Scottsdale welcomed about 11.7 million visitors in 2025, many drawn by golf courses, spa days and resort pools. I arrived with three teenagers and a 9-year-old, a group that rarely agrees on dinner, much less an entire vacation.
Four days later, I came away with a new appreciation for Scottsdale as a family destination. Every kid found a favorite stop, and the adults had just as much fun. Two luxury resorts helped set the tone, but desert trail rides, hands-on museums and a few unexpected discoveries filled the rest of our days.
kAm(96? tIA6C:6?46 $4@EED52=6 :?G:E65 FD E@ 6IA=@C6 E96 2C62 H:E9 @FC 72>:=J[ H6 >256 E96 >@DE @7 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ] %96 4:EJ’D kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6IA6C:6?46D4@EED52=6]4@>^4@>>F?:EJ^Qma_ad E@FC:D> DEF5Jk^2mk^DA2?m C6A@CE65 Sa]c 3:==:@? :? G:D:E@C\C6=2E65 DA6?5:?8 2?5 27E6C 2 ;2>\A24<65 76H 52JD[ x F?56CDE@@5 D@>6 @7 E96 2AA62=[ 6G6? 7@C 72>:=:6D H9@ >:89E ?@E 92G6 $4@EED52=6 @? E96:C G242E:@? D9@CE=:DE]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8m%96 u2:C>@?E $4@EED52=6 !C:?46DD $6E E96 %@?6k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAm%96 kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]D4@EED52=6AC:?46DD]4@>^Qmu2:C>@?E $4@EED52=6 !C:?46DDk^2mk^DA2?m H2D @FC 7:CDE 9@>6 32D6[ 2?5 :E >256 2 8@@5 7:CDE :>AC6DD:@?] %96 C@@>D H6C6 A=FD9 2?5 BF:6E[ 2?5 E96 A@@= H@? @G6C E96 <:5D H:E9:? 2? 9@FC] (6 6?;@J65 2 C6D6CG65 4232?2[ H9:49 82G6 E96 25F=ED 2 D925J A=246 E@ C6=2I H9:=6 E96 <:5D 3@F?465 36EH66? E96 H2E6C 2?5 @FC =:EE=6 C6EC62E] (6 6DA64:2==J 6?;@J65 E96 62D6 @7 DE2J:?8 @? D:E6 7@C 5:??6C 2E {2 w24:6?52[ E96 C6D@CE’D |6I:42? C6DE2FC2?E]k^Am
kAm%96 C6D@CE E2<6D @? 2 5:776C6?E A6CD@?2=:EJ 5FC:?8 E96 9@=:52JD 2?5 H:== 9@DE E96 `fE9 2??F2= kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]49C:DE>2D2EE96AC:?46DD]4@>^Qmr9C:DE>2D 2E E96 !C:?46DDk^2mk^DA2?m }@G] a_ E9C@F89 y2?] a] %96 6G6?E 762EFC6D >@C6 E92? `f >:==:@? =:89ED 2?5 2? @FE5@@C :46\D<2E:?8 C:?< @? E96 8C@F?5D] u2>:=:6D G:D:E:?8 :? H:?E6C 42? 255 2 76DE:G6 6G6?:?8 E@ E96:C C6D@CE DE2J H:E9@FE 8@:?8 2?JH96C6 6=D6]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8m%96 !9@6?:4:2? p5565 (2E6CD=:56D 2?5 2 r24EFD v2C56?k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmu@C E96 D64@?5 92=7 @7 E96 EC:A[ H6 DE2J65 2E kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]E96A9@6?:4:2?]4@>^Qm%96 !9@6?:4:2?k^2mk^DA2?m[ 2 {FIFCJ r@==64E:@? C6D@CE @? E96 D=@A6D @7 r2>6=324< |@F?E2:?] %96 A@@= 4@>A=6I 762EFC6D 2 H2E6CD=:56 E92E <6AE E96 <:5D 4@>:?8 324< 7@C >@C6[ H9:=6 2 AC:G2E6 4232?2 AC@G:565 2 D925J DA@E E@ C6=2I 36EH66? DH:>D]k^Am
kAmpH2J 7C@> E96 A@@=[ E96 C6D@CE’D 424EFD 82C56? @776CD 2 BF:6E6C H2J E@ 6IA6C:6?46 E96 56D6CE =2?5D42A6] p H2=< E9C@F89 E96 82C56? 2E EH:=:89E C6G62=D 2? :>AC6DD:G6 G2C:6EJ @7 424E:[ H:E9 E96 4@@=6C 6G6?:?8 2:C >2<:?8 :E 2 A=62D2?E E:>6 E@ 6IA=@C6]k^Am
