Spring in the Sonoran Desert means sunny, blue skies, brats and brews at the ballpark, and colorful wildflowers galore along our Sonoran Desert trails. Mid-February through April is the ideal time of year for outdoor events and activities like these. Check out our list below for why everyone loves spending spring break in Scottsdale.
Catch a Spring Training Baseball Game
Sunny skies, cold brews and the crack of the bat can only mean one thing – it’s Cactus League Spring Training season in Scottsdale! With the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium and the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields from late February through March, there’s no shortage of MLB excitement.
Enjoy Live Music at the Garden
Check out some of the best local and regional musicians at the Desert Botanical Garden’s spring concert series! Held most Friday evenings from March through May, Music in the Garden features a variety of genres from jazz, blues and country to world beats. Stroll the Garden’s paths and enjoy dinner at Gertrude’s, then settle in for an evening of music under the starry desert sky.
Walk Among the Flowers
Purple lupine, yellow brittlebush and golden poppies are just a few of the blossoms you’ll find along Scottsdale-area trails from mid-February to early April. For prime wildflower photos, we recommend The Bajada Nature Trail, Taliesin Overlook and Granite Mountain Loop trails in Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, or the Pinnacle Peak summit trail.
Dine in the Desert
Cloth & Flame offers immersive, farm-to-table dining experiences in some of Scottsdale’s most stunning Sonoran Desert locations. Working with the region’s top chefs, Cloth & Flame offers everything from intimate brunches to elegant dinners under the stars.
Explore the Magic of Butterflies
Butterfly Wonderland is the largest butterfly conservatory in North America, with more than 3,000 of these beautiful creatures flying free in a lush rainforest environment. Watch a 3D movie on the migration of Monarchs, then visit the Emergence Gallery and watch butterflies emerge from their chrysalis. From there, enjoy a walk through the rainforest and experience the magic of butterflies.
Discover Public Art
Download Scottsdale’s Public Art Walking Tour and spend an hour strolling (or biking!) through Old Town where you will see 10 spectacular large-scale art installations that are part of the city’s acclaimed Public Art program. Highlights include Bob Parks' "Bronze Horse Fountain," Ed Mell’s “Jack Knife,” Paolo Soleri’s “Soleri Bridge & Plaza,” and “LOVE” by Robert Indiana.
Ride a Harley
Arizona Bike Week is a rider's dream! Spend a few days exploring Scottsdale's Sonoran Desert and the nearby mountain roads with other motorcycle enthusiasts, then head to WestWorld of Scottsdale for a weekend of charity rides, stunt shows, bike races, live music and more.
Explore Taliesin West
Legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright was so enamored with Scottsdale’s desert landscape that he chose the McDowell Mountain foothills as the site for his winter home and architectural school. Taliesin West was built in the late 1930s using colorful rocks and sand from the desert. Today, a variety of guided and self-guided public tours showcase Wright’s ability to seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor spaces. Can't-miss special events include the bi-monthly Sunsets & Sips (Oct.-May), which allows you to browse the grounds at your own pace while enjoying a cocktail and great company.
Savor the Flavors of Scottsdale
Take a handful of Scottsdale’s buzz-worthy restaurants out for a test drive on an Old Town culinary tour. Each three-hour walking tour includes small bites and beverages at five to six different restaurants. Arizona Food Tours offers lunch, happy hour and progressive dinner tours. And for a taste of the local terroir, visit the wineries along the Old Town Scottsdale Wine Trail for tasting flights of award-winning Arizona wines.
Meet the Local Wildlife
Meet some of the Sonoran Desert’s most fascinating inhabitants – including mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, black bears, foxes and javelina – on a Walk with Wildlife tour at Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center! While their primary focus at this working sanctuary is on rescue, rehabilitation and release, Southwest Wildlife provides a lifelong home to any animal that cannot be rereleased into the wild. (Note: reservations are required)
Check out our Weather page for current conditions, average monthly temperatures and top 10 lists for all the seasons!
