While Arizona is easily recognized for its desert terrain, there are a number of lakes and other bodies of water that are worth checking out. They’re all conveniently located within an hour of Scottsdale, so come stay at Scottsdale Park Suites and make sure to bring your bathing suit.
Salt River is located 30 miles east of Scottsdale. For people who want to go kayaking, tubing and fishing, Lower Salt River is the go-to. Upper Salt River is meant for whitewater rafting. There are tubing rentals on-site.
Located 35 miles northeast of Old Town Scottsdale is Saguaro Lake. This lake was created by Stewart Mountain Dam and has more than 22 miles of shoreline. At the marina you can rent a runabout, fishing or pontoon boat, or take a 90-minute guided tour on a double-decker paddleboat called the Desert Belle. You can also go skiing, sailing, kayaking and fishing.
Bartlett Lake is located in the heart of the Tonto National Forest, 50 minutes away from Old Town Scottsdale. There is a full-service marina with pontoon and ski boat rentals, a general store and a dockside grill. You can also go water skiing, jet skiing and fishing on this lake.
One of the largest lakes in the area, Lake Pleasant, is only a scenic one-hour drive away from Old Town Scottsdale. This lake has over 50 miles of shoreline and 10,000 acres of water perfect for boating, sailing, water skiing, jet skiing and fishing. For those looking to include a hike in their day, there is Roadrunner Trail and Visitor Center Trail.
Canyon Lake is also an hour drive away from Old Town, and this lake presents brilliant views of red rock canyon walls and unusual rock formations. It’s located in the Superstition Mountain Wilderness area, and is the gateway to the Apache Trail. Enjoy hiking around the shore, boating, water skiing, jet skiing and fishing. Visitors can also take the Dolly Steamboat cruise and learn about the myths surrounding the mysterious Superstition Mountains.
Farther up the Apache Trail from Canyon Lake is Apache Lake. This lake is accented by high canyon walls and deep mountain valleys. It’s great for boating, fishing, water skiing and hiking. The marina offers pontoon boat rentals, so that’s an option as well.
Even farther up the Apache Trail is Roosevelt Lake. This lake is 17 miles long and the largest in the Scottsdale area. It was created in 1911 with the construction of Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River. Roosevelt Lake is a favorite among fishers, but it’s also great for water skiing, jet skiing, swimming and boating. The marina has all the typical amenities, a general store and kayak, ski and pontoon boat rentals.
Whether you’re looking forward to going boating, water skiing or kayaking, there are plenty of opportunities to do so in all of the lakes that Scottsdale boasts. Spend the night at Scottsdale Park Suites and explore everything this lovely city has to offer.
If you’re taking a trip to Scottsdale and want to experience the thought-provoking sights that the city has to offer, there’s a variety of museums within a convenient distance to Scottsdale Park Suites.
The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) is conveniently located in Scottsdale’s Old Town district. SMoCA offers the most captivating modern and contemporary art, architecture and design, and there’s a wide variety of changing exhibits. This space features a “skyspace” called “Knight Rise at Sunset” by artist James Turrell. This is one of the few places in the world where people can come and experience the light and beauty of the night sky in location for public viewing.
In Phoenix, there is the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM). MIM showcases more than 5,000 different instruments, including those used by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and John Lennon. The museum also hosts up to 200 shows a year featuring different musicians and singers.
If you’re interested in learning more about Arizona’s history, Western Spirit: Museum of the West might be the place to go. This museum opened in January 2015, and it’s a Smithsonian Affiliate. There are exhibits showcasing historic cowboy gear, pottery, Western fine art, historic posters and more housed in a contemporary 43,000 square foot building. Western Spirit is considered a favorite downtown destination due to its proximity to restaurants, art galleries and retail shop.
If you want to learn more about Native American culture, stop by the Heard Museum. Founded in 1929, it has grown greatly in size and reputation. This museum is dedicated to the advancement of Native American art, and this can be seen in their artifact displays and the stories presented from a first-person perspective.
The Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park also highlights the culture of the Sonoran Desert or Hohokam people. Pueblo Grande features a 1,500-year-old archaeological site with a platform mound, a ballcourt, and centuries old irrigation canals. There are also three galleries to visit featuring a variety of artifacts from the Hohokam. This is the only publicly accessible ancestral village cite in the city.
If racing is more your speed, then Penske Racing Museum is worth visiting. They have a vast collection of cars, trophies and racing memorabilia on display. Penske Racing has over 40 years of racing experience and over 300 big race wins highlighted by 15 Indianapolis 500 victories.
