20 Reasons To Spend Spring Vacation in Scottsdale: Spring Training and So Much More
Is It Worth Visiting Scottsdale During Spring Training?
If you love watching baseball or are just looking to escape cold weather, spend the perfect spring vacation in Scottsdale with plenty of fun things to do for everyone. March brings warm and sunny days with many special events and outdoor activities.
1. The Weather For Your Spring Vacation In Scottsdale
If you dislike the cold as much as I do, Scottsdale’s weather is preferable most months of the year. Everyone, however, can appreciate the sun-filled spring days with high temps in the 70s and 80s. Dry heat is often joked about, but it truly makes the warm temperatures extremely pleasant.
Outdoor activities range from lounging by the pool to strolling around festivals or hiking the scenic desert trails. The evenings drop into the 60s, perfect for dinner on one of the many outdoor restaurant patios.
Outdoor Activities In Scottsdale
2. Spring Training Games
The Phoenix area hosts 15 Major League Baseball teams for Spring Training, with multiple daily games. The festivities start mid-February and last until opening day of the MLB season, usually in the first week of April.
Scottsdale Stadium, hosting the San Francisco Giants, is in downtown Scottsdale, next to the Old Town area. Various restaurants and bars within walking distance enable fans to celebrate before or after the game.
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. It resides in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community bordering the East edge of Scottsdale. While you will need a car to reach the stadium, it is easy to access and provides ample parking.
Be sure to bring protection from the sun for afternoon games, such as hats and sunscreen. You also need to drink more water to handle the low humidity. Games often sell out, so order tickets early.
3. Hiking in Scottsdale
Spring vacation in Scottsdale provides the opportunity to experience the beauty and complexity of the Sonoran Desert. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve occupies over 30,000 acres in the North part of the city, with over 200 miles of trails and 11 trailheads.
My favorite launching point is the Gateway Trailhead, which is easily reachable from Route 101 and has plenty of parking and clean restrooms. Several trails range from the flat, half-mile-long Bajada Nature Trail to the difficult 9.6-mile-long trail through Bell and Windgate Passes.
Other good options in the preserve include the Tom’s Thumb, Brown’s Ranch, and Lost Dog Wash Trailheads.
Pinnacle Peak Park offers a 3.5-mile route with a steep rise to a fantastic viewpoint. The rocky trail continues with more gentle hills overlooking a golf course and large homes. The parking lot fills up quickly, but there is parking along the street. Clean restrooms and a water fountain are available.
4. Free Outdoor Events and Activities
Visitors to Scottsdale can join residents for Sun & Sounds on Sundays in March at the West Bowl of the Scottsdale Civic Center. From noon to 4:00 pm, you can lounge on the grass listening to a band on stage while enjoying lunch from the food trucks or browsing the arts and crafts booths.
The Scottsdale Civic Center also hosts mercantile markets on select Saturdays in the springs with live music, food and drinks, and a kid’s zone.
The Old Town Farmers Market occurs every Saturday at Brown Avenue and First Street, with over 100 local growers and specialty food vendors. You can grab some brunch and stock up on cheese, chocolates, bread, pastries, fruits, and veggies to fuel the rest of your vacation.
Walkable Areas To Explore
Scottsdale offers many excellent areas to enjoy the warm weather while strolling around, viewing public art, and shopping.
5. Old Town Scottsdale
Scottsdale’s retro downtown area gives the feeling of walking into the Old West with wooden posts and porticos lining the streets. This is the place to pick up some souvenirs and Native American art, and you can stop for lunch or a drink along the way.
Don’t miss the iconic Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor, a Scottsdale landmark since 1958, which still creates terrific treats.
6. Scottsdale Civic Center
The Scottsdale Civic Center provides the perfect break from souvenir hunting in the Old Town area across the street. The park contains grassy areas, trees, cacti and other desert plants, fountains, and plenty of benches and bistro tables for relaxing. For the kids, a playground and splash area beckon. Two public restrooms and water fountains are also available.
The Civic Center also contains the main public library, three museums, a few restaurants and bars, and City Hall.
7. Scottsdale Waterfront
The main strip of the Scottsdale Waterfront runs for two blocks along the canal from the Soleri Bridge at Scottsdale Road to Goldwater Boulevard. The span, designed by Paolo Soleri, features two 64-foot-tall pylons that line up to send a shaft of light down the bridge at the solstice.
A sidewalk borders the canal on each side, shaded by Palo Verde trees. Benches around a tiled fountain provide a good spot to gaze at the Soleri Bridge. The patios of Olive and Ivy, Tapas Papa Frita, and STK Steakhouse offer excellent dining spots along the waterfront.
Wander north off the canal to reach Fashion Square Mall, with a few shops and restaurants along the way. Walk south for coffee shops, wine-tasting rooms, boutique shopping, and even more restaurants.
8. Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter
North Scottsdale also offers two outdoor malls across Scottsdale Road from each other. Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter are each laid out like a small neighborhood with a variety of restaurants and specialty shops featuring clothing, beauty items, and household décor. The Quarter also has a large splash pad with shooting fountains.
9. Scottsdale Green Belt
One of the best ways to enjoy the beautiful weather in Scottsdale is to visit the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt, stretching for 11 miles through the city. A paved path for walking, running, and cycling runs along the spine of the Greenbelt, with underpasses for crossing major streets.
Activities include two golf courses, a skate park, several playgrounds, a xeriscape garden, and volleyball and tennis courts. Ponds and small lakes provide a place to fish, watch birds, or relax. You may even see a coyote or two wander by. Click here for an interactive map.
Art Viewing In Scottsdale
10. Public Art in Downtown Scottsdale
While you can find public art pieces scattered throughout Scottsdale, it is difficult to walk around downtown Scottsdale without noticing the dozens of impressive works.
