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Discover Deep Transformational Life Coaching in North Scottsdale, AZ
Living the human experience is a beautiful, complex journey. It's filled with peaks and valleys of pleasure and pain, both physical and emotional. It seems so simple when we're children, but things change as we grow: we begin to form our own opinions, develop romantic relationships, build a career, and work our way through life. With age comes maturity and personal development, but all too often, we grow older without learning how to manage and accept our emotions, thoughts, and relationships. This causes us to get stuck, and for some, they then stay stuck - trapped in a vicious cycle of self-doubt, judgement and negativity.
Sound familiar? If so, ask yourself if you are suffering from any of the following:
- Unresolved childhood trauma
- Grief, loss, and betrayals in life that you can't get past
- Harmful patterns that keep you stuck in a rut, with no hope of moving forward
- Anxiety about your personal or work life
- Anger, insecurity, and stress that gets the best of you
- Codependency and people pleasing-problems that leave you emotionally bankrupt
- Family or romantic relationship issues that you can't handle or resolve
- Negative thoughts and self-criticizing problems equating to "I'm not good enough" and "I can't succeed."
- Overthinking and racing thoughts that distract you during the day and keep you up at night
- Lack of motivation or purpose in your life
- Low self-worth, self-love, and lack of personal development
If you're struggling because you aren't sure what to do next or how to change your life for the better, know that you aren't alone. Millions of people just like you aren't where they want to be in life. Fortunately, your personal growth life coach in North Scottsdale, AZ, is here to help you reimagine, refocus, and rebuild your life for the better.
Life Coach Services
- Discover Deep Transformational Life Coaching in North Scottsdale, AZ
- We All Suffer at Times. Now, Let's Do Something About It
- The Christy Maxey Difference
- Men's Personal Development Growth Coaching in North Scottsdale, AZ
- Women's Personal Development Growth Coaching in North Scottsdale, AZ
- EMDR Therapy in North Scottsdale, AZ
- Break Out of Your Cage and Be Proud of Your True Self
Services Area


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We All Suffer at Times. Now, Lets Do Something About It
If you're reading this page, chances are you're not exactly happy with how your life is going. And that's okay. You're in a safe place.
Finding the right person to speak with about the personal growth issues in your life is challenging. Some life coaches in North Scottsdale only see you as a transaction - a means to make money and provide unhelpful, mediocre services. Christy Maxey is the anthesis of uneducated, fly-by-night life coaches. She has worked with thousands of people just like you and has built a reputation of helping people as their life coach in North Scottsdale and throughout Arizona, as well as with clients all over the world.
As a former therapist, Christy uses an effective system of evidenced-based concepts, tools, and exercises like trauma-informed coaching, inner child healing and EMDR to uncover true self-worth. Christy's signature system, the Maxx Method, helps develop emotional intelligence and provides life-long skills that will help guide you in relationships with yourself and others.
Remember: you are not broken YOU ARE NOT BROKEN. There is nothing wrong with you. And, it doesn't have to take years of therapy to get the results you are hoping for


The Maxx Method Difference
Many people use go to therapy but see few results. They've tried reading books, listening to podcasts, and maybe even hired a life coach. But at the end of the day, they're still struggling with root issues that cause stress, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness.
Christy Maxey has developed The Maxx Method, an evidenced-based path to Personal Development, Healing and Emotional Intelligence. When you work with Christy Maxey as your life coach, you will spend your time together getting to the root cause of your problems. You'll answer questions like:
- How are you holding yourself back?
- What limiting beliefs do you have?
- What are you resisting?
- How are self-doubt and judgment keeping you stuck?
- How is your past STILL affecting you now?
- Where is your anxiety coming from?
Often, we don't know the answers to these questions without help. Unfortunately, many therapists and life coaches in North Scottsdale, AZ lack focus. They encourage you to talk about your day, week, and month. They get a general sense of what is bothering you, but before any real work is done, your therapy session is over. In the end, you see few results and you're left reeling with more anxiety and stress than before.
Clients choose Christy Maxey as their personal development life coach because she gets right to the issues without wasting your time. She pulls on her vast experience to heal men and women of all ages, using traditional techniques from psychology and psychotherapy combined with results-oriented coaching. Christy always emphasizes honesty, compassion, and accountability, so you get real benefits and real efficiency with her coaching.
