Recently, we traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona, for one of my kids’ soccer tournaments. Because Scottsdale offers so much in the way of family-friendly activities, we decided to make it a mini getaway for our family. We packed in a lot of fun in the few days we were there. So if you’re in search of a Scottsdale travel guide, I think you’ll find this post helpful to know where to stay, eat and what to do while you’re there.
If you enjoy the beach, I also have a resort review guide for the Cabo area found HERE.
Scottsdale Travel Guide
What to Do in Scottsdale
Top Golf
If you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly activity, Top Golf is a must. The Scottsdale location is beautiful with temperature-controlled bays, so you can play throughout the year. They also offer half-price on game play every Tuesday.
Octane Raceway
Octane Raceway will definitely fill your need for speed. Their 1/3 mile track is the only full-time indoor/outdoor track in the country. You start the race indoors, takes you outdoors and then ends up back inside. The complex also offers a Velocity Virtual Reality experience.
OdySea Aquarium
If your family enjoys sea life, the OdySea Aquarium is not to be missed. It’s Arizona’s top-rated and largest aquarium, featuring a variety of exhibits. It’s located at the Arizona Boardwalk where many other attractions are located like The Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum and Pangea Land of the Dinosaurs Exhibit. Many of the exhibits at the aquarium are hands-on, and all of them are entertaining. They have everything from sharks, penguins, otters, fish from all over the world and a cool Kids’ Cove.
Butterfly Wonderland
The Butterfly Wonderland takes you to the rainforest where you can learn about the world of butterflies and other rainforest animals, reptiles and creatures. You can also view the largest butterfly emergence gallery in the country where beautiful butterflies emerge naturally and fly into the conservatory. And for those that are brave enough, try out some edible insects like scorpion lollipops and chocolate covered ants. I think I prefer chocolate covered strawberries. 🙂
iFly
If you ever wanted to feel like you’re flying without having to do the whole skydiving thing, then you would love the iFly. The iFly experience has state-of-the-art wind tunnels that give you the sensation of flying.
Where to Eat in Scottsdale
Ironwood American Kitchen
Ironwood American Kitchen is located at the Fairmont Hotel in Scottsdale. It serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and then brunch on the weekends. Their brunch is not to be missed! The restaurant is a farm-to-table style, using local, fresh ingredients wherever possible. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, with the outdoor seating overlooking one of the main pools at the hotel.
The above picture shows our breakfast entrees when we ate here while staying at the Fairmont. Some items on their breakfast menu include:
- Apple Smoked Pork Burrito
- Smoked Salmon Toast
- Purple Barley Waffles
Ocean 44
Ocean 44 is our favorite restaurant to get seafood in the Scottsdale area. It’s a bit of a splurge, but well worth the food and overall experience. The restaurant has a large raw bar stocked full of the freshest salmon, tuna, oysters and crab legs. They also make their desserts in-house. If you have someone in your family that would rather eat meat, Ocean 44 also has a wide selection of prime-grade steaks.
Some items on their dinner menu include:
- Butter Poached Maine Lobster Tails
- Shetland Island Salmon
- Grass-Fed NY Strip
- Corn creme brulee side dish (so delicious!)
- Beignets (my kids’ favorite)
Sam & Luca Rustic Kitchen
Sam & Luca Rustic Kitchen is an Italian restaurant located in Mesa, and we tried it for the first time the last time we were in the area. It’s not fancy, but a delicious hidden gem! I got the Arrabbiata di Mare as an appetizer. I loved it so much that I asked if they could create a main entree with that same sauce they used in that dish. This is a local, small business and a wonderful place to stop for good food.
Some other items on their menu include:
- Capellini
- Grilled Shrimp Risotto
- Pan Seared Salmon
Maple & Ash
Maple & Ash is a steakhouse where many of the menu items are cooked over a live wood fire. Their menu was created by two-Michelin-star Chef Danny Grant, so their menu doesn’t miss a detail to their unique and flavorful dishes. They offer a little bit of everything from raw and chilled seafood, steaks, chops and fish and chicken dishes.
Some of the items that are on the menu and that we ate last time we visited were:
- Fire Roasted Seafood Tower
- Ricotta Agnolotti “Pillows of Love”
- Brussel Sprouts
- Short Rib Bolognese
- Ice Cream Bar
Where to Stay in Scottsdale
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a large hotel and have stayed here quite a few times. They have a variety of accommodation options with over 750 guest rooms and suits. The decor is beautiful, mixing deep hues with modern accents. The Fairmont has four restaurants including the Ironwood American Kitchen I talked about earlier. One of the best amenities about this hotel is that it has 6 pools with one of them being an adults-only. You’ll never get bored with the swimming situation that’s for sure.
The Scott
The Scott Resort & Spa is located in Scottsdale’s historic downtown. We stayed here a few years ago and really enjoyed the whole experience. The guest rooms look like they should be featured in a home decor magazine, mixing wooden furniture with neutral fabrics and bronze accents. The Scott has two outdoor pools surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Plus a tranquil spa to unwind and relax.
Have you visited Scottsdale before? If so, what’s your favorite thing to do or place to eat? Let me know in the comments, so we can keep adding to this list!
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