After exploring Sedona for a few days, the next stop of our Arizona trip was Scottsdale. There is so much to do in Scottsdale, but we only had two days to visit. I definitely want to go back again one day to explore more of the city. In this post, I will be sharing how you can spend a weekend day in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Things to Do in Scottsdale
Desert Botanical Garden
Right outside of Scottsdale, in Phoenix, you will find The Desert Botanical Garden. It is 140 acres and home to thousands of species of cactus, trees, and flowers from all around the world. It even has a butterfly pavilion. We spent the morning here and loved walking around and checking out all the different exhibits. Tickets range from $30-$40 depending on the day of the week you visit. This one of our favorite things we did in Scottsdale so I highly recommend you check it out if you are planning a trip here!
Hike Camelback Mountain
Camelback Mountain is a popular hiking trail near Scottsdale. It is a 2.4 difficult mile hike that takes about 1.5/2 hours to complete. It is a tough hike, but you are rewarded with amazing views!
Go Shopping
Check out Old Town Scottsdale to explore their cowboy-inspired boutiques and walk around Fashion Square Mall, an upscale contemporary shopping complex with 200+ brand name stores.
Gateway Trailhead
This is a great easy/moderate hiking trail, where you will get to see the famous saguaro cactus that can grow over 12 feet tall!
Relax at the Hotel Pool
After doing all those hikes in Sedona, Carl and I wanted to have some relaxing time in Scottsdale. We stayed at Hotel Adeline – a cute boutique hotel. After lunch, we spent an afternoon relaxing by the pool.
Restaurants in Scottsdale
SumoMaya
This is a Mexican Asian fusion restaurant where they serve a variety of small plates. It’s a perfect dinner spot. We loved it! Everything we had was delicious and I loved their decor! I highly recommend!
For drinks, I loved their frozen mojito. You have to try their pomegranate guacamole – we were skeptical at first but it is honestly so good! We got a mix of tacos, sushi, and noodles and chocolate cake for dessert.
The Canal Club
This restaurant is located in The Scott Resort – perfect for lunch, dinner, and cocktails. I loved their 1930s Havana inspired decor. Carl and I went their for lunch and tried their Cuban sandwiches – so good!
Olive & Ivy
This is a Mediterranean restaurant that serves brunch, lunch and dinner. I highly recommend trying their bruschettas!
Hope you enjoyed my blog post on how to spend a weekend in Scottsdale!
Exploring more of Arizona? Check out my Sedona Travel Guide