If you're ready to be re-introduced to your authentic self, your journey starts here.
Men's Personal Development Growth Coaching in North Scottsdale, AZ
Men in today's society often fight against strong feelings of stress, anger, and self-defeating patterns that keep them stuck in a rut. Unfortunately, many men are socialized to ignore their feelings and inner experiences. As a men's therapist and life coach for more than 20 years, Christy Maxey has the techniques and experience to break down the barriers keeping men from living the life they want.
Men deserve compassion, but they also deserve high expectations and positive confrontation when necessary. Unlike some life coaches in North Scottsdale, Christy's approach doesn't allow men to hide behind insecurity and grandiosity. Male clients choose Christy because she pushes them to live to their true potential without wasting time.

Coaching Men with Relationship Issues
Relationships don't always come easily and we are not taught how to have healthy, secure relationships. Challenges can be hard to overcome without help. If any of the following problems sound familiar, life coaching with Christy Maxey could be the solution:
- Difficult Relating to Partner
- Repeating Negative Patterns in Relationships
- Feelings of Loneliness
- Feeling Misunderstood

Coaching Men with Stress
Stress is the leading root cause of disease. Although men are taught to "just deal with it," that's not the best answer. With Christy Maxey as your life coach, you can address issues with:
- No Appreciation for Hard Work
- Pleasing Everyone Except Yourself
- Exhaustion without Physical Activity
- Feelings of Unhappiness and Lack of Motivation

Coaching Men with Anger
It's no wonder that men suffer from aggression and anger when we tell them to turn off their emotions. Life coaching can help you overcome:
- Aggressive Behavior
- Outbursts of Anger
- Career Issues
- Relationship Issues
- Verbal Aggression and Abuse
If you're a man open to working through your problems to better yourself, there's good news. Christy Maxey's proven, efficient life coaching system can help you be the father, husband, friend, and self that you truly want to be. With the right tools and guidance, you can live life with less anger and stress. And with the right tools, you can focus on finding your voice without resorting to aggression.
Women's Personal Development Growth Coaching in North Scottsdale, AZ
Women are beautiful, unique individuals. But many seem to suffer from the same universal theme - an inner critic that hinders true growth and sabotages them from a fulfilling, happy life.
As a therapist, Christy Maxey spent much of her time working directly with women just like you. Christy combines an incredible depth of knowledge and guidance with life coaching energy, uncovering your true potential as a woman, free of dysfunction.
Unfortunately, no matter what women do as mothers and employees, many believe that they're never good enough. They feel like they're not worthy, not lovable, and not strong.
If you feel like you're unworthy of success and happiness, it's time for a change. It's time to look in the mirror and take care of yourself, not someone else.
If you're ready to reclaim the life you deserve, your journey to success starts with women's life coaching in North Scottsdale. Here are just a few areas that Christy Maxey helps women break free of the chains that keep them down:


Coaching Women Suffering from Pleasing & Codependency
Many women today do everything for everybody else but don't take time to heal or explore personal development. Personal development growth coaching from Christy Maxey can help you address these common issues:
- Self-Medicating to Cover Up Feelings of Inadequacy
- Feeling like You've Lost Yourself
- People Taking Advantage of Your Kindness
- Over-Providing for Others

Coaching Women with Unpleasant Emotions
Many women are unsure of how to untangle the mess of emotions they go through. Life coaching in North Scottsdale can help you manage your emotions and find the clarity and love you need in your life. Does this sound like you?
- Feelings of Shame and Guilt
- Issues with Your Career or Job
- Unhappiness with Others' Behaviors
- Bouts of Sobbing That Lead to Anxiety and Depression

Coaching Women with Self-Confidence Issues
Though every life is valuable, society triggers many women to de-value themselves as they grow older. One of the core components of Christy's life coaching is to help women value who they are. Self-confidence can help by:
- Highlighting Positive Attributes Over Shortcomings
- Finding Solutions to Confidence Issues
- Teaching You How to Love Yourself, Flaws and All
- Giving You the Tools to Assert Yourself Without Guilt
If you're a woman and you're ready for change, we've got great news. Women's coaching with Christy is all about change and focus. It's active and experiential coaching that will keep you engaged and accountable to yourself. The result? A life bursting with happiness, fulfillment, and joy.
