The end of the year is a time for reflecting on the peaks and valleys of the past 12 months, setting goals for the new year and for many – making travel plans and updates to a bucket list. From sunset hot air balloon rides over the desert to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, here are five bucket list-worthy things to do on a trip to Scottsdale.
1. Soar at Sunset on a Hot Air Balloon Flight Fly high and enjoy the breathtaking, 360 views of the varied desert landscape on a hot air balloon ride with Rainbow Ryders or Hot Air Expeditions. Both offer sunset flights for picturesque scenery you can’t find anywhere else and an experience so tranquil, it often takes passengers by surprise.
2. Off-Road in the Sonoran Desert Nearly ½ of Scottsdale’s land mass is Open Space, which makes for endless off-roading opportunities and many local companies lead adventures through the desert’s rugged terrain. Take the driver’s seat on an ATV tour or let the guide take the wheel on Stellar Adventures’ desert Hummer tour, both full of action and excitement.
3. Tour a Legend’s Home & Studio at Taliesin West One of the most renowned architects of the modern world, the late Frank Lloyd Wright built his winter home and laboratory, Taliesin West in Scottsdale. Visitors can take guided tours through the UNESCO World Heritage Site to see Wright’s living quarters, studio, theatre and gardens – even sketches and photos – up-close and personal. Bonus: now through June 2022, don’t miss Chihuly in the Desert!
4. Go for a Sunrise Hike in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Scottsdale boasts 330 days of sunshine per year and protects nearly 31,000 acres of untamed desert land known as the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. So, it’s no surprise why hiking tops visitors’ activities list. A sunrise hike in the Preserve – when the air is crisp, the land is quiet and there’s views of Saguaro cacti as far as the eye can see – is sure to provide a life-long memory.
5. Sip on Some Cacti The rumors are true – you can get a taste of cactus while visiting Scottsdale. Known for its vivid magenta color and sweet taste, the fruit of the prickly pear cactus is a popular ingredient at local restaurants. Start with the delightfully pink Desert Rose Cactus Kolsch at Goldwater Brewing – brewed with 100% organic prickly pear – then head a couple of blocks over in Old Town Scottsdale to The Mission for an equally photogenic Prickly Pear Margarita.
