Disappointed with the various Scottsdale, Arizona “wiki” guides? It seems that many of them have been written by people who have never been there.
Scottsdale, Arizona used to be considered “The Most Western City,” which doesn’t seem to apply today, though there are still glimpses of the old west in certain areas like Old Town, where the shops still resemble a western town of yesteryear. .
The Cavalliere Blacksmith Shop on Brown Avenue has been there since 1908, continuously in the same family business and represents the days when horses roamed the streets and needed to be shod.
Another place to get the feel of yesterday is Greasewood Flats, a former stagecoach stop located in what is now North Scottsdale. Parts of the old road from Greasewood Flats to Fort McDowell can still be seen. Reata Pass, in the same area on Alma School Road, is a Steak House that dates back to the 1950s, was used as a set in some old movies, and is still around today serving great steaks. The irony is that there is a very sophisticated and exclusive resort across the street, but it seems that those customers also like to cross the street to see things as they “used to be”.
An interesting tidbit is that the Cavalliere family, who were the original settlers of Scottsdale, Arizona, still own and operate all of these “historic” Scottsdale landmarks!
A great way to see what Scottsdale used to be is to visit the old resorts. When you go to the Phoenician, you can’t miss a small building next to the entrance, The Jokake Inn still stands and is used as a special events venue. Another walk through the past is a visit to the Camelback Inn. It appears as it did 50 years ago with all its charm and appeal. The Hermosa Inn is another great “old” resort. Although many of these old resorts have been renovated and reimagined, much of the old charm is still there.
And the low desert is very visible when you drive along the north end of Scottsdale Road. One mile north of Pinnacle Peak, scenic highway signs are posted and desert plants are listed. You will be able to see for the first time the giant Saguaro cactus.
Although most of the big Arabian Horse ranches are gone, you may still see one or two as you drive down Cactus Road and a few other back streets off Shea Blvd., and of course once a year the Arabian Show still comes to the city. and it is truly a horse show not to be missed. The Arabs rule in February.
The evolution continues and another big area of change is demographics, at one time Scottsdale was considered a retirement community, today the median age is 42.
There are beautiful people and nowhere will you find more beautiful girls and men. This is reflected in the trendy restaurants and clubs. Wine bars are on every corner and shops and galleries have spectacular deals. Older hotels in downtown Scottsdale are now lively with beautifully decorated lobbies, large rooms, and incredible services. The new resorts are absolutely opulent and you would do a lot to duplicate their spas and golf courses.
Where you used to see “adobe” houses, now you see Tuscan villas dotting the mountainside. Drive down almost any of North Scottsdale’s roads and you’ll see spectacular multi-million dollar homes. People come from all over the world to enjoy the luxurious real estate.
In short, Scottsdale, Arizona is a place of contrast and diversity, it’s a place you can enjoy just lying by the pool sunning yourself, shopping till you drop, drinking and dining and having a vacation that would be hard to find anywhere else. place. plus. You can find everything you can think of to see and do at Insider Scottsdale. They know it well.