EMDR Coaching in North Scottsdale, AZ
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, is a powerful technique used to heal people from distressing and disturbing life experiences. EMDR Coaching with Christy Maxey allows the mind to heal from psychological trauma much quicker than traditional therapy methods.
When we go through traumatic experiences, we often associate those events with negative beliefs and emotions like feelings of shame, anger, and inadequacy. EMDR helps the mind reprocess the life-changing event, allowing the client to heal and live a life they love.
Is EMDR Right for You?
Many people are reluctant to try EMDR because of poor results from previous attempts. Christy Maxey's EMDR Coaching includes guided visualization and inner child healing for a more robust approach. This tactic is part of Christy's Maxx Method - a life-changing framework for personal development.
What is the Maxx Method?
You may have received help from a therapist or life coach in North Scottsdale, AZ, in the past, only to fall back into bad habits and self-destruction. If that sounds like you, chances are you never addressed the underlying cause of your problems. You cut the weed but never removed the root.
The Maxx Method is a six-part holistic system of evidenced-based tools, exercises, and concepts, developed to help you achieve maximized personal development.
EMDR and the Maxx Method are not only used for extreme traumas. They can be very helpful for common memories and events that foster feelings of low self-esteem and powerlessness, too. These methods were developed to help manage unpleasant emotions, show you how to find deep love, and heal old wounds that keep you stuck.
EMDR and the Maxx Method could be right for you if you have experienced:
- Social Anxiety
- Loss, Betrayal, and Grief
- Negative Core Beliefs
- Hurt, Anger, and Sadness
- Overthinking
- Low Self-Esteem
- Lack of Confidence

Break Out of Your Comfort Zone and Be Proud of Your True Self
The world is changing. People are finally learning how to manage their own human experiences. But we can't do it alone. Christy Maxey is here to guide you on the path to a positive, guilt-free life. If you're ready to look inward, find peace, and develop the skills to love your true self, you're in the right place. After all, you've been suffering long enough.
When you work with Christy, you'll be on a fast track to the truth - no beating around the bush or wasting time. Christy's methods are gentle but firm, compassionate yet driven. You will learn, you will transform, and you will be happy because it's you who did the work. It's time to face your fears head-on, so you can't play the victim card anymore. You're capable of great relationships, healthy self-confidence, and of doing something with your life. If you're sick and tired of being stuck, this is your chance to get out of that rut.
Ready to learn to value yourself and live the life that you deserve? Contact Christy Maxey today for your free 15-minute consultation.

Free Consultation
Latest News in North Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, Arizona, cuts off water to suburb in response to Colorado River drought
FOX Weatherhttps://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/scottsdale-colorado-river-drought-stops-selling-water-rio-verde
Residents in a community in the foothills of Scottsdale, Arizona, say they are on the verge of running out of their water supply after the city stopped selling water to the unincorporated suburb due to the ongoing drought.Rio Verde Foothills includes normally lush golf courses, tennis courts, a clubhouse and hiking trails. Home prices start around $500,000 and run up to $2 million, according to recent Zillow listings.Until recently, the un...
Residents in a community in the foothills of Scottsdale, Arizona, say they are on the verge of running out of their water supply after the city stopped selling water to the unincorporated suburb due to the ongoing drought.
Rio Verde Foothills includes normally lush golf courses, tennis courts, a clubhouse and hiking trails. Home prices start around $500,000 and run up to $2 million, according to recent Zillow listings.
Until recently, the unincorporated community with about 1,000 residents bought its water from Scottsdale. However, with the recent drought conditions, Scottsdale city officials announced in late December it would stop selling water to Maricopa County residents in the Rio Verde Foothills.
HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TV
"Maricopa County officials and county residents living in the Rio Verde Foothills area were informed of this eventuality in 2015/16, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022," a Dec. 29 Scottsdale city memo read.
It’s been over two weeks since the water supply was cut off on Jan. 1.
The Arizona Republic newspaper reports Rio Verde Foothills residents have sued the city of Scottsdale.
While the Southwest monsoon season and rounds of atmospheric river rains slamming into California have offered small improvements to the overall western drought, the problem is that Arizona gets about 36% of its water supply from the Colorado River. The recent rain cannot fix a problem decades in the making.
