See’s:

Tallesin: Frank Lloyd Wright’s art school and training location: now a museum

Cosanti: Paolo Soleri’s former residence and architecture sculpture studio

SMOCA( Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art)

Hikes:

Pinnacle Peak

Camelback Mountain

Squaw Peak

A great resource for travelers to gain more insider information is the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Located in downtown Scottsdale just a bit off the beaten path, this office has all the information a visitor could desire.

Happy Trails!