There are a variety of things to see and do around Scottsdale, a town rich in history, taste and culture. Below are just a few of the local attractions available - see the hotel concierge for more information.

Weather in January
Compared to the harsh winter weather up north, January in Scottsdale is quite comfortable with average daytime temperatures in the high 60's and dipping down into the 40's at night. Long sleeves and pants are appropriate during the day and bring along a light jacket for after sunset.  

The Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall is the Southwest’s distinctive address for premier shopping, dining and entertainment, featuring Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Robinson-May and Macy’s. This is the largest shopping destination in the Southwest, offering a collection of more than 225 retailers.

Another possible stop is the world-renowned Fifth Avenue Shopping area and Old Town Scottsdale. This exciting shopping experience is in a Southwestern garden environment with over 200 unique shops, restaurants and galleries. These shops offer a variety of authentic gifts, jewelry, arts, crafts and clothing, as well as restaurants and sidewalk cafes.

You may also choose to visit the upscale shops located at The Biltmore Fashion Park. Stores located in this elegant outdoor setting include Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Cartier, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren. But not all the shops are high-end—there’s also Banana Republic, Williams-Sonoma, Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, The Discovery Store, and more. Restaurants include California Pizza Kitchen, The Cheesecake Factory, and Sam’s Café, among others.

The internationally acclaimed Heard Museum houses one of the most unique and extensive exhibits on the culture and art of the Indians of the American Southwest to be found anywhere in the world. Within the galleries of this Spanish Colonial-style building guests will find extensive collections of clothing, tools, weapons, pieces of handcrafted jewelry, baskets, pottery, textiles, and paintings; all of which serve to educate visitors on the resourcefulness and artistic abilities of the Southwest Indians. A main focus of the Heard Museum is to trace the development of these arts and crafts from prehistoric times to the present.

Perhaps the most notable collection in the museum is that of the Kachina dolls. These beautiful dolls, painstakingly carved by Hopi and Zuni craftsmen, line the walls of an entire room. These magnificent creations hold great historical, cultural and spiritual significance to the Hopi and Zuni peoples, and are only considered authentic if they are made from a single root of a cottonwood tree and carved by a male tribal member.

See the hotel concierge for directions.

In the heart of the desert lies a lush oasis of flora unique to Phoenix. This is the Desert Botanical Garden, home to the one of the world’s largest and most diverse collection of desert plants. A stroll through the Garden’s meandering trails will allow you to discover just how much life and beauty the desert holds.

One of the finest collections of desert plants in the world, The Desert Botanical Garden displays more than 15,000 desert plants in a spectacular outdoor setting that provides excellent photo opportunities and invokes a leisurely sense of time the moment you arrive.

See the hotel concierge for directions.