Scottsdale is a desert city in Arizona east of the state capital of Phoenix. It is known for its spas and golf courses, including TPC Scottsdale. Further north, the trails cross McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a desert landscape of hills, rock formations and cacti. Nearby is Taliesin West, the former home and studio of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Historic downtown Scottsdale has buildings from the 1920s and olive trees from the 19th century. The driving distance from Phoenix, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ is 19 miles or 31 kilometers. Most visitors to the Valley of the Sun spend their time in Scottsdale and Phoenix. Although only 14 miles separate the two areas from the city center, neighboring cities span 700 square miles combined, making traveling between them not as simple as it seems.
Renting a car (or relying on rideshare options) is often the best option in the Valley, but determined travelers who don't mind walking a bit can also rely on public transportation. Notable regional hubs include Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter in North Scottsdale, and Scottsdale Fashion Square in downtown Scottsdale, a major destination for high-end retailers. Scottsdale Fashion Square presents Old Town Scottsdale, which is among the 30 largest malls in the country and offers exclusive shopping and luxury. The downtown trolley runs through downtown Scottsdale, and the neighborhood trolley runs from downtown Scottsdale to the neighborhoods of South Scottsdale, connecting to the city of Tempe's own free public circulator, Tempe Orbit on Roosevelt and Scottsdale Road.
The Scottsdale Jaycees Parada del Sol, an annual month-long event that has been held in Scottsdale since 1954.Scottsdale was the site of a German POW camp at the intersection of Scottsdale and Thomas Roads in what is now Papago Park. The largest is the Scottsdale Main Street Arts District, home to the largest and most diverse collection of styles and genres, the more contemporary Marshall Way Arts District, and the more touristy, Western-themed Old Town district with the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. In 1999, the school opened a second campus at Scottsdale Airpark that allowed it to serve the business community and north of Scottsdale. Scottsdale Fashion Square presents the Old Town Scottsdale lifestyle with approximately 2 million square feet of luxury retail space.
