Scottsdale was famous as a
vacation spot long before it became a city. Not many years ago, it was a
crossroads where cowboys rode in on Saturday nights along the unpaved trails to
celebrate the end of the week. Now it is considered the shopping and art center
of the Valley of the Sun.
Geographically, Scottsdale
covers about 185 square miles. It has some of the country’s most exclusive and
expensive resorts within its boundaries, but there are also middle class
neighborhoods. At the Little Red Schoolhouse visitors begin a self-guided
walking tour to fourteen destinations. The site of the first general store; Our
Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, which is home to the Scottsdale
Symphony; and a vintage blacksmith who still keeps local horses shod in
the present day, are points of interest. Olive trees planted by town founder
General Winfield Scott; Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art; the tastefully
rendered Fashion Square mega mall; and The Borgata are among other places
featured on the tour.
Many Scottsdale events
center upon its three cultures: Native American, Spanish, and western pioneer.
More than 90 art galleries offer paintings, sculpture, and crafts.
Scottsdale has a thriving
downtown, outstanding art galleries, and many restaurants that offer
the finest cuisine from the
cultural traditions represented.
Indian Bend Wash has been
developed into the city’s most popular park and accompanying lake. The park
runs the length of Scottsdale along Hayden Boulevard. Roller skating, fishing,
soccer, volleyball, baseball and jogging are among the activities provided there
year round.
There are also equestrian
activities of all types - everything from English and Western performances to
roping, jumping, and halter events, as well as those that feature the Arabian,
the Quarter Horse, and the world's longest horse-drawn parade. If your interests
run to
golf,
tennis,
fine cuisine,
classic cars, art, music, or hot air ballooning, Scottsdale has these too, and
more.
North Scottsdale is the home
of Rawhide, an authentic 1880’s western town. It has shops, a museum, an ice
cream parlor, a stagecoach ride and a Canestoga wagon. More than twenty shops
sell handmade jewelry and crafts.
For many
years, Scottsdale has been known as "The West's Most Western Town." Scottsdale
was voted the Most Livable City by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 1993, and is
consistently named among the top cities in the country in which to raise
children, to retire, and is rated the number one resort community in America.
Scottsdale
