Scottsdale is the kind of destination where the home base matters: near Old Town for dining and galleries, north Scottsdale for golf and open-air shopping, or closer to desert trailheads for quieter mornings. Build the trip around the lane that fits your group, then add Phoenix-area day trips only when you want to go farther.
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Yes, 47 of our Scottsdale homes allow dogs—so feel free to bring Fido along. (Just make sure to check individual home listings for any limits on the number and size of dogs they allow).
Browse dog-friendly homes >Yes. 215 of our Scottsdale vacation rentals have internet access, so you can stay connected throughout your trip.
Browse homes with internet access >Absolutely. Our local Scottsdale team includes professional housekeepers who care for all our homes here. They’ll clean thoroughly and restock amenities, so everything is ready for your arrival—and all you have to do is settle in and relax.
Learn more about Vacasa Premium Clean >Scottsdale works best when you split the trip between walkable Old Town, north Scottsdale golf, and Sonoran Desert trail time. Scottsdale, AZ vacation rentals fit couples, families, golf groups, and celebration trips that want access to Old Town Scottsdale, McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Taliesin West, and TPC Scottsdale without treating the whole Phoenix area as one destination.
As you compare homes, think about whether you want to stay near Old Town, close to golf courses, near north Scottsdale shopping and dining, or in a quieter home with outdoor space. Each home is unique, so review listing details for parking, kitchens, pet policies, WiFi, laundry, pools, outdoor space, cooling details, and seasonal access notes before you book.
Looking for things to do in Scottsdale, AZ? Start with Old Town, then add desert trails, architecture, Western culture, and golf while keeping Phoenix and regional desert sites in a separate day-trip plan.
Old Town Scottsdale is the city’s most useful first-day anchor, with Old West storefronts, galleries, restaurants, museums, nightlife, shopping, and public art close together. It works well for first-time visitors because a full afternoon or evening can happen without driving between every stop.
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McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a protected Sonoran Desert landscape with trailheads across north Scottsdale for hikers, bikers, and riders. Plan by choosing a trailhead that matches your ability, timing, and location rather than treating “go hiking” as one generic activity.
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Taliesin West is Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert home and studio in the McDowell foothills, where architecture, landscape, and Scottsdale’s design identity come together. It’s the must-see culture stop for design-minded travelers and repeat visitors looking beyond Old Town.
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Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West is an Old Town museum devoted to the art, stories, and material culture of the American West. It’s a strong indoor culture anchor for travelers drawn to Scottsdale’s Western identity without looking for a theme-park version of it.
TPC Scottsdale is a public PGA Tour golf complex in north Scottsdale, known for its desert setting and connection to the WM Phoenix Open. It works well for golf groups and sports travelers who want a recognizable Scottsdale course rather than a generic tee time.
Scottsdale dining is best planned by district. Old Town is the strongest visitor base, with more than 100 restaurants, nightlife, galleries, museums, and shops in a compact area, while Scottsdale Waterfront and SouthBridge add canal-side restaurants and boutiques along the Arizona Canal.
The Arts District pairs gallery browsing with wine-tasting rooms, nearby museums, and the Thursday ArtWalk when current programming aligns with your stay. In north Scottsdale, Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter offer polished restaurant and coffee options that fit golf, resort, and shopping trips.
Cafe Monarch is an Old Town fine-dining restaurant built around seasonal multi-course menus, formal service, and a polished special-occasion atmosphere. It’s best for couples or celebration trips rather than a casual Old Town meal.
The Mission Old Town focuses on modern Latin cooking, house-made tortillas, and mesquite-and-pecan grilling in a dramatic dining room. It works well as a lively dinner or brunch stop close to galleries and Old Town walking routes.
Scottsdale makes a practical base for Phoenix gardens, Superstition Mountains attractions, and Sonoran Desert heritage sites when you want to explore beyond Old Town and north Scottsdale. Plan these as separate outings, and check current hours, tickets, road conditions, and seasonal access before you go.
Desert Botanical Garden is a Phoenix attraction with extensive outdoor desert exhibits and a large living collection of desert plants. It’s a strong nearby outing for travelers who want a curated Sonoran Desert experience rather than a hiking trail.
Goldfield Ghost Town in Apache Junction is a mining-town attraction on the historic Apache Trail, with Old West buildings, mine-tour context, shops, and family activities. It’s a Superstition Mountains-area day trip that feels very different from polished Scottsdale.
Tonto National Monument is a National Park Service site in the northern Sonoran Desert, protecting cliff dwellings tied to the Salado culture. It works well for travelers who want a history-focused desert outing beyond the Phoenix metro attractions.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge preserves an Ancestral Sonoran Desert farming community and the Great House. Treat it as a heritage-focused regional excursion rather than a casual Scottsdale-area attraction.
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