Things to do in Phoenix and Scottsdale

Jan 1

I had the opportunity to travel to Arizona to attend a conference in Scottsdale. I had never been in a true desert environment before, so I wanted to make sure to get out and explore my surroundings while I was there.

Desert Botanical Garden

The first thing I did was head to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. It was June and extremely hot out, but the low humidity around Phoenix does help a lot. On the plus side, I pretty much had the place to myself for venturing there on such a hot day. It was worth it to see all the unique cacti displays.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

I also went for an early morning hike at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale. I enjoyed being out in nature and seeing the different vegetation and wildlife. People were very friendly and it was much cooler to go earlier in the day.

There were plenty of flat trails or you could head up toward the mountains for a more intense hike.

Old Town Scottsdale

Old Town Scottsdale is a fun area to check out. There are lots of stores to walk around and browse with a definite western feel. We had dinner at Diego Pops, a cool Mexican restaurant. I still think about the Brussel sprout nachos!

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale

I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch. My favorite thing about the hotel was that is had a ton of pool areas, which were much welcomed in the Arizona heat. Some were reserved for adults and some were for all ages. The grounds were beautiful with palm trees, and they also offered a gondola ride on their canal, which I thought was super fun.

Westgate Entertainment District

Glendale is home to the Westgate Entertainment District with many shops and restaurants. It’s next to State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. The Stadium has also recently hosted huge sporting events like the Final Four and the Super Bowl.

Spring Training

If you visit the Phoenix area in March, be sure to attend a Cactus League spring training game. Many Major League Baseball teams play their spring games around the Phoenix area.