Pinball Wizard, a fountain with colorful mosaic balls, dominates the entrance to the Waterfront from Stetson Drive. Passing the Legacy, commemorating the Pony Express, greets you on the other side of the canal.
The Love statue, a favorite photo spot, is one of a dozen sculptures in the Scottsdale Civic Center surrounding the fountain with a sparkling mosaic wall titled The Desert’s Garden.
11. Scottsdale Arts District
Lining Main Street and Marshall Way, over two dozen galleries comprise the Scottsdale Arts District, with a few restaurants and bars interspersed. On Thursday evenings, from 7 to 9 pm, Artwalk allows visitors to browse the galleries and talk with artists and experts while sipping wine.
My favorite gallery, Anticus, features paintings and sculptures and offers an impressive collection of books for sale.
12. Taliesin West
When Frank Lloyd Wright searched for a winter home, he chose the hills of North Scottsdale with an expansive view of the Phoenix Valley. Today, visitors can enjoy the same view while touring the incredible architecture of Taliesin West.
13. Golfcart Adventures
For a fun activity while exploring Old Town for small or larger groups, book a tour with Puzzle Rides. Your guide will provide clues and then whisk you to several locations as your group tries to solve a puzzle, in a scavenger hunt meets escape room adventure.
14. Outdoor Dining
For a perfect way to conclude a beautiful spring day, Scottsdale offers many options for outdoor dining in Old Town, by the Waterfront, and throughout the city. These are some of my favorites, but many others are worth checking out.
AZ88 looks out on the Scottsdale Civic Center, while The House Brasserie, Sel, and Cornish Pasty are near the Scottsdale Arts District. The Outrider Rooftop Lounge, atop the Canopy Hotel, provides a nice view of the incredible Arizona sunsets.
At the Waterfront, Olive & Ivy and Tapas Papa Fritas sit alongside the canal. Nearby, Farm & Craft offers many healthy options, and Schmooze has the perfect patio for coffee or tea.
The Vig has two locations in Scottsdale, one just north of downtown and another near the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Ask for the patio at the Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen at the Andaz Scottsdale Resort for another great spot for sunset dining.
Indoor activities
On the rare rainy days or as a respite for extra-warm days, plenty of indoor activities await in Scottsdale.
15. Wine Tasting Rooms
Arizona wine improves yearly with three designated AVAs in higher elevation areas. Visitors to Scottsdale can sample these wines in the seven tasting rooms in the downtown area. Spend a fun day following the Wine Trail Map. Set aside a day of your trip to then visit your favorite winery.
16. Scottsdale Center For The Performing Arts
While in town, check out the Scottsdale Center For The Performing Arts calendar for music, dance, comedy, and other performances. The Center sits in the Scottsdale Civic Center, with plenty of pre-show dining options nearby. The Virginia G. Piper Theater holds 853 seats, with excellent views and acoustics from every one of them. Stage 2 hosts more intimate concerts, often with cabaret-style seating.
17. Scottsdale Museum Of Contemporary Art
Next door awaits SMoCA, with three main gallery spaces displaying rotating exhibits of intriguing contemporary art. Don’t miss a view of the sky in the Knight Rise enclosure in the sculpture garden.
18. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum Of The West
Through its permanent and traveling exhibits, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West provides an insight into the history and culture of the American West. You can enjoy Hopi pottery, collections of artifacts, and Western paintings and sculptures before picking up some great souvenirs at the gift shop.
19. Immersive Art At Wonderspaces
Enter Wonderspaces through the food court at Fashion Square Mall to experience rotating exhibits of immersive and interactive art.
20. Plenty To Do At Arizona Boardwalk
Just off the main highway in Scottsdale, Arizona Boardwalk offers plenty for everyone to do. Around a central open-air courtyard lies Butterly Wonderland, OdySea Aquarium, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Pangaea: Land of the Dinosaurs, Museum of Illusions, and more, plus dining and shopping.
More To Do In The Phoenix Area During A Spring Vacation In Scottsdale
While staying in Scottsdale, visitors also can access many exceptional activities throughout the greater Phoenix area in the spring. These are some of my favorites.
Renaissance Festival
One of the highlights of spring in Arizona is the return of the Renaissance Festival in Gold Canyon to the east of Scottsdale. Spreading over 50 acres, the faire includes non-stop entertainment on 16 stages, three jousts in the arena, and human-powered rides. Drink some mead while eating steak-on-a-stake and shopping for a sword or fairy wings.
Musical Instrument Museum
Visitors who enter the Musical Instrument Museum receive headphones that transmit music from each exhibit, accompanied by videos of the instruments and performers. MIM’s collection contains over 7500 instruments from 200 countries and territories worldwide. This airy museum combines visual and auditory beauty.
MIM also hosts fantastic concerts with suberb acoustics and very comfortable seats, as well as special events featuring various musical cultures. The gift shop offers instruments and other unique gifts.
Heard Museum
The Heard Museum showcases American Indian art, from traditional to contemporary. The history and culture of American Indians come alive in the galleries and special events. Shop for authentic arts and crafts bought directly from the artists in their incredible market.
Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden displays the beauty and complexity of the desert in its many trails. Spring is the perfect time to see the cacti and other plants bloom and enjoy the birds these attract.
Japanese Friendship Garden
In the heart of downtown Phoenix, the Japanese Friendship Garden offers an oasis of peace. A path leads around the pond filled with koi, leading to a soothing waterfall and zigzag bridge.
Conclusion: It’s Worth Spending Spring Vacation In Scottsdale
Scottsdale offers many fun and enriching activities, and spring brings the best weather to enjoy these activities. Visitors can enjoy the desert, art, and culture while basking in the warm sun and attending a baseball game or festival.
