6 Things That Make Scottsdale a Great Place to Live

Scottsdale is an attractive place to live, drawing young professionals, families and plenty of retirees who move to the desert in search of warmer weather. And not only did Scottsdale top the list of cities people moved to in 2020, but there are plenty of part-time residents — the famous “snowbirds” who fly south each winter. Bordered by Phoenix, the Tonto National Forest, the McDowell Mountains and the Salt River, Scottsdale provides easy access to both big-city amenities and outdoor activities. Here are six reasons to make this small city your home.

Year-round sunshine

Scottsdale boasts an incredible 330 days of sunshine a year, with winter highs dropping down only to the high 60s. That makes Scottsdale an ideal place for those who love spending time outdoors. Spring and fall bring warm, sunny days, while things really heat up in the summer months, when you’ll find temperatures regularly hitting triple digits. But did we mention it only rains 11 inches a year?

Fun-filled festivals

No matter the time of year or your interests, there’s always plenty going on in Scottsdale. Take your pick of the Scottsdale Arts Festival (March), the Arizona Taco Festival (October), and the 10-day Scottsdale International Film Festival (November). Sports fans will also find plenty to watch in the greater Phoenix area, including Major League Baseball spring training and the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament.

50+ golf courses

With year-round sunshine and wide open desert landscapes come golf courses, and Scottsdale has no shortage of them. In fact, Scottsdale is a well-known golf destination, with over 50 golf courses in Scottsdale itself and dozens more in the greater Phoenix area. Some of the most famous courses in Scottsdale are TPC Scottsdale, Troon North and We-Ko-Pa.

Endless recreation options

Scottsdale’s enviable location in the Sonoran Desert makes it a dream for anyone who loves staying active. With clean and well-maintained parks, abundant hiking trails, horseback riding, river rafting and hot air ballooning, every sunny day in Scottsdale is an opportunity to explore. Feeling like a road trip? The Grand Canyon is just a few hours’ drive away.

A dynamic arts scene

Scottsdale has a vibrant arts community, with a seemingly endless array of galleries, events and public art installations. A great place to start is Old Town Scottsdale, which has a wide range of outdoor art displays. The Old West-themed downtown also plays host to a weekly Art Walk on Thursday evenings. And if architecture is of interest, you’ll want to set aside time to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, home of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

Delicious dining

With over 800 restaurants in Scottsdale, it would take a long time to run out of places to try. Whether you’re looking for a fun happy hour spot, a family-friendly brunch locale or a fine dining restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, Scottsdale has them and more. Serious foodies will love experiencing every bite of this inventive culinary scene. At FnB, James Beard Award-winning chef Charleen Badman showcases the flavors of Arizona. And at SumoMaya, a Mexican-Asian fusion restaurant, the tapas are deliciously creative – think Wagyu carne asada. And that’s just the beginning. Are you hungry yet?

Find your second home in Scottsdale

Is the endless sunshine of the Sonoran Desert calling you? Find your second home in Scottsdale. When you become a co-owner of a Pacaso, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of vacation home ownership without all the hassles. Simply arrive at your luxury home, unpack and start exploring everything “The West’s Most Western Town” has to offer.

6 things that make Scottsdale a great place to live