All Articles 15 fun and unique things you can only do Scottsdale, Arizona

15 fun and unique things you can only do Scottsdale, Arizona

Otherworldly sunset hikes, craft coffee, and channeling your inner train conductor await.

Samantha McKiernan
By Samantha McKiernan13 Jan 2023 5 minutes read
Sunset light on the mountains in Scottsdale, AZ
Sunset over the mountains in Scottsdale, AZ
Image: Thomas Roche/Getty Images

Scottsdale, AZ, makes it onto travelers’ must-visit lists because of its natural beauty, lively nightlife scene, and world-class resorts. The city has also grown in popularity for bachelorette trips in recent years, leading to the development of many design-forward restaurants and coffee shops. But as travelers who’ve visited this desert hotspot have known for years, there is far more to do in Scottsdale than party.

Ahead, 15 exciting and unique things you can do in Scottsdale during your next getaway.

1. Book a rejuvenating facial or massage

The desert is the perfect place to relax, rejuvenate, and immerse yourself in nature—and there are more than 50 day spas and resort spas to choose from in Scottsdale alone. The spas at the Phoenecian, a Luxury Collection Resort, and the Scottsdale Camelback Resort come highly recommended by Tripadvisor travelers—and the resorts themselves are both Travelers’ Choice Award winners, should you choose to bed down there, post-massage.

2. Down a coffee or mimosa flight at brunch

Coffee flight at JOJO Coffeehouse
Coffee flight at JOJO Coffeehouse
Image: Management/Tripadvisor

Jojo Coffee House is a beloved local breakfast joint in Old Town Scottsdale serving delicious food—think fluffy cinnamon roll pancakes, breakfast tacos, and classic French toast topped with fresh berries. However, the menu's shining stars are the coffee and mimosa flights served at brunch, which contain five samples of each type of beverage. They are also perfect for sharing if you and your group can’t narrow down one flavor for a pitcher. Start your day here for a java jolt and thank us later.

3. Shop for artisan home decor

If you’re looking for fabulous Scottsdale souvenirs, you’re going to need some extra suitcase space. Cosanti is known for its hand-crafted artisan bronze and ceramic wind bells that’ll turn any garden into a symphonic oasis. The Cosanti gallery is more than just a showroom, too: The space was designed by architect Paolo Soleri and is made up of earth-formed concrete structures—all of which you can explore on a guided tour as you learn about the bronze casting process. In the market for something smaller? You can pick up jewelry, planters, and apparel here too. Check out more gift and specialty shops in Scottsdale here.

4. Explore Old Town Scottsdale on wheels

A group of friends pose with their Arizona Party Bike
A group of friends pose with their Arizona Party Bike
Image: Alissa E/Tripadviso

There are two popular options to explore Old Town Scottsdale: by party bike or electric scooter. The former, perfect for groups like bachelor or birthday parties, will have you zipping around the historic district on a private party bike, all while sipping BYO cocktails. The latter comes thanks to ride-share companies like Lyft, which offer up in-app electric scooter rentals. It’ll make getting around the shop- and restaurant-filled district a seamless feat.

5. Sip your way through the historic district

After exploring the city on wheels, stick around Old Town to stop by the Scottsdale Wine Collective and sample the best libations Arizona has to offer. The state’s semiarid climate offers an extended growing season for vineyards, so there’s no shortage of wineries and tasting rooms to check out including Merkin Vineyards, Carlson Creek Vineyards, Burning Tree Cellars, and Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, which are all within walking distance of each other on Main Street.

6. Watch butterflies soar at Butterfly Wonderland

A monarch butterfly with its wings spread at Butterfly Wonderland
A monarch butterfly with its wings spread at Butterfly Wonderland
Image: CChristie966/Tripadvisor

As one of Scottsdale’s most noteworthy attractions, Butterfly Wonderland is home to over 70 species of butterflies along with other insects, tropical birds, reptiles, honey bees, and koi fish. The indoor nature experience is located on the Arizona Boardwalk in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and gives you easy access to other stellar boardwalk attractions like Pangea: Land of The Dinosaurs and OdySea Aquarium.