Whether you’re interested in art, the West, Native American culture or racing, Scottsdale has a little bit for everyone. Book a room at Scottsdale Park Suites and immerse yourself in everything that the local museums have to offer!
Spring is the perfect time to get outside or pick up a new hobby. An easy thing to do on vacation in a place that’s as scenic as Arizona is hiking. Scottsdale is not short of hiking trails; there’s a variety to choose from depending on your ability and comfort level.
Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve is home to over 200 miles of trails in an assortment of difficulties. If you’re not an avid hiker and a scenic walk is more your speed, the Gateway Loop Trail is a great fit. It’s a four-and-a-half-mile trail that loops around to your starting point.
Tom’s Thumb Trail is the most challenging on the McDowell Sonoran Preserve grounds, but it’s one of Scottsdale’s most popular hikes. It offers a scenic view of the trail’s namesake, Tom’s Thumb. If you’re a rock climber, this is a favored spot.
Lost Dog Wash is of moderate difficulty. This trail offers picturesque views of Frank Lloyd’s house, Taliesin West, along with the Camelback Mountains and Pinnacle Peak. This spot has a low elevation, and it’s just over a five-mile trek.
Papago Park has a little bit of something for everyone. There are hiking trails, some of which are accessible by bike; there’s the Desert Botanical Garden and Frank Lloyd Wright’s house, Taliesin West, both of which are not too far off from the park.
One of Papago Park’s most recognizable landmarks can be seen at Hole-in-the-Rock Trail. These uniquely formed buttes that the trail is named after are made out of red sandstone. At the end of the hike, you’ll be able to stand inside one of these buttes and overlook the city through one of the holes. These buttes were initially used by the Hohokam Tribe to track the sun and mark the summer and winter solstices.
The botanical garden is decorated with glass sculptures made by famous artist Dale Chihuly. The exhibit, Chihuly in the Desert, was set up in 2021, and the striking yellows, oranges and reds of the blown glass stand out against the saguaros and desert land.
Taliesin West was Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home, and it was built in 1937. It was constructed out of local materials and blends into the sandy surroundings. There is an array of events that are hosted at Taliesin West, so there’s a little something for everyone. These range from sunset happy hours to Friday night movie showings to yoga to member only events.
Whether you’re an avid hiker or just want to take in all the sights that Scottsdale has to offer, come stay at Scottsdale Park Suites and go exploring at your leisure.
While the most of the country deals with blizzards, bitter cold, and the general all-around despair that comes with winter, we at Scottsdale Park Suites in Arizona breeze through the season in paradise. Scottsdale, Arizona experiences winter with average temperatures in the mid 60s and low 70s. There is no lack of activities to do to be able to enjoy the Arizona weather. From sporting events, designer golf courses, and getting outdoors, there’s a little bit for everyone. Have you experienced Scottsdale or Phoenix like a tourist? Now is the time!
Car enthusiasts can find themselves right at home in Scottsdale at the Barrett-Jackson Auction. For the past 50 years people have travelled from across the globe to attend. This auction is a world-class automotive lifestyle event where thousands of unique and valuable automobiles are offered up in front of a global audience. Be one of the 300,000 in attendance from January 21 – 29 at the Westworld of Scottsdale.
Looking to get outside? The Phoenix Rock & Roll Marathon might pique your interest. Participants have the option to run a 5k on Saturday, January 14 and a 10k or marathon on Sunday, January 15. This event began in 1998, so 2023’s event will mark their 25th anniversary. What’s even better is that this marathon is kid friendly too! It’s called KiDS ROCK, and it’s open to kids ages 1-17.
Are you a football fan? Consider going staying in Scottsdale to go to Super Bowl LVII. This famous sports showdown will happen on Sunday, February 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, conveniently located less than an hour away from Scottsdale. If you look forward to watching your favorite team and singing along during the awaited halftime show, Rihanna will be performing.
Golf enthusiasts can pass the time at the Waste Management Golf Tournament from February 6 – 12. This event is one of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) TOUR’s best attended, drawing nearly 500,000 guests every year. The tournament benefits one of the region’s most prominent charities, the Phoenix Thunderbirds, and helps produce millions of dollars in donations that go to other organizations in the area. Additionally, this golf tournament has been recognized as the largest zero waste sporting event in the world. This means you can golf and know you’re going green too.
If you’re looking to skip the blizzards and freezing weather in your home state, book your room at Scottsdale Park Suites and enjoy a little TLC this winter. A little getaway might be exactly what you need!