Hotel at a Glance: Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale North

This hotel is a comfortable home base for visitors exploring the Scottsdale and Phoenix area. Architecture fans can walk across the street to admire the Frank Lloyd Wright spire, and golfers can find six courses within a five-mile radius. For additional urban adventures, guests can travel about 15 miles to downtown Scottsdale, or take a half-hour drive into the heart of Phoenix.

• In-room amenities include flatscreen TVs, iHome docks, and delineated sleeping, working, and living areas.
• Take a dip in the indoor heated pool.
• Starbucks coffee is served around the clock within The Bistro.
• Shrimp potstickers and roast beef are among The Bistro’s other offerings.
• Share vacation photos or catch up on emails when you join the hotel’s free WiFi network.
• Free weekday shuttle drops guests off at nearby attractions.

Scottsdale, Arizona: Stucco Mansions amid Rocky Desert Landscape

Located just northeast of Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale once served as ranch land where farmers grew oranges and lemons and cowboys kicked up dust in the fierce, dry heat. That era earned Scottsdale the nickname of “The West’s Most Western Town.” Today, it is an affluent city landscaped with lush green grass and lined with stucco mansions. For a glimpse of the city’s Old West roots, head to Old Town Scottsdale, where wooden boardwalks and hitching posts sit in front of a retro ice-cream parlor and rustic specialty shops.

Upon arriving in Scottsdale, you know you’re in the desert—cacti and tumbleweeds dot the landscape, and dry shrubs and gnarled trees cover the McDowell Mountains in the distance. To get a closer look at southwestern flora, head to the Desert Botanical Garden. There, themed trails wind past huge cacti and other moisture-hoarding succulents, best seen in the cooler early morning or twilight hours.

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