Traveling to Scottsdale, Arizona in 115 degree heat is no easy task! You can almost feel the pull of the heat suck you like a vacuum into this desert oasis. Leaving the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport I realized that coping with the heat and arid temperatures is not for the faint of heart! George, my cab driver entertained me with lively talk about why so many clamor to make Maricopa County their new home. “You know this weather reminds me of Greece”, he says cheerfully and nostalgically as we chat about his Mediterranean home. The draw, he adds is that the town of Scottsdale has a very international feel as a result from tourism in the area. The hospitality and travel industry has imported Greek, Indian, Chinese and European alike to this unique little town. Although very captivated by this phenomenon, I am on a quest to find a truly “southwestern” experience and it starts with the town of Scottsdale! Old Town Scottsdale is the historic and oldest, as the name suggests, part of the town. There are plenty of galleries and eclectic shops dotting the main streets of Indian School House Road and Scottsdale Road. Scottsdale has a vibrant arts scene. The weekly “Artwalk” is a tradition in Scottsdale that has taken place for the past 30 years. It happens every Thursday evening (except Thanksgiving) starting around sunset come rain or shine. It features free entry to all of Old Town’s art galleries. This gives the opportunity for art lovers to experience all the town has to offer artistically without the pressure of buying art. As you peruse Old Town in the dusky part of the day as I did you can see why so many have relocated to this desert community. The sky is a swirl of orange, red and purple as the sun sets each day. The arid temperature is hot but comfortable not stifling. Everyone is friendly and eager to swap stories of how they traded in the urban rat race for a more normal pace. The town has a wide variety to choose from in terms of accommodations when you visit. I opted to stay at the Hotel Valley Ho located on Main Street off Camelback Rd. It is a revamped 1950’s landmark hotel that used to house Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Natalie Wood and other 50’s icons. The hotel itself is chic, retro and has a feel of class and sophistication contrasted against the rugged and outdoorsy landscape. Quite a unique stay and the staff are helpful and at your disposal. Located across the street is a free shuttle that will whisk you off to the downtown, the Waterfront and Old Town sections of the town. There you will find the Fashion Square Mall featuring all your posh shopping spots like Neiman’s, Nordstrom’s and your more high-end chain stores. I opted of course to forego all of that and headed for Old Town. Thats where I seemed to feel the most comfortable to explore the real Scottsdale; cowboy hats and big belt buckles here I come! While there are no shortages of southwestern kitsch it is balanced by a colorful history of the town itself which started in the 1800’s. There are many Native American cultural tours that will take you to surrounding “pueblos”. Feel free to take advantage of the hospitality of the Natives (Navajo mostly), but please exercise courtesy by always asking before taking pictures of any thing you may find interesting. You can find all the info regarding these culture tours either from the concierge or Scottsdale. com. Rock petroglyphs, cave paintings, reservation tours, sweat-lodging and traditional dances are all up for exploring! I also highly recommend a trip to the Heard Museum of American Indian art. It’s fantastic! My trip ended with a healthy respect for this desert community. In the end the beautiful sunsets stick out as one of my fondest memories. The simple action of a big red glowing orb illuminating the sky with a rainbow of every color imaginable will humble even the most hardened city slicker and taking in all that natural beauty will convert any night owl to a dusk owl. Take my word for it and don’t let the heat discourage you. As the locals say, “…but its the dry kinda heat ya’ know”. 😉
Smiles,
E
obsessedwiththewest 