Scottsdale Guides

Explore our curated Scottsdale guides -- the best places, tips, news, and stories that define life in your city.

A wooden dock extends over a calm lake with two chairs and a yellow speedboat, surrounded by lush green trees under a clear blue sky.
Best Lakes in Arizona: Complete Guide to Water Recreation
Who would've thought the desert state famous for cacti and tumbleweeds actually has over 50 lakes perfect for everything from wakeboarding to lazy afternoon fishing? Arizona's surprising collection of reservoirs…
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Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with tree-lined streets, houses with varied roof colors, and parked cars along the road.
Best Scottsdale AZ Neighborhoods for Homebuyers in 2025
Scottsdale's real estate market has finally shifted in favor of buyers after years of bidding wars and instant offers. With homes sitting on the market for over two months and…
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Four children joyfully reach for bubbles in a sunlit park, surrounded by trees, with expressions of delight and excitement on their faces.
Arizona with Kids: Complete Guide to Family-Friendly Fun
Planning an Arizona family vacation feels like trying to solve a Rubik's cube while your kids ask "are we there yet?" every five seconds. Between the state's extreme temperature swings…
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A slate platter displays an assortment of sushi, including nigiri and rolls, accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi, and ginger, with chopsticks placed on either side.
12 Actually-Worth-It Spots for Fresh Sushi in Scottsdale
Scottsdale offers a thoughtful spectrum of sushi experiences, from serene chef’s counters and polished cocktail bars to lively teppanyaki tables and quick conveyor belts. Expect pristine fish, well curated sake,…
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A scenic view of Sedona's red rock formations under a blue sky, with a rustic barn and leafless trees in the foreground.
10 Best Day Trips from Scottsdale AZ (Under 2 Hours Drive)
Living in or visiting Scottsdale eventually leads to the same inevitable question: what lies beyond the perfectly manicured golf courses and infinity pools? The good news is that some of…
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A group of people raise their glasses filled with beer in a celebratory toast, with a focus on their hands and the drinks against a warmly lit background.
2025 Scottsdale Happy Hour Deals: Times, Prices & Venues
Skip the tourist traps and overpriced resort bars… Scottsdale's best happy hours offer $4 craft beers, $3 tacos, and half-off premium cocktails at venues locals actually frequent. From hidden speakeasies…
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Two people with backpacks walk down a tree-lined path at sunset, surrounded by greenery and soft, golden light filtering through the branches.
Arizona Higher Education: Universities, Costs & Career Outcomes
Arizona's colleges and universities are having a moment, and honestly, it's about time someone noticed. While everyone's fighting over spots at the usual suspects on the coasts, Arizona has quietly…
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A child wearing an orange hat sits on a wooden dock fishing, accompanied by a large dog, with a vast, calm lake stretching into the horizon under a cloudy sky.
Best Fishing Spots in Arizona: 128 Lakes, Rivers & Urban Waters
Let me guess… you thought Arizona was all cactus and tumbleweeds? Turns out this desert state hides 128 fishable waters, including a spot with 20,000 trout per mile (yes, really).…
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A welcoming front porch features a wooden door with a glass panel, flanked by two windows, white columns, and a wooden floor, creating a warm and inviting entrance.
Arizona Homeowner’s Guide: Save $12,300 Yearly on Housing Costs
Living in Arizona is like being in a long-term relationship with the sun… it's beautiful most of the time, but sometimes you need a break (and definitely some air conditioning).…
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A vast canyon landscape with layered red rock formations and a winding river flowing through the valley under a partly cloudy sky.
Arizona Historic Sites: Ancient Ruins to Wild West Ghost Towns
You know that feeling when you're standing in a place where something incredible happened centuries ago, and you can almost hear the echoes? Arizona delivers that sensation in spades, from…
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A straight, empty road stretches into the distance, flanked by desert vegetation, leading towards a distant mountain range under a clear sky.
Arizona’s 7 Most Spectacular Scenic Drives: Complete 2025 Guide
Ever wondered what it's like to experience five different climate zones in a single afternoon? Welcome to Arizona, where you can start your morning photographing saguaro cacti in 115-degree heat…
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Three people stand in a spacious, well-lit antique furniture store, surrounded by wooden cabinets, tables, and chairs, as they examine the items on display.
Scottsdale Area Consignment Shops that Live Up to the Hype
In and around Scottsdale, refined consignment and resale shops make elevating your wardrobe or home as enjoyable as the hunt itself. Expect curated designer pieces, well-kept furnishings, and attentive service…
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A person paddles a kayak on calm water at sunset, with a city skyline silhouetted against the colorful sky in the background.
Arizona Kayaking Guide: Salt River, Lake Powell & Beyond
Right now, someone is kayaking past 1.4-billion-year-old granite formations in Prescott while another paddler floats beneath London Bridge (yes, the actual one) in Lake Havasu. Meanwhile, a group navigates emerald-green…
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A baseball game is underway at a large stadium filled with spectators, with players on the field and a dramatic sunset in the background.
Pro & Semi-Pro Sports in Arizona: Teams, Tickets, Venues Guide
Arizona's sports scene generates a staggering $24.2 billion annually while offering everything from $5 basketball tickets to swimming pools at baseball games. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just moved…
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Volunteers wearing gloves and "VOLUNTEER" shirts prepare and serve rice and food into containers, likely for a community or charity event.
Volunteer Opportunities in Scottsdale: Complete 2025 Guide
Scottsdale offers over 600 volunteer positions across 50+ organizations, from stewarding desert preserves to ushering at world-class cultural events. Whether you're a retiree with time to spare, a busy professional…
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A winding road and river navigate through a rugged, mountainous landscape under a clear blue sky, with sparse vegetation and rocky terrain in the foreground and background.
Arizona’s Secret Spots: 10 Hidden Gems Locals Love
Arizona attracts over 45 million visitors annually, with 6 million of them cramming into the Grand Canyon for that obligatory rim selfie. But while tourists battle for parking spots and…
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A person holding a smartphone with a calculator app displaying the number 978,912, next to tax documents, a pen, and a computer keyboard on a wooden desk.
Types of Taxes in Arizona: Complete Guide to AZ Tax Rates
Let me guess… you're either thinking about moving to Arizona or you already live here and just realized you have no idea how the tax system actually works. Don't worry,…
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A tranquil river flows through lush greenery with red rock formations towering in the background under a clear sky.
Best Time to Visit Arizona: Seasonal Guide by City & Weather
Arizona's dramatic elevation changes create an extraordinary travel paradox: while Phoenix swelters at 115°F in July, Flagstaff…just 145 miles north…enjoys comfortable 81°F afternoons. This remarkable climate diversity means Arizona offers…
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A green building with a large "MARKET" sign, featuring striped awnings, potted plants, and benches outside, under a clear blue sky.
Arizona’s Best Small Towns: Hidden Gems Worth the Drive
Let me tell you something about Arizona that the Instagram influencers won't: the best parts have terrible cell service and exactly one restaurant that closes at 7 PM. These small…
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A lone hiker stands on a rocky path overlooking the expansive, sunlit Grand Canyon, with layers of hazy cliffs and valleys stretching into the distance.
Arizona State Parks Guide: 33 Parks, Fees & Hidden Gems
Arizona's state park system spans from river beaches to mountain forests, with entry fees that won't break the bank and enough variety to keep even your pickiest travel companion happy.…
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