BEYOND THE BIRDIES
And lest you be one of those addled individuals who doesn’t live-breathe-and-eat golf 24/7, the Scottsdale area is bursting with cultural and recreational offerings to round out your visit. Old Town strikes a nice balance between Arizona’s wilder cowboy past and its current well-heeled sophistication. Grab a meal at one of our fave spots for Mexican food – The Mission – then walk and shop until you drop for art, jewelry and furnishings.
Also, stop by the Valley Ho Hotel to witness some eye-catching mid-century architecture and do make sure to try the outstanding burger at ZuZu. Really, sinfully delicious.
If you’re still feeling restless and in need of an adrenaline fix, there are hot air balloons aplenty, off-road Jeep adventures through the desert and fly-over flights to the Grand Canyon that will thrill and delight those with nerves of steel. Even more intrepid types can rock climb in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, or just take some mildly strenuous hikes if you’re not a big friend of gravity. Try the Sunrise Trail East – a four-mile hike with an 1,150 foot elevation gain offering magnificent valley views.
If you need more 411 on how to do Scottsdale properly, make your way to www.experiencescottsdale.com – they do a great job highlighting the region’s many attractions and can help fill out your itinerary.
