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World Wings 2023 Convention
 
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN SCOTTSDALE

Whether this is your first visit to the Valley or you have become a seasoned regular “snowbird,” there are certain experiences that are very special in Scottsdale.
OLD TOWN SCOTTSDALE
Old Town Scottsdale is a group of walkable areas that differ by day and night. There is Historic Old Town where you can browse the Art District galleries, enjoy shops along Fifth Avenue or enjoy the nightlife in the Entertainment District. All are easily walkable (with good walking shoes) or perhaps take a guided tour on a street-legal golf cart such as JoyRidesAz offers.

At the north end you’ll find Fashion Square with all the familiar named stores as well as boutiques and restaurants. You will also find Wonderspaces AZ which features art for everyone with interactive exhibits that change frequently.

You may pass the Scottsdale Waterfront to reach Marshall Way where you’ll pass some of Scottdale’s most historic sites. In the early 1900’s the area was mostly residential with homes, schools and housing for war workers and military families. When Scottsdale was incorporated in 1951 and tourism and businesses started to boom, many areas were razed to make way for shops, galleries and restaurants.

Among the art along Marshall Way you’ll see Herb Migney’s “Passing the Legend” bronze tribute to the Hashknife Pony Express, Bob Parks’ Horse Fountain at Marshall and Fifth Avenue, John Randall Nelson’s “One-Eyed Jack,” and Michael Maglich’s “Horseshoe Falls” at Marshall and Main Street. There are many great art stops along Marshall Way including fine art galleries and independent art studios.

WESTERN SPIRIT
Western Spirit, Scottsdale’s Museum of the West is located further south on Marshall Way. This amazing museum was opened in 2015 after local art and history buffs realized their 50 year dream. Within a year it became affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute and has a variety of changing eclectic exhibits of fine art, rare and historic artifacts and cultural treasures.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM
Musical Instrument Museum locally called the MIM has displays of unique instruments and music from around the world as well as a variety of live concerts.
DESERT BOTANICAL GARDENS
Desert Botanical Gardens have five thematic trails which will introduce you to thousands of arid-land plants from around the world. There is a unique gift shop at the Garden Shop and you can enjoy lunch at Gertrude’s restaurant.
TALIESEN WEST
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesen West was the renowned architect’s winter home and architectural school. It was originally constructed in the late 1930’s and is a UNESCO Heritage Site.
SCOTTSDATE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art has changing exhibitions that celebrate modern art architecture and design.
SCOTTSDALE, THE WORLD’S FINEST GOLF DESTINATION
Scottsdale, the World’s Finest Golf Destination, has an average of 330 days of annual sunshine and high-caliber courses like TPC Scottsdale, Troon North and Grayhawk. The city offers luxury resorts, stellar dining and nightlife scenes, exciting desert adventures and many top notch attractions.
SONORAN DESERT
The lush Sonoran Desert is the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures like hiking, hot-air ballooning, horseback riding, off-road tours and river rafting. The McDowell Mountain foothills offer 223+ miles of scenic shared-use trails. Always check with Experience Scottsdale’s “hiking safety guide” before going out. www.experiencescottsdale.com
Background photo of Sonoran Desert courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Old Town Scottsdale sign courtesy of Marine 69-71, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Old Town Scottsdale courtesy of Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Bronze Horse Fountain courtesy of Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Western Spirit Museum courtesy of PamMcP, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Musical Instrument Museum courtesy of PamMcP, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Desert Botanical Gradens courtesy of InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Taliesen West courtesy of AndrewHorne, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art courtesy of Dru Bloomfield from Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Golf Course courtesy of the Scottsdale Resort and Spa
Photo of South Mountain Rock Formation Through a Window courtesy of ksblack99, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons