Scottsdale

Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve is the result of a citizen-based initiative that began in 1990 with the goal of protecting our desert from development. Today, the Preserve is the largest of its kind in the nation and encompasses more than 30,500 acres or roughly one-third of the city’s land mass. More than 235 miles of shared-use trails are open to the public for hiking, biking and horseback riding, and all of the Preserves 11 trailheads

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West is Scottsdale’s only National Historic Landmark. It serves as a prime example of Wright’s organic architecture in that the structures are built of the rocks and sand of the Sonoran Desert and melds to the lower McDowell Mountains.
The grounds and buildings were constructed over a period of approximately twenty years by Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices. Set amid a Sonoran Desert Preserve of 491 acres, Taliesin West tours wind through provocative terraces, landscaped gardens and walkways commanding dramatic views of Camelback Mountain and the Valley of the Sun. They also have an incredible onsite solar power field.

Known around town as the “veggie whisperer,” James Beard Award-winning Chef Charleen Badman coaxes the very best flavours out of locally grown veggies, which are featured prominently (though not exclusively) on FnB’s seasonally changing menu. Old Town’s FnB also features a carefully curated list of premium Arizona wines for a taste of the local terroir.

Meet some of the Sonoran Desert’s most fascinating inhabitants – including coyotes, bobcats, black bears, foxes and javelina – on a Walk with Wildlife tour at this working wildlife sanctuary. While their primary focus is on rescue, rehabilitation and release, Southwest Wildlife provides a lifelong home to any animal that cannot be re-released into the wild. (Note: reservations are required)

Orchestrated by Arizona’s finest and remarkably knowledgeable local guides, our JoyRidesAZ Tours are designed to allow you to experience the local culture, take in the must-see sights, and make the most vivid memories – all from an electric fleet of vehicles. From an overview of the City, Public and Private Art, spectacular Instagram and Culinary Tours just to name a few, JoyRidesAZ shows you Old Town Scottsdale like no one else. On our escorted tours, we include the must-see sights, as well as special gems, upcoming events and activities, such as a Canal Convergence, Food and Fine Arts Festivals, a cruise through six (6) magnificent Districts and much more. With JoyRidesAZ, you’ll not only see Old Town—you’ll experience it!

Old Town’s Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West collects rainwater and HVAC condensate, using both to irrigate nearby plants. This building is made from a whopping 75% recycled materials. It also is a Smithsonian affiliate and has a wonderful collection of Western art.

In the 1990s, the city of Scottsdale partnered with several golf courses on a highly effective solution to water conservation: the Reclaimed Water Distribution System (RWDS). This system allows Scottsdale Water to supply reclaimed, treated wastewater for irrigation to 23 public and private golf courses in the northern part of the city. This complex system of pipelines, booster pump stations and reclaimed and advanced water treatment facilities is capable of delivering 20 million gallons a day of non-potable water for turf irrigation. Over the years, participating golf courses have invested more than $55 million into the system so that no taxpayer or rate-payer fees would be used. These courses are proactively executing better sustainable water practices to further extend a more restrictive supply. When courses use less water in the winter months, the excess is further purified —beyond drinking water standards — and injected into the aquifer to further advance Scottsdale’s long-term water sustainability.

Learn about the Sonoran Desert from the experts at REI Co-op Experiences. REI offers guided hiking, road and mountain biking, kayaking, rafting and SUP excursions that provide insight into the desert’s delicate ecosystem. All of REI’s tours follow Leave No Trace principles and are a great way to experience the Sonoran Desert first-hand.

Known as “The Greatest Show on Grass,” the WM Phoenix Open is one of the PGA Tour’s most exciting stops. The event has gained legendary status for combining great golf, great weather, and a festive atmosphere, unlike any other tournament. For 11 consecutive years, the WM Phoenix Open has been recognized as the largest zero-waste sporting event in the world! In partnership with the Thunderbirds, tournament vendors and the PGA TOUR, WM leads operational efforts to divert 100% of waste from the landfill through recycling, composting, donation and energy conversion. The cornerstone of WM’s operational achievements begins and ends with Recycling Right, WM’s very own Recycling Education platform.

One of the most popular attractions at the Desert Botanical Garden, the Butterfly Pavilion houses thousands of colourful live butterflies. The pavilion is part of the Garden’s Pollinator Conservation Research Program, which centres on the special relationship between pollinating insects and desert plants that are important for their survival.