Scottsdale, Arizona, has roughly 350 days of sunshine each year, and temperatures during the winter months climb into the 70s, making Scottsdale the winter playground for people from all over the world.

The original settlers to the area must have agreed, because archeological excavations have found human remains and stone tools dating back as far as 10,000 years. Prior to settlement by Europeans, the Hohokam settled the area. They may have been the most sophisticated ancient culture that ever developed north of Mexico. The Hohokam people were outstanding farmers and dug hundreds of miles of irrigation canals — canals that remain in use even today. They constructed numerous large villages and cliff dwellings from adobe — their ancient ruins stand today and are just one of the many attractions in the Scottsdale area.

Scottsdale’s unique heritage is a blend of the vibrant cultures of Arizona’s first inhabitants (the Native American tribes), Mexico (as early discovers and conquerors of the area) and the Old West culture (as the miners and cowboys moved into the area in the 1800s). Over time, these cultures have blended to form a rich tapestry of art, music and cuisine.

Along with the cultural draw, Scottsdale also sits in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, which covers 120,000 square miles of Arizona, Sonora, Mexico, the Baja Peninsula and southeastern California. It is the most lush desert in the word thanks to nearly 8 inches of rain each year, and is rich in plant and animal species. Mountain ranges circle the Valley of the Sun and Scottsdale nestles between Camelback Mountain, Phoenix Mountain Preserve and the McDowell Mountain Range, making for amazing scenery no matter which way you look. Many people come just to see the saguaro cactus at sunset.

Scottsdale’s rich history, gorgeous scenery and amazing weather has long attracted people to the area, particularly folks looking for a place to enjoy their retirement years. The leisure industry sprang up to support visitors and retirees just looking to enjoy themselves, hence the wide variety of activities and attractions in Scottsdale. Scottsdale also attracts the rich and famous, bringing yet more ways to find diversions in the city.

Today, dozens of high-end resorts and boutique hotels cater to visitors as well as to the rich and famous. While summer in Scottsdale is very hot, it is also a great time to take advantage of some astonishingly cheap room rates at these luxury resorts. You can find reasonable accommodations in Scottsdale in the smaller chain hotels any time of year.

As for things to do, the list is nearly endless. There are more than 240 golf courses in the city alone. Numerous museums and art galleries allow you to explore the heritage and culture of the area. There are dozens of high quality shopping areas including Fashion Square, which is the largest shopping mall in Arizona. Scottsdale is also rapidly becoming a Mecca for fine dining — if you can find it in New York or Paris, you can probably find something like it in Scottsdale. Moreover, if you run out of things to do in the city of Scottsdale, then explore Tempe, Mesa, Phoenix or any one of the dozens of other small bedroom communities. You will find opera, symphony, theater, arts, culture, sports and much more everywhere you go in the Valley of the Sun. The Grand Canyon is a four-hour drive from Scottsdale and the red rocks of Sedona are only a two-hour drive away. With the whole state pretty much within close driving distance, you will find plenty to see and do here.

With the tagline “The West’s Most Western Town,” Scottsdale has incorporated the Western culture with high-end resort and leisure facilities to become the winter playground for folks around the world! Come see for yourself!