7. Go on an ATV tour through the Sonoran Desert

There is no better way to explore Arizona’s breathtaking Sonoran Desert and Tonto National Forest than on a guided ATV tour with Stellar Adventures. After a safety briefing and ATV driving lesson, brace yourself for everything from intel on various cacti you encounter to “peaceful and beautiful scenery” in the desert. If you can, book the sunset tour for unforgettable sorbet skies. The outfitter also offers Arizona stargazing tours with night vision with a professional astronomer and telescope on-hand, if that seems like it’s written in the constellations for you.

8. Hike a trail in Pinnacle Peak Park

Trail inside Pinnacle Peak Park with mountain views
Trail inside Pinnacle Peak Park with mountain views
Image: Toccara/Tripadvisor

Pinnacle Peak Park, situated in Central Scottsdale, offers one of the area’s best and most picturesque hiking trails. The four-mile round trip trail is a little challenging since some rock scrambling is involved. That said, there is no beating the views of Phoenix once you reach the top, making the trek up well worth it.

9. Step into a new reality at VR Extreme

VR Xtreme is among the eight exciting attractions on the Arizona Boardwalk, with several different virtual reality experiences offered at the establishment. Some options include Project Cars 2, where players partake in an active car race; Drift, where players act as a young man lost at sea; and The Tower Coaster London, in which players experience an adrenaline-pumping roller coaster ride around the tallest skyscraper in town.

10. Embark on a morning hot air balloon ride

Colorful Hot Air Balloon over Sonoran Desert at sunrise
Colorful hot air balloon over the Sonoran Desert at sunrise
Image: Joerg Reichel/Getty Images

Those willing to make a quick drive over to Scottsdale’s neighboring city, Phoenix, can embark on a hot air balloon ride, often offering some of the best views of the sunrise or sunset over the Sonoran Desert paired with a glass of champagne, if you please. For those who love a bird’s-eye view of things, this will be one of the memorable and exciting experiences made during your Arizona trip.

11. Get your flea market fun on at Native Art Market

Billed as the first and only Indigenous-owned shop in Old Town Scottsdale, the Native Art Market showcases the work of artists of Native American descent. Open on weekends in November through March, explore the outdoor market at The Pavilions at Talking Stick, which in addition to wares from 30 Native small businesses, also has food stalls and tribal dance performances. The indoor market (7215 E Main St.) is open year-round and presents regular workshops and events, alongside goods from 300+ native artists. If you’d like, arrange a private group booking for a cultural workshop, or if you can swing it, parktake in the Thursday night crafting workshop, which typically runs every other Thursday.

12. Embrace your inner train conductor at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Antique train on tracks at McCormick Stillman Railroad Park
Antique train on tracks at McCormick Stillman Railroad Park
Image: mwpyle/Tripadvisor

If you or your children are fascinated by trains, consider checking out Scottsdale’s beloved McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, home to an extensive model railway and historical museum. Admission is free, making it ideal for budget-friendly travelers—however, guests have the option to hop on a miniature Colorado narrow gauge railroad for an additional cost.

13. See the sun rise or set at McDowell Sonoran Preserve

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a must-see for any first-time Scottsdale visitor, especially for sunset or sunrise. Popular hiking trails include the straightforward Granite Mountain Loop Trail with “lots of cacti to see and photograph” per Tripadvisor travelers and the Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, a challenging four- to five-mile trek to a groovy-looking rock spur. Insider tip from community member Robin S.: “Check available maps for appropriate level hike or with All Trails app. Water fill stations and bathrooms available at base of trailheads.”

14. Visit the groundbreaking Taliesin West home

Exterior view of Taliesin West
Exterior view of Taliesin West
Image: Lynn W/Tripadvisor

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin West was once used as the famed American architect’s winter home and desert studio laboratory. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage List site, where visitors can tour Wright’s handiwork, purchase art, and attend events like yoga or sunset happy hour (can you tell Arizonans love their vesper hour vistas?).

15. Explore the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the most intriguing attractions in Old Town Scottsdale. Here, you can scope out nearly 1,000 works in the museum’s permanent collection across categories like sculpture and photography as well as see rotating exhibitions, like “Shervone Neckles: Bless This House” through March 5, 2023, and “Don’t Blame It On Zen: the Way of John Cage & Friends” through May 7, 2023. Admission is also rather affordable, ranging from $5 to $10 for online tickets and $6 to $12 for walk-in tickets.

Samantha McKiernan
Samantha McKiernan is an NYC-based freelance copywriter specializing in the food, travel, and hospitality industries. You can catch her eating and drinking around NYC or exploring a new city when she is not writing for client projects.