kAm%H@ 5F6=:?8 A:2?:DED E@@< C6BF6DED 7C@> E96 4C@H5[ 2?5 >J <:5D 4=2AA65 2=@?8 =@F56C E92? 2?J@?6] %96 DA:4J 7C:65 5:== A:4<=6D 2?5 w@E r@@<:6 $<:==6E H6C6 3@E9 C64@>>6?565 E@ FD[ 2?5 ?6:E96C 5:D2AA@:?E65] q6EH66? E96 >FD:4 2?5 E96 56DD6CE[ 5:??6C 3642>6 2? 6G6?:?8 @FE C2E96C E92? ;FDE 2?@E96C DE@A E@ 7665 2 9F?8CJ 72>:=J]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8m%9C66 pEEC24E:@?D $:E $:56 3J $:56 2E %2=<:?8 $E:4<k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAm~FC 7=:89E 2CC:G65 :? E96 >@C?:?8[ D@ H6 962565 DEC2:89E E@ E96 %2=<:?8 $E:4< t?E6CE2:?>6?E s:DEC:4E] %9C66 2EEC24E:@?D D:E ?6IE E@ @?6 2?@E96C 96C6[ >2<:?8 :E 62DJ E@ 7:== 2 52J H:E9@FE DA6?5:?8 >F49 E:>6 :? E96 42C]k^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]3FEE6C7=JH@?56C=2?5]4@>^QmqFEE6C7=J (@?56C=2?5k^2mk^DA2?m 3:==D :ED6=7 2D E96 4@F?ECJ’D =2C86DE 3FEE6C7=J 4@?D6CG2E@CJ[ 2?5 2D H6 DE6AA65 :?E@ E96 6?4=@D65 EC@A:42= 82C56?[ 3FEE6C7=:6D 5C:7E65 A2DE :? 6G6CJ 4@=@C] tG6? >J E66?286CD 6?;@J65 D=@H:?8 5@H? E@ E2<6 2 4=@D6C =@@<]k^Am
kAm}6IE 5@@C[ kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@FCH@G6?;@FC?6J]4@>^@5JD62\2BF2C:F>^Qm~5J$62 pBF2C:F>k^2mk^DA2?m 3642>6 @FC 72>:=J’D 72G@C:E6 2BF2C:F> 6IA6C:6?46] %96 C@E2E:?8 2F5:E@C:F> 2EEC24E:@? E2<6D G:D:E@CD A2DE 2 D6C:6D @7 2BF2E:4 923:E2ED[ 3FE E96 >@DE F?6IA64E65 G:6H H2D :? E96 C6DEC@@>] *6D[ E96 C6DEC@@>] p H:?5@H =@@<D DEC2:89E :?E@ E96 D92C< 923:E2E]k^Am
kAm(6 7:?:D965 2E E96 kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@FCH@G6?;@FC?6J]4@>^>FD6F>\@7\:==FD:@?\D4@EED52=6\2C:K@?2^Qm|FD6F> @7 x==FD:@?Dk^2mk^DA2?m[ H96C6 6I9:3:ED A=2J EC:4<D @? J@FC 6J6D 2?5 D6?D6 @7 A6CDA64E:G6] (6 EC:65 E@ >2<6 D6?D6 @7 E96 @AE:42= :==FD:@?D[ E@@< A=6?EJ @7 C:5:4F=@FD A9@E@D 2?5 =67E H:E9 D@>6 ?6H 72>:=J 72G@C:E6D]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8mp |@C?:?8 %C2:= #:56 2E |24s@?2=5’D #2?49k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAm(6 962565 @FE 62C=J 7@C 2 EC2:= C:56 2E kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@FCH@G6?;@FC?6J]4@>^82==@A\:?E@\72>:=J\7F?\2\>245@?2=5D\C2?49\C6G:6H\@?\9@CD6324<\C:5:?8\25G6?EFC6D^Qm|24s@?2=5’D #2?49k^2mk^DA2?m[ 367@C6 E96 pC:K@?2 962E 925 2 492?46 E@ E2<6 @G6C] %96 C:56 7@==@H65 2 D:?8=6\7:=6 EC2:= E9C@F89 E96 $@?@C2? s6D6CE[ H:E9 E96 <:?5 @7 D46?6CJ J@F >:89E 6IA64E E@ D66 :? 2? @=5 (6DE6C?]k^Am
