Essentials
Good grocery store with many locations in the Scottsdale area.
This is perhaps the premier hair and beauty salon for Scottsdale's "ladies who lunch". Walk-ins are accepted but call early.
Carolyne's Salon
16211 N Scottsdale RdThis is perhaps the premier hair and beauty salon for Scottsdale's "ladies who lunch". Walk-ins are accepted but call early.
Prestige Cleaners Inc
3908 N Goldwater BlvdHonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center
9003 E Shea BlvdThe closest hospital to Chateau Santal. Can handle all your medical needs.
37 locals recommend
HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center: Emergency Room
7400 East Osborn RoadThe closest hospital to Chateau Santal. Can handle all your medical needs.
Entertainment & Activities
The biggest first-run movies are shown on the giant Ciné Capri screen.
52 locals recommend
Harkins Theatres Scottsdale 101 14
7000 E Mayo BlvdThe biggest first-run movies are shown on the giant Ciné Capri screen.
OdySea Aquarium
9500 East Vía de VenturaThe Phoenix Zoo
One of the nation's premier zoos.
For the railroad enthusiasts in your family. Has historic full-size rail cars and locomotives on display, a working miniature railroad you can ride around the park, and indoor model railroad layouts in every gauge used by hobbyists and clubs.
211 locals recommend
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
7301 E Indian Bend RdFor the railroad enthusiasts in your family. Has historic full-size rail cars and locomotives on display, a working miniature railroad you can ride around the park, and indoor model railroad layouts in every gauge used by hobbyists and clubs.
No visit to Arizona is complete until you've fired a real machine gun on the range at the Scottsdale Gun Club.
10 locals recommend
Scottsdale Gun Club
14860 N Northsight BlvdNo visit to Arizona is complete until you've fired a real machine gun on the range at the Scottsdale Gun Club.
Catch a Diamondbacks MLB game in season. The stadium has a retractable roof and air conditioning, so it's a cool escape even in the middle of summer.
413 locals recommend
Chase Field
401 E Jefferson StCatch a Diamondbacks MLB game in season. The stadium has a retractable roof and air conditioning, so it's a cool escape even in the middle of summer.
Fill a cooler with cans of beer (no bottles), designate a driver, slather on the waterproof sunscreen, and float on an inner tube for miles down the Salt River below Saguaro Lake. Open during the summer months.
242 locals recommend
Salt River Tubing
9200 North Bush HighwayFill a cooler with cans of beer (no bottles), designate a driver, slather on the waterproof sunscreen, and float on an inner tube for miles down the Salt River below Saguaro Lake. Open during the summer months.
Take in a baseball spring training game between late February and the end of March. The Diamondbacks play at Salt River Fields, but there are a dozen or more additional stadiums around the Valley where games are held.
344 locals recommend
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
7555 N Pima RdTake in a baseball spring training game between late February and the end of March. The Diamondbacks play at Salt River Fields, but there are a dozen or more additional stadiums around the Valley where games are held.
Drinks & Nightlife
Eight or ten city blocks full of lively bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and music venues. The #1 location for nightlife in Arizona.
1378 locals recommend
Old Town Scottsdale
3200 N Scottsdale RdEight or ten city blocks full of lively bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and music venues. The #1 location for nightlife in Arizona.
Synapse Studios LLC
520 S Mill AveCollege-town entertainment district.
Hole in the wall bar with a great selection of fine wines.
98 locals recommend
Kazimierz Wine & Whiskey Bar
7137 East Stetson DriveHole in the wall bar with a great selection of fine wines.
Talking Stick Resort Casino
Talking Stick WayThe biggest and best of the local Indian casinos.
Put on your hat and boots for big steaks, cheap beer, and live country music.
41 locals recommend
Handlebar J
7116 E Becker LnPut on your hat and boots for big steaks, cheap beer, and live country music.
Food Scene
Osha Thai Cafe
10953 N Frank Lloyd Wright BlvdBest Thai food in Scottsdale. Try the Golden Pocket appetizer.
Outstanding Italian food from our friends, the Sodano family of Naples. Moderately expensive but worth it.
Casa Mia
11485 N 136th StOutstanding Italian food from our friends, the Sodano family of Naples. Moderately expensive but worth it.
A Scottsdale institution. La Fonda has been dishing out cheap, delicious Mexican food since your hosts were small children. Not at all fancy.
6 locals recommend
La Fonda Del Sol
10155 E Shea BlvdA Scottsdale institution. La Fonda has been dishing out cheap, delicious Mexican food since your hosts were small children. Not at all fancy.
Mastro's Ocean Club
15045 N Kierland BlvdExtremely expensive seafood. Fresh and delicious.
Hiro Sushi
9393 N 90th StAuthentic sushi, the best around.
This gourmet market and pizzeria is a favorite of Phoenix locals.
