Desert living comes with an air of sophistication in Scottsdale, with more than 200 area golf courses and 50 luxury spas. Located in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert at the bottom of the McDowell Mountains, the city sits in the center of the area’s cultural hubs: a few miles south of Paradise Valley, six miles north of Tempe, about 13 miles northeast of Phoenix, 20 miles southwest of Fountain Hills, less than 20 miles southeast of Glendale, and 30 miles south of the Western town of Cave Creek. With upscale dining in North Scottsdale, shopping centers in Kierland Commons, vibrant nightlife in Old Town, and plenty of natural wonders to explore — whether it’s hiking Camelback Mountain or driving the Apache Trail — every Scottsdale experience comes with a distinctly Southwestern flavor.

Scottsdale gets 330 days of sun a year, though in the summer that looks like sizzling desert heat reaching triple digits, with average highs above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and lows in the high 60s and 70s from June through September. Winter days remain warm with highs in the high 60s to low 70s, but lows can dip down into the high 30s and 40s, so always carry a jacket or extra layers. March, April, and November strike a balance, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s — the perfect months for booking one of the area’s vacation rentals if you’re into outdoor adventures without the scorching heat or the chilly night air.

Old Town Scottsdale

Downtown Scottsdale is better known as Old Town, but it's filled with contemporary Fifth Avenue shops, local coffee shops, and boutiques with a dose of Southwestern spirit. Turn back time in the Historic Old Town section around Scottsdale Road and East Main Street, where the buildings date to the turn of the 20th century. Stop by the Little Red School House, built in 1909, now home to Scottsdale Historical Museum.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

With more than 225 miles of trails on its 30,550 acres, the preserve is a protected desert habitat filled with cacti forest, geological formations, and wildlife.

Taliesin West

Tours are available through the architect’s winter home, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and also a working architecture school.