kAm~FC 8F:56D >:I65 =@42= EC:G:2 H:E9 A=6?EJ @7 ;@<6D[ <66A:?8 E96 C:56 6?E6CE2:?:?8 7@C 2== 286D] p7E6C 52JD @7 DH:>>:?8 A@@=D 2?5 :?5@@C 2EEC24E:@?D[ 2 76H 9@FCD @? 9@CD6324< @776C65 2 5:776C6?E =@@< 2E E96 pC:K@?2 =2?5D42A6]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8m|FD6F>D %92E w6=5 |J %66?286CD’ pEE6?E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAm%96 kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]>:>]@C8^Qm|FD:42= x?DECF>6?E |FD6F>k^2mk^DA2?m D:ED :? ?@CE9 !9@6?:I[ 2 D9@CE 5C:G6 7C@> $4@EED52=6[ 2?5 5:DA=2JD :?DECF>6?ED 7C@> 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5] ~?6 82==6CJ =6ED G:D:E@CD ECJ A=2J:?8 D@>6 @7 E96>[ H9:49 EFC?65 @FC G:D:E :?E@ 2 ?@:DJ[ 92AAJ 6IA6C:>6?E] |J 72>:=J DA6?E 2 8@@5 DEC6E49 E6DE:?8 :?DECF>6?ED H6 925 AC6G:@FD=J D66? @?=J :? >@G:6D] !=2? @? 2E =62DE EH@ 9@FCD 96C6]k^Am
kAmx? ~=5 %@H? $4@EED52=6[ kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]D4@EED52=6>FD6F>H6DE]@C8^Qm(6DE6C? $A:C:Ei $4@EED52=6’D |FD6F> @7 E96 (6DEk^2mk^DA2?m 4@>3:?6D (6DE6C? 2CE H:E9 6I9:3:ED 6IA=@C:?8 E96 C68:@?’D 9:DE@CJ] %96 4@==64E:@? @776CD A=6?EJ 7@C 9:DE@CJ 3F77D[ H9:=6 E96 92?5D\@? 5:DA=2JD 82G6 >J E66?286CD C62D@?D E@ DE:4< 2C@F?5 =@?86C E92? x 6IA64E65]k^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2C:K@?2]H@?56CDA246D]4@>^Qm(@?56CDA246Dk^2mk^DA2?m[ :?D:56 $4@EED52=6 u2D9:@? $BF2C6[ @776CD :>>6CD:G6 2CE :?DE2==2E:@?D 2?5 G:CEF2= C62=:EJ 6IA6C:6?46D] tI9:3:ED 492?86 A6C:@5:42==J[ D@ E96C6 >2J 36 D@>6E9:?8 ?6H E@ D66 @? 2 C6EFC? G:D:E] (6 5:5?’E ?665 >F49 E:>6 E96C6[ 2?5 E96 =@42E:@? >256 :E 62DJ E@ =6E E96 <:5D 6?;@J 2 =:EE=6 D9@AA:?8 27E6CH2C5]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8mq@H=:?8[ {2D6C %28 2?5 2 z?:89E :? vC66?k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAm$@>6E:>6D 2 72>:=J G242E:@? 42==D 7@C 2? 24E:G:EJ E92E 5@6D?VE C6BF:C6 2?J@?6 E@ 2AAC64:2E6 2CE[ =62C? 9:DE@CJ @C 25>:C6 E96 56D6CE =2?5D42A6] kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]>2GC:I]4@>^Qm|2GC:Ik^2mk^DA2?m 7:E E96 3:== H:E9 3@H=:?8 =2?6D[ 2? 2C4256 2?5 2 =2D6C E28 2C6?2 F?56C @?6 C@@7]k^Am
kAm(6 4@F=5 62D:=J 92G6 DA6?E >@C6 E:>6 E96C6] %96 <:E496? 56=:G6CD 7@@5 C:89E E@ E96 3@H=:?8 =2?6D[ 2?5 E96 A:KK2 2?5 56DD6CED H6C6 36EE6C E92? x 6IA64E65 7C@> 2? 6?E6CE2:?>6?E G6?F6]k^Am
kAm(6 HC2AA65 FA @FC EC:A 2E kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]>65:6G2=E:>6D]4@>^Qm|65:6G2= %:>6D s:??6C U2>Aj %@FC?2>6?Ek^2mk^DA2?m[ 4966C:?8 7@C E96 8C66? <?:89E 2D E96 24E:@? F?7@=565 :? E96 2C6?2] s:??6C 4@>6D H:E9@FE FE6?D:=D[ 2 56E2:= >J h\J62C\@=5 4@?D:56C65 E96 36DE CF=6 @7 E96 6?E:C6 G242E:@?]Â k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8m!=2??:?8 pC@F?5 E96 w62Ek^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmu@FC 52JD 32C6=J D4C2E4965 E96 DFC7246] %96 36DE 25G:46 x 42? @776Ci D4965F=6 @FE5@@C 24E:G:E:6D 62C=J[ E96? C6EC62E E@ >FD6F>D @C E96 A@@= @?46 27E6C?@@? E6>A6C2EFC6D 4=:>3] %96 %2=<:?8 $E:4< 2EEC24E:@?D 2=@?6 7:== >@DE @7 2 52J[ H9:49 >2<6D E96> 2? 62DJ 7:CDE DE@A 7@C 72>:=:6D =2?5:?8 2E !9@6?:I $<J w2C3@C :? E96 >@C?:?8]k^Am