According to Arizona State University's Kyl Center for Water Policy at Morrison Institute, for the past 20 years, water levels in Lake Mead, a large Colorado River reservoir, have been dropping amid drought conditions.
The Colorado River provides water to 40 million people across seven states, including Arizona, according to NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System.
States are cutting water supplies amid a plan to mitigate the risk of Lake Mead's critically low water levels. Arizona's Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties receive water through Central Arizona Project will see the biggest cuts, according to ASU's Kyl Center for Water Policy.
On Jan. 1, the Colorado River Tier 2 mandatory water cuts went into effect, cutting Arizona's supply from the Colorado River by 21%. This year marks the second year of water cuts for Arizona.
In her recent State of the State address, Gov. Katie Hobbs said Arizona's decades-long drought is the "challenge of our time." In the same address, she revealed a previously sealed Arizona Department of Water Resources report showing parts of Phoenix’s West Valley is 15% short of the water it needs for the next 100 years.
"This report unequivocally shows that we have to act now, or this will only be the first new area that faces this kind of shortage," Hobbs said.
As of the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report on Jan. 12, most of southwestern and northern Arizona is under abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions, an overall improvement from last year, during which 57% of the state was under drought.
There has been some rain in the Phoenix metro area this week, thanks to light showers producing about a quarter inch of rainfall in some areas.
In the meantime, residents of Rio Verde Foothills are looking for alternative water sources but say the situation is becoming dire.
Hilton Cavasson in North Scottsdale
Cynthia Sassihttps://fabulousarizona.com/arizona-best/hilton-cavasson-north-scottsdale/
Hilton Cavasson in North Scottsdale is now open. Conveniently located just off the Loop 101 and Hayden Road, this new six-story hotel is perfect for business and leisure. There are so many reasons to choose Hilton Cavasson for your next visit to Scottsdale. First, the location is ideal for both business and leisure travelers. Right off the Loop 101 freeway, it is a quick and easy drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and just minutes from Scottsdale Airport. You are close to everything, ...
Hilton Cavasson in North Scottsdale is now open. Conveniently located just off the Loop 101 and Hayden Road, this new six-story hotel is perfect for business and leisure.
There are so many reasons to choose Hilton Cavasson for your next visit to Scottsdale. First, the location is ideal for both business and leisure travelers. Right off the Loop 101 freeway, it is a quick and easy drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and just minutes from Scottsdale Airport. You are close to everything, including major event venues like the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, the WM Phoenix Open and the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show.
Additionally, Hilton Cavasson is a beautiful property with well-appointed rooms and amenities. As soon as you step foot in the hotel, you can see how the design embraces the surroundings, bringing the outside in with sliding doors at the front desk and in the lobby that can open entirely on nice days. The decor and finishes make the interior match seamlessly with the beautiful desert and mountains you can see through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The hotel features 237 rooms with 15,000 square feet of event space that includes an exclusive rooftop lounge overlooking the breathtaking McDowell Mountains. The guest rooms offer picturesque views from every direction and beautiful modern finishes with Southwest touches throughout. Hilton Cavasson is also pet-friendly, so no need to leave your four-legged friend at home. There is a 50-lb. weight limit and a $75 non-refundable fee.
Desert Pony Tavern is the hotel’s trendy restaurant and bar to serve guests and the community. This Southwest-inspired gastropub features an open-air dining experience with more sliding glass doors and a beautiful patio with firepits. This restaurant at Hilton Cavasson offers a breakfast buffet daily with Belgian waffles, omelets made to order, fresh fruit and more. There are also a la carte options including the Aztec eggs benedict, brioche French toast and Desert Pony enchiladas.
The all-day menu at Desert Pony Tavern features bacon-fat popcorn, marinated olives, burgers, salads and our personal favorite, the pan-seared king salmon. The tavern also offers a great cocktail menu and selection of beers and wines, including smoked Old Fashioneds.
For more information about Hilton Cavasson in North Scottsdale and to book your stay, visit hilton.com.
