About Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale is a city that is located in the eastern part of Maricopa County of Arizona. It has been described by The New York Times as a desert version of Miami’s South Beach where a bustling nightlife scene exists. Scottsdale experiences an arid climate with mild winters and extremely hot summers. Besides having a large tourism industry, Scottsdale has a strong aviation industry and it has one of the busiest single-runway airports in the country. The city is also famous for the Scottsdale Arts Festival which is a premier art festival in the United States.

Popular Destinations in Scottsdale

Scottsdale has a unique blend of must-see attractions that entice visitors from all around the world. Here are some of the top destinations you can consider:

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art: The museum presents the finest of contemporary design, architecture and art from around the world. The museum also rotates nine to twelve exhibitions on an annual basis to keep things fresh for their visitors. A notable feature is in its outdoor courtyard and it includes one of the most beautiful James Turrell Skyspaces in the world. The museum aims to transport visitors to a place of introspection and quiet contemplation.

Troon North Golf Club: Termed by Golf Magazine as the Top 100 Golf Courses You Can Play, Troon North Golf Club is simply a hallmark of the best Scottsdale desert golf experience. It offers twin 18-hole courses that stretch across natural foothills and ravines, all in the shadows of Pinnacle Peak. Coupled with exceptional customer service and immaculately groomed fairways, both the Pinnacle and Monument courses are on every golfer’s must-play list.

Arizona Museum of Natural History: The museum allows visitors to explore the Southwest’s rich cultural history which includes prehistoric fossils, sparkly minerals, a reconstructed territorial jail and Native American village. The attraction is kid-friendly and it offers an extensive collection of awe-inspiring dinosaur skeletons as well as the live Gila monsters and soft-shelled turtles. An indoor mountain that is three-storey high is also available to show the process of the desert’s seasonal flash flooding during Arizona’s monsoon season.

Butterfly Wonderland: The indoor zoo comprises of the largest butterfly pavilion in the country. The zoo also features an international collection of mountain blue swallows, gold banded foresters, colorful monarchs which are all free to navigate within the enclosed rainforest atrium. Another available amenity is the Butterfly Emergence Gallery which displays insects that are stretching their wings for the first time.

Desert Botanical Garden: This destination offers some of the world’s best collection of arid-land plants in a unique outdoor setting. The destination has a myriad of accessioned plants that are set throughout the garden’s five thematic trails. Specialized tours and other workshops on botanical art and illustration, horticulture, health and wellness, nature art and photography and even desert landscaping are available.

Old Town Scottsdale: The destination boasts of outdoor sculptures, green lawns and sparkling fountains that celebrate the city’s historic heritage. Apart from its eclectic array of specialty shops, the Scottsdale Historical Museum is stationed here and showcases how the earliest settlers and city’s founders experienced life in Scottsdale.

Luxury Lodgings in Scottsdale

Scottsdale is never short of luxurious accommodations and there are aplenty to choose from. Here are some of the top recommendations:

• CopperWynd Resort and Club
• Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
• Firesky Resort and Spa, A Kimpton Hotel
• Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
• Hermosa Inn
• Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas
• Hotel Valley Ho
• Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch
• JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort And Spa
• Marriott Scottsdale Mcdowell Mountain
• Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa
• Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain
• The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician
• The Phoenician
• The Saguaro Scottsdale
• The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch
• The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
• W Hotel Scottsdale
• We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center

Airports In Or Nearby Scottsdale

Interested in chartering a private aircraft to Scottsdale, Arizona? There are many airports in Scottsdale to use for your private air charters and some of the available airports include:

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX): Located 13 miles away from Scottsdale and 3 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix, the airport is city-owned and operated by the Phoenix Airport System. The airport features three terminals with over 120 aircraft gates. There are also three concrete runways in the 8/26, 7L/25R and 7R/25L direction.
• Tucson International Airport (TUS): Located 126 miles from Scottsdale and 8 miles south of downtown Tucson, the airport is operated by the Tucson Airport Authority. The airport comprises of one terminal with two concourses and sits at an elevation of 2,643 feet above mean sea level. Apart from the airport’s three helipads, there are three asphalt runways that are designated in the 11L/29R, 11R/29L and 3/21 direction.
• Scottsdale Airport (SCF): Located less than 10 miles north of downtown Scottsdale, the general aviation airport has an elevation of 1,510 feet above mean sea level and one asphalt runway in the 3/21 direction.
• Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA): Located 30 miles from Scottsdale and 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, the airport is owned and operated by the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport Authority and is open for public use. It is categorized as a reliever and general aviation airport. Sitting at an elevation of 1,384 feet above mean sea level, the airport features two concrete runways in the 12L/30R and 12R/30L direction, and one asphalt-concrete runway in the 12C/30C direction.
• Falcon Field (MSC): Located 16 miles away from Scottsdale and 6 miles northeast of Mesa, the airport has an elevation of 1,394 feet above mean sea level. The airport mainly caters to general aviation aircraft operations with two asphalt runways in the 4R/22L and 4L/22R direction.
• Stellar Airpark (SLJ): Located 17 miles away from Scottsdale and 3 miles west of Chandler’s central business district, the airport features a single asphalt runway in the 17/35 direction and is mainly used for general aviation aircraft operations.
• Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD): Located 22 miles away from Scottsdale, it is categorized as a general aviation reliever airport and features two asphalt runways in the 4L/22R and 4R/22L direction.
• Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT): Located 23 miles away from Scottsdale, the airport features two asphalt runways in the 7R/25L and 7L/25R direction. 65% of the aircraft operations are general aviation and 35% are military based.