274 locals recommend
La Grande Orange Grocery & Pizzeria
4410 N 40th StThis gourmet market and pizzeria is a favorite of Phoenix locals.
This is the hippest antidote to Starbucks you'll find in the area. Great coffee, light meals, and booze. Fill your glass or growler with a wide selection of craft beers on tap. Tends to be quite noisy, and the parking is inadequate, but you can park on a side street nearby at all but the busiest times.
172 locals recommend
Sip Coffee & Beer
3617 N Goldwater BlvdThis is the hippest antidote to Starbucks you'll find in the area. Great coffee, light meals, and booze. Fill your glass or growler with a wide selection of craft beers on tap. Tends to be quite noisy, and the parking is inadequate, but you can park on a side street nearby at all but the busiest times.
Parks & Nature
Piestewa Peak
The #1 urban hiking trail in the Phoenix area.
Plants from arid regions all over the world are cultivated here. There are frequent art shows and live entertainment. For several years, the glass sculptor Dale Chihuly has presented a beautiful illuminated exhibit here in the winter months.
1231 locals recommend
Desert Botanical Garden
Plants from arid regions all over the world are cultivated here. There are frequent art shows and live entertainment. For several years, the glass sculptor Dale Chihuly has presented a beautiful illuminated exhibit here in the winter months.
The second-highest fountain in the world erupts for the first ten minutes of each hour from the lake in the center of this nearby park. There is a children's playground, a disc golf course, several moderately priced, moderately good restaurants, and a paved pathway around the lake that is 1.3 miles long.
59 locals recommend
Fountain Park
12925 N Saguaro BlvdThe second-highest fountain in the world erupts for the first ten minutes of each hour from the lake in the center of this nearby park. There is a children's playground, a disc golf course, several moderately priced, moderately good restaurants, and a paved pathway around the lake that is 1.3 miles long.
Rent a sailboat or paddleboat, or just watch the racing shells while you fish from shore.
453 locals recommend
Tempe Town Lake
620 N Mill AveRent a sailboat or paddleboat, or just watch the racing shells while you fish from shore.
Arts & Culture
Taliesin West
12621 N Frank Lloyd Wright BlvdThe winter home and studio of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
The second-largest and most diverse musical instrument museum in the world, this stunning new institution would be a major attraction even in Manhattan or Paris. Even those with little interest or talent for music will find themselves fascinated. Phoenix can count itself lucky to host such a fabulous cultural attraction.
652 locals recommend
Musical Instrument Museum
4725 E Mayo BlvdThe second-largest and most diverse musical instrument museum in the world, this stunning new institution would be a major attraction even in Manhattan or Paris. Even those with little interest or talent for music will find themselves fascinated. Phoenix can count itself lucky to host such a fabulous cultural attraction.
One of the world's premier museums of Native American art and artifacts.
652 locals recommend
Heard Museum
2301 N Central AveOne of the world's premier museums of Native American art and artifacts.
A favorite of our kids when they were small. Combine it with a trip to the Arizona Science Center.
182 locals recommend
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
215 N 7th StA favorite of our kids when they were small. Combine it with a trip to the Arizona Science Center.
See some of the most iconic military aircraft ever made, especially from the WW2 era. Many of them are still flying, and for a steep fee, you can go along for the ride.
24 locals recommend
Commemorative Air Force Museum
2017 N Greenfield RdSee some of the most iconic military aircraft ever made, especially from the WW2 era. Many of them are still flying, and for a steep fee, you can go along for the ride.
Three stories of discovery. Another favorite from when our kids were young.
292 locals recommend
Arizona Science Center
600 E Washington StThree stories of discovery. Another favorite from when our kids were young.
Art museum surrounded by a number of interesting restaurants, as well as the nearby shops of Old Town.
218 locals recommend
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
7374 E 2nd StArt museum surrounded by a number of interesting restaurants, as well as the nearby shops of Old Town.
Shopping
Outdoor shopping mall with many good restaurants. Zinc Bistro is our favorite.
699 locals recommend
Kierland Commons
Outdoor shopping mall with many good restaurants. Zinc Bistro is our favorite.
Home of the fanciest shopping between Beverly Hills and North Dallas.
761 locals recommend
Scottsdale Fashion Square
7014 E Camelback RdHome of the fanciest shopping between Beverly Hills and North Dallas.
Well known for contemporary and Western art galleries, Western wear stores, and Native American arts and crafts.
1378 locals recommend
Old Town Scottsdale
3200 N Scottsdale RdWell known for contemporary and Western art galleries, Western wear stores, and Native American arts and crafts.
Scottsdale Quarter
15279 N Scottsdale RdHome of the local Apple store and several good restaurants.