Hilton Cavasson in North Scottsdale7965 E. Cavasson Blvd.Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Mack Real Estate Group proposes 1.2M-square-foot Scottsdale industrial-office park
Ron Davishttps://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2023/02/01/mack-real-estate-group-11-building-park-scottsdale.html
Nearly a year after acquiring a large — and expensive — site in north Scottsdale, Mack Real Estate Group filed plans to get city approval for its new development.The developer submitted an application earlier this month for the first phase of Mack Innovation Park on the northeast corner of the Loop 101 freeway and Bell Road. The first phase will include five buildings that range between 45,375 square feet and 129,395 square feet, totaling nearly 494,000 square feet. The site plan shows four buildings for another 572,000 sq...
Nearly a year after acquiring a large — and expensive — site in north Scottsdale, Mack Real Estate Group filed plans to get city approval for its new development.
The developer submitted an application earlier this month for the first phase of Mack Innovation Park on the northeast corner of the Loop 101 freeway and Bell Road. The first phase will include five buildings that range between 45,375 square feet and 129,395 square feet, totaling nearly 494,000 square feet. The site plan shows four buildings for another 572,000 square feet for a second phase.
In total, the park could bring on 1.2 million square feet across 11 buildings when fully built out across industrial and flex office space. A timeline for when construction is expected to start and complete was not immediately known on Tuesday.
Mack will be the developer of the park while Butler Design Group has been tasked as the architect. Kimley-Horn will be the civil engineer and Withey Morris is the land-use attorney for the project.
"We're pleased to bring forth our plans for the development of the 124-acre site in Scottsdale and satisfy the unmet demand for larger industrial and flex office spaces in the north Scottsdale submarket. We also believe in being good corporate stewards and will continue to meet with members of the community and be responsive to their requests as we move forward," said Richard Mack, CEO of Mack Real Estate Group, in an emailed statement to the Phoenix Business Journal. "We have boots on the ground and our fingers on the pulse of this exciting market, and we continue to work with our neighbors in Scottsdale to explore their suggestions for our current project."
The northeast Valley, the submarket in which Mack Innovation Park is set to be located, has the smallest industrial inventory and fewest amount of square feet under construction of all submarkets in the Phoenix metro in the fourth quarter of 2022. The area had 14.2 million square feet of inventory across 505 industrial buildings and had just over 160,000 square feet under construction as of Q4 2022, according to a market report from Cushman & Wakefield.
The project will be heard by Scottsdale's Development Review Board at a date to be determined.
Mack won the 124-acre site in March 2022 at an Arizona State Land Department auction, bidding $125 million.
Several development groups also pursued the site, which had an opening bid of $58.58 million. Mack beat out other bidders such as Baker Development Group, Verde Investments Inc., FCP Fund V REIT Investor LLC and 101 & Bell Development Partners LLC, according to previous reporting.
While based in New York, Mack has been investing in metro Phoenix since 1987, mainly focusing on industrial projects until venturing into rental units this year. In August, Mack started construction on the first seven buildings of a 3 million-square-foot industrial park in Deer Valley, six miles from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s campus. The first phase of the park will comprise 917,000 square feet of speculative warehouse space and is expected to be delivered this year.
Mack also will invest about $250 million to build three single-family rental home communities across the Valley. The company plans to build 735 rental units near TSMC in north Phoenix across two communities.
Streakers in Sneakers: Join Cupid's Undie Run This Weekend in Scottsdale for a Good Cause
Timothy Rawleshttps://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/streakers-in-sneakers-join-cupids-undie-run-this-weekend-in-scottsdale-for-a-good-cause-15478273
It’s time once again to grab your garters and slip on your skivvies for Cupid’s Undie Run happening in Scottsdale on Saturday, February 4. This annual event is now in its 13th year and has raised nearly $21 million nationally since its beginning. The local chapter has broken its record already and continues to climb.“Last year, in Phoenix, we raised an amazing $10,600 for The Children’s Tumor Foundation,” Tammie Gineo, Event Director of ...
It’s time once again to grab your garters and slip on your skivvies for Cupid’s Undie Run happening in Scottsdale on Saturday, February 4. This annual event is now in its 13th year and has raised nearly $21 million nationally since its beginning. The local chapter has broken its record already and continues to climb.
“Last year, in Phoenix, we raised an amazing $10,600 for The Children’s Tumor Foundation,” Tammie Gineo, Event Director of Cupid's Undie Run Phoenix, tells Phoenix New Times. “This year, we have already topped that with $16,500 raised and we aren’t done yet.”
