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10 Best Winter Activities In Scottsdale

With ideal weather most of the year, it’s perhaps courting debate to proclaim winter (December–February) the best time visit Scottsdale. But, well, it is pretty perfect. Sunny days. Temperatures in the 70s. And home to some of the most popular events in the country. Here are 10 ways to spend a snow-free stay in Scottsdale during winter.     


Feel Festive


Scottsdazzle at Waterfront

Scottsdale leans into the holiday season for an entire month with Scottsdazzle, a packed calendar of events that kicks off on Thanksgiving and concludes New Year’s Eve. Think: caroling, tree lighting ceremonies, holiday-movie nights, family-friendly scavenger hunts and more.


Revel in the Arts


Celebration of art

Art connoisseurs and novices alike will find much to appreciate at the 30-years-strong Celebration of Fine Art. Holding court in Scottsdale every year from mid-January to March, the juried art show welcomes attendees to wander 40,000 square feet of working studios where established and up-and-coming artists — 100 in all — create stunning works for sale.


Trek the Sonoran Desert


Scottsdale is Calling Group Hike

The desert’s cool winter weather makes hiking in Scottsdale so pleasurable you’ll want to start each morning with a vigorous trek. Good news: You’ll find myriad trails for all skill levels at McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Beginners should check out the six-mile Corral Loop at Brown’s Ranch trailhead while more experienced hikers will enjoy the challenge of the 6.7-mile Desert Park Trail to Gateway Loop. Check out our hiking guide for more trails, safety information, and a flora and fauna guide.


Cruise Cool Cars


Barrett Jackson

Every January for the past half-century, hundreds of thousands of people have flocked to the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction to peruse the most unique, coveted and high-value vehicles in the world. Even if you don’t know a Corvette from Porsche, you’ll be in good company. Barrett-Jackson attracts crowds from all walks of life: serious auto collectors, industry titans, celebrities, and those who simply want to revel in the buzzy scene.


Celebrate the Season


Christmas at the Princess

There may not be snow in Scottsdale but that doesn’t stop locals from indulging in winter play like ice skating, snow tubing, sipping toddies in an ice lounge and roasting s’mores in glass-enclosed igloos. These activities, and a whole lot more, take place at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. The resort spends nearly six months transforming the property into a winter wonderland for its annual “Christmas at the Princess,” which commences with a tree lighting ceremony in November.


Go West(ern)


Parada del Sol Parade

Saddle up to experience Scottsdale’s western roots during Scottsdale Western Week, an Old West extravaganza held late January through early February. Don your boots for events like Parada del Sol, a parade featuring hundreds of horses and floats followed by the Trail’s End Festival with pony rides and live music; the Gold Palette ArtWalk; and the Arizona Indian Festival.


Discover the Cosmos


Stargazing at Tom's Thumb

Astronomers say the winter sky is the most distinct of the seasons, showcasing the brilliant sparkle of constellations like Orion and Gemini. In Scottsdale, where many resorts border open desert far from city lights, the stargazing is unforgettable. That’s why hotel properties such as Boulders Resort & Spa, CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North and ADERO Scottsdale Resort offer guided stargazing experiences.


See Majestic Horses


Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

Best-in-class horses compete at the internationally recognized Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, one of the most sought-after events in the Arabian horse world. From its inception in 1955, when it was held at the Arizona Biltmore, the show has since expanded from 50 horses to 2,400 and found a new home at WestWorld of Scottsdale.


Light It Up


Luminarias at Desert Botanical Garden

Nothing says “holiday season” like thousands of lights — colored lights, white lights, luminarias — twinkling on a crisp winter night. Grab your scarf and hot cocoa to see the impressive displays at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park (keep an eye out for Santa), ZooLights at Phoenix Zoo and 8,000 luminarias aglow at the Desert Botanical Garden’s Las Noches de las Luminarias.


Catch the Greenest Show on Grass


Phoenix Open

The WM Phoenix Open is a golf tournament unlike any other, as notable for drawing top professional players in the sport as it is infamous for the party atmosphere among attendees. Held every February at the TPC Scottsdale, the tournament is a great place to spend the day watching the best of the best in the game compete before you hit up the after-hours concerts at the Coors Light Birds Nest.