While Scottsdale, Arizona, is widely known for its world-class golf, luxury resorts, and lively nightlife, many visitors overlook the area’s rich and deeply rooted cultural heritage. From its mid-century modern charm and enduring Western iconography to immersive Indigenous cultural experiences, Scottsdale honors its history while reinterpreting it through a fresh, contemporary lens.
Where To Stay
Scottsdale offers no shortage of resort experiences, yet a select few historic properties truly stand out, giving travelers an authentic sense of place and heritage.
The Hermosa Inn is a AAA-Four Diamond hotel in an exclusive neighborhood in Paradise Valley. The Inn’s rich history began in 1930, when cowboy artist Alonzo Megargee hand-crafted the building to be his personal residence. Even today, The Hermosa Inn still has an old Arizona charm, featuring 43 casitas with desert views inspired by the original hacienda, while also offering modern, luxury amenities. LON’s is the Inn’s Four Diamond restaurant serving globally inspired Arizona cuisine. The Hermosa Inn is also known for its unique Artist in Residence program, where guests can partake in wine dinners with celebrated artists, authors, actors and other creatives. Also, the Inn is known to have one of the largest collections of Megargee’s original works.
Hotel Valley Ho is another mid-century-modern property located in Old Town Scottsdale. Built in 1956, the boutique hotel has become an iconic, cool accommodation option for design lovers. Designed by former Wright contemporary Edward L. Varney, Hotel Valley Ho reflects Scottsdale’s cosmopolitan nature through Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design elements, such as geometric shapes and cantilevered breezeways. The hotel boasts retro guest rooms, an onsite restaurant ZuZu, and the VH Spa for Vitality + Health, all within walking distance to the destination's best restaurants and shops.
Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa is a mid-century modern hotel with an artist-in-residence partnership with Cattle Track Arts Compound, an organization committed to preserving Scottsdale’s cultural heritage through supporting local artists, craftsmen and students. Visitors will find Cattle Track touches throughout the resort from the moment they enter. Above the check-in counter is a tapestry of felted-wool spheres called “World so Full” by Chance Phillips. Guests can roam through the resort’s gift shop featuring one-of-a-kind creations by Cattle Track artists. Unique Cattle Track drawings, paintings and prints are scattered throughout the bungalow-style guest rooms, and even throughout Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, the resort’s signature restaurant, where Cattle Track potter Mary Van Dusen’s ceramic plates, bowls and mugs are used every day.
What to Eat / Drink
Here, travelers can taste some of Scottsdale’s most authentic ingredients and historic recipes.
The Frybread Lounge - O’Odham Chef Darryl Montana serves traditional Indigenous foods at Old Town’s Frybread Lounge, including Bison Burger on frybread, Cactus fruit jam, tepary beans sweetened with mesquite and bison ribeye.
The Rusty Spur - The first bar in Scottsdale, The Rusty Spur has become a registered historical landmark for those seeking a true western experience. The bar still boasts its original swinging doors, and visitors can enjoy live music every day and night, practice the two-step and revel in the unique decor of photos, dollar bills and license plates from famous guests.
Arizona Indigenous Culinary Experience - Arizona American Indian Tourism Association's Kickoff event for the Arizona Indian Festival delivers the unique Arizona Indigenous Culinary Experience in November. This curated evening will reflect the rich tapestry of Native Arizona with its history, foods, music, people and cultures. The event aims to bring together many Native communities with traditional and contemporary elements that highlight and celebrate the beauty and important contributions of Arizona’s Native Peoples to Arizona culture. Foodies, culture enthusiasts and Arizona lovers can explore the tastes, sights and highlights from the city’s Native Arizona communities, while simultaneously engaging in live performances, interactive conversations, demonstrations and more.
What to Do
Known as the “West’s Most Western Town,” Scottsdale boasts an abundance of activities for travelers to get a glimpse of its rich Western and Indigenous culture.
Native Art Market - Guests can experience the stories, arts and culture of Arizona’s Native American tribes at the Native Art Market in Old Town Scottsdale. Native-owned and originally a pop-up shop that turned into a permanent brick and mortar store, the Native Art Market boasts crafts from over 200 Native artisans. Visitors can learn about tribal customs and Native dance and can also create dream catchers or beaded bracelets.
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West - This cultural institution located in Old Town Scottsdale boasts two stories of the art, culture and history spanning 19 states in the American West, Western Canada, and Mexico. The museum celebrates the West and inspires, educates and engages visitors from all over through exhibitions and educational programs.
Arizona Cowboy College - Visitors can have the chance to become a real-life ranch-working cowboy or cowgirl. During this intense, ‘no frills’ experience, aspiring ranchers will learn the ins and outs of horsemanship including roping, grooming, saddling, and riding. Visitors will operate the cattle ranch, learn about different cattle breeds, and more.
Horseback Riding - Ride through the desert with a family-owned ranch, MacDonald’s Ranch, for an authentic Western experience. Group or private trail rides will take visitors through the Sonoran Desert. Spring and winter travelers will even have the opportunity to end their ride with a Cowboy Cookout. Couples can also partake in the romantic moonlight rides, offered only a few nights per month.
Wellness - Known for its abundance of dap spas, Scottsdale offers a few treatments that are inspired by the destination’s rich culture and ingredients. The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North offers the Nopal Massage, making use of the gel of the Nopal cactus, which is known for its various health benefits. The Havasupai Treatment at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a Southwestern-inspired experience at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’ Well & Being Spa beginning with a sage smudging to cleanse energy and a purifying scrub with essential oil-infused desert salts to smooth skin. The treatment includes a thermal mineral magnesium bath soak, massage, Sedona clay mask facial and more.
Taliesin West - Internationally renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright came to Scottsdale in 1937 and began building Taliesin West, where travelers now come to visit this National Historic Landmark. Offering tours to visitors, Taliesin West can now be explored, with sights into his private quarters, living room, drafting studio, Music Pavilion, Garden Room and more. Visitors will learn what Wright was inspired by and more about his desire to live harmoniously with the environment.