The 21-and-over charity run is taking place in 30 cities across the country. Additionally, it is the official event of the Children’s Tumor Foundation. All of the net proceeds go to funding neurofibromatosis (NF) research. Gineo says that NF affects one in every 3,000 births, “which is about 2.5 million people worldwide. Anyone can be born with it, and it affects everyone differently. NF can lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning challenges, disabling pain, or cancer. There is no cure yet.”
Gineo has a personal attachment to the cause. She says she had never heard of NF until she saw her friend Heather Frazier post about it on social media. Frazier's son, Ryan, was diagnosed with the disease at 6 months old.
“He has been a little fighter who has numerous tumors throughout his body; however, he has one very long complex tumor called a plexiform neurofibroma. It's in his head, neck, shoulders, and upper chest. It presses and wraps around his carotid artery. He suffers from hearing loss in his left ear, sleep apnea, and asthma to name a few symptoms. He endures MRIs every four to six months and at the age of 11 has undergone 23 MRIs already. In March 2022 he started his second round of chemo,” Gineo says.
Moved by her friend’s post, Gineo decided to participate in The Cupid’s Undie Run herself in 2019. “I Googled to see if there was a local event and there sure was,” she recalls. “When COVID happened, there was a pause to the event. In 2021, it was brought back virtually, and last year they were looking for a new event director. I couldn't miss the opportunity of doing my small part in making a difference to help one day find a cure for Ryan and all those other families who are affected by this disorder.”
As the name implies, participants in the Undie Run are encouraged to dress down for the event, namely into their unmentionables, which can be anything from long johns to lingerie, but most of all, have fun with it.
“This is a charitable party!" says Gineo. "Go nuts with your undies, onesie, or costume, go let that hair down, but don’t go all thong, pasty, or nude on us. Remember, it's for the kids — we just hope they aren’t watching.”
Organizers say the run will begin at 2 p.m. and traffic won’t be interrupted when it starts on the sidewalks in front of the Well Bar on North Scottsdale Road. The course winds through a few nearby residential blocks and ends back at the Well Bar.
“As we strip down to our underwear, enjoy some sunshine and liquid courage, run or walk a mile-ish, we have to remember why we are doing this," says Gineo. "We are doing our small part in raising money and awareness for neurofibromatosis.”
Cupid's Undie Run is on Saturday, February 4 at The Well Bar located at 2623 North Scottsdale Boulevard, from noon to 4 pm. Registration for either in-person or virtual participation is $45.
For those who cannot participate, you can donate to the cause by way of the organization's website.
How to fill your downtime in Scottsdale during SF Giants spring training
Dana Rebmannhttps://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/things-do-scottsdale-17744090.php
If the premature demise of the 49ers season has you counting down to baseball season, the San Francisco Giants will be heading to Arizona’s Sonoran Desert in February to begin spring training. The team begins Cactus League play on Feb. 25, wi...
If the premature demise of the 49ers season has you counting down to baseball season, the San Francisco Giants will be heading to Arizona’s Sonoran Desert in February to begin spring training. The team begins Cactus League play on Feb. 25, with its first home game at Scottsdale Stadium slated for Feb. 26. (Meanwhile, the A's report to Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, which is less than 10 miles from where the Giants play spring ball.)
If you are heading to the desert for the earliest look at the team, you’re going to have some sunny down time to explore between games. Keep reading for tips on fun things to do in Scottsdale, where to stay and where to eat and drink while you're there, including Old Town Scottsdale restaurants for every taste and budget.
Fun things to do in Scottsdale: From hiking to hot air balloon riding to bar hopping
Don’t give into the temptation to hit the snooze button on your alarm, as some of the best things to do in Scottsdale will take place early in the morning. Seriously, watching the sunrise as you take flight in a hot air balloon is well worth the wake-up call. Both Hot Air Expeditions and Rainbow Ryders launch flights that deliver breathtaking views of the cactus-studded Sonoran Desert. It can be chilly there in the morning, so dress in layers and shed accordingly as the sun comes up. And don't forget a hat. Depending on your spot in the balloon's basket, the bursts of flames from the balloon's propane burners can make your head feel a bit toasty.
