Scottsdale welcomed about 11.7 million visitors in 2025, many drawn by golf courses, spa days and resort pools. I arrived with three teenagers and a 9-year-old, a group that rarely agrees on dinner, much less an entire vacation.
Four days later, I came away with a new appreciation for Scottsdale as a family destination. Every kid found a favorite stop, and the adults had just as much fun. Two luxury resorts helped set the tone, but desert trail rides, hands-on museums and a few unexpected discoveries filled the rest of our days.
When Experience Scottsdale invited us to explore the area with our family, we made the most of the opportunity. The city’s 2025 tourism study reported $2.4 billion in visitor-related spending and after a jam-packed few days, I understood some of the appeal, even for families who might not have Scottsdale on their vacation shortlist.
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Set the Tone
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess was our first home base, and it made a good first impression. The rooms were plush and quiet, and the pool won over the kids within an hour. We enjoyed a reserved cabana, which gave the adults a shady place to relax while the kids bounced between the water and our little retreat. We especially enjoyed the ease of staying on site for dinner at La Hacienda, the resort’s Mexican restaurant.
The resort takes on a different personality during the holidays and will host the 17th annual Christmas at the Princess Nov. 20 through Jan. 2. The event features more than 17 million lights and an outdoor ice-skating rink on the grounds. Families visiting in winter can add a festive evening to their resort stay without going anywhere else.
The Phoenician Added Waterslides and a Cactus Garden
For the second half of the trip, we stayed at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection resort on the slopes of Camelback Mountain. The pool complex features a waterslide that kept the kids coming back for more, while a private cabana provided a shady spot to relax between swims.
Away from the pool, the resort’s cactus garden offers a quieter way to experience the desert landscape. A walk through the garden at twilight reveals an impressive variety of cacti, with the cooler evening air making it a pleasant time to explore.
Two dueling pianists took requests from the crowd, and my kids clapped along louder than anyone. The spicy fried dill pickles and Hot Cookie Skillet were both recommended to us, and neither disappointed. Between the music and the dessert, dinner became an evening out rather than just another stop to feed a hungry family.
Three Attractions Sit Side by Side at Talking Stick
Our flight arrived in the morning, so we headed straight to the Talking Stick Entertainment District. Three attractions sit next to one another here, making it easy to fill a day without spending much time in the car.
Butterfly Wonderland bills itself as the country’s largest butterfly conservatory, and as we stepped into the enclosed tropical garden, butterflies drifted past in every color. Even my teenagers enjoyed slowing down to take a closer look.
Next door, OdySea Aquarium became our family’s favorite aquarium experience. The rotating auditorium attraction takes visitors past a series of aquatic habitats, but the most unexpected view was in the restroom. Yes, the restroom. A window looks straight into the shark habitat.
We finished at the Museum of Illusions, where exhibits play tricks on your eyes and sense of perspective. We tried to make sense of the optical illusions, took plenty of ridiculous photos and left with some new family favorites.
A Morning Trail Ride at MacDonald’s Ranch
We headed out early for a trail ride at MacDonald’s Ranch, before the Arizona heat had a chance to take over. The ride followed a single-file trail through the Sonoran Desert, with the kind of scenery you might expect to see in an old Western.
Our guides mixed local trivia with plenty of jokes, keeping the ride entertaining for all ages. After days of swimming pools and indoor attractions, a few hours on horseback offered a different look at the Arizona landscape.
Museums That Held My Teenagers’ Attention
The Musical Instrument Museum sits in north Phoenix, a short drive from Scottsdale, and displays instruments from around the world. One gallery lets visitors try playing some of them, which turned our visit into a noisy, happy experiment. My family spent a good stretch testing instruments we had previously seen only in movies. Plan on at least two hours here.
In Old Town Scottsdale, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West combines Western art with exhibits exploring the region’s history. The collection offers plenty for history buffs, while the hands-on displays gave my teenagers reasons to stick around longer than I expected.
Wonderspaces, inside Scottsdale Fashion Square, offers immersive art installations and virtual reality experiences. Exhibits change periodically, so there may be something new to see on a return visit. We didn’t need much time there, and the location made it easy to let the kids enjoy a little shopping afterward.
Bowling, Laser Tag and a Knight in Green
Sometimes a family vacation calls for an activity that doesn't require anyone to appreciate art, learn history or admire the desert landscape. Mavrix fit the bill with bowling lanes, an arcade and a laser tag arena under one roof.
We could easily have spent more time there. The kitchen delivers food right to the bowling lanes, and the pizza and desserts were better than I expected from an entertainment venue.
We wrapped up our trip at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, cheering for the green knight as the action unfolded in the arena. Dinner comes without utensils, a detail my 9-year-old considered the best rule of the entire vacation.Â
Planning Around the Heat
Four days barely scratched the surface. The best advice I can offer: schedule outdoor activities early, then retreat to museums or the pool once afternoon temperatures climb. The Talking Stick attractions alone fill most of a day, which makes them an easy first stop for families landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor in the morning.
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