If you'd rather keep your feet on the ground and do some hiking, nearly half of Scottsdale's land area is dedicated open space. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve stretches more than 30,000 acres and boasts more than 225 miles of trails. The Preserve is open sunrise to sunset and there's no fee for access or parking.
An unexpected pleasure you'll find amid Scottsdale's endless sand is kayaking. The REI Co-op Adventure Center in the city offers guided kayaking tours on the Lower Salt River. Have you phone charged and at the ready for snapping pics; along with bald eagles and egrets, wild horses frequent the scenic riverbanks.
If spying unique architecture is your idea of a good time, Frank Lloyd Wright spent his winters designing, creating and staying warm in Scottsdale. Taliesin West, the home Wright built with his apprentices, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark. There are multiple tour options worth checking out, but on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, Taliesin West features a Sunsets & Sips happy hour that lets you raise a glass while taking in stellar Scottsdale views. There's no property tour, but select spaces are open for the evening.
Speaking of drinks, another fun way to imbibe in the desert is on a 14-seater Arizona Party Bike. Thanks to the boost of an electric motor, you barely have to pedal as you roll through Old Town Scottsdale — where Scottsdale Stadium is situated — on this comically large machine. The two-hour Old Town Pub Crawl provides a unique tour of the area, hitting a trio of bars during your festive ride. The party bike captain does all the steering, so you can enjoy adult beverages while you make your way from one watering hole to the next.
Scottsdale restaurants you need to try
Whatever you're craving for dinner, odds are good you'll find it in Old Town Scottsdale. Pizzeria Virtu serves classic Neapolitan-style pizza, pasta and salads. The Mission is a go-to for margaritas and elevated Mexican food (butternut squash tacos anyone?). Hula's Modern Tiki serves everything from ahi poke to pulled pork, and Hawaiian Loco Moco (ground beef, rice and gravy) in the company of colorful cocktails poured into fun vessels, because you can never have too many tropical drinks.
Traveling with kids or picky grown-up eaters? Opened and owned by the same family since 1958, the vibrant-pink Sugar Bowl restaurant and ice cream parlor offers unfussy favorites like burgers, BLTs and chili, served alongside milkshakes and banana splits. "The Family Circus" cartoonist Bil Keane lived nearby and featured the popular eatery in his work throughout the years; a selection of comics are on display.
Upscale Sel ofers a seasonally rotating menu that includes a la carte options, a multi-course chef's tasting and a vegetarian tasting. (Can I personally recommend the Malpeque Oyster Stew with smoked trout roe — which I'm still thinking about.) On Sundays, a DJ performs during Sel's three-course Sunday brunch service which makes for a fun dining experience. FnB restaurant, which was named "best new restaurant" by several Phoenix publications when it first opened its doors in 2009, uses what's fresh from local farmers to create its delicious dishes.
Scottsdale hotels and resorts worth booking
Being picky about your Scottsdale hotel shouldn't be much of an issue during Giants spring training. If you like the idea of spending more time strolling and less time in traffic, there are a trio of hotels less than a mile from Scottsdale Stadium. Senna House and Canopy — both run by Hilton — each boast rooftop pools ideal for sipping a cocktail while watching a desert sunset. W Scottsdale is home to not one, not two, but three bars, so there's pretty much always a party going on there.
If you owe that special significant other for tagging along on a baseball-centric getaway to the desert, there's no shortage of luxe resorts in Scottsdale to sweeten the deal. Mountain Shadows boasts swoon-worthy views of Camelback Mountain and glamorous guest rooms. Set in the foothills of Pinnacle Peak, the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North is remote, but easily entertains guests not interested in attending a sporting event. It also boasts two highly rated golf courses if you want to bring your clubs on the trip.
If you want to make a return trip to Scottsdale for Giants spring training in 2024 into an easy sell, head directly to Castle Hot Springs. After a few days of soaking in the mineral-rich thermal pools, you won't want to leave without reservations for next February on the books.
Dana Rebmann lives in NorCal wine country and writes about travel, nature, wine, and anything else that makes folks smile for a variety of publications including Garden & Gun, Wine Enthusiast, Shondaland, Hemispheres, AARP, The Telegraph.com and more. Dana loves assignments that get her outside, especially near or in water. Follow her on Instagram @danarebmann and on Twitter @drebmann.
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