With the Sonoran Desert as a backdrop, Scottsdale is a hit with snowbirds. Relish in the salubrious air; enjoy miles of hiking trails at the sprawling McDowell Sonoran Preserve; and discover more than 50,000 desert plants along five thematic trails at Desert Botanical Garden. 

There's no shortage of manmade beauty, either. Architecture buffs shouldn't miss Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art offers dynamic visuals, including a Jame Turrell Skyspace, while the Heard Museum's collection concentrates on the legacy of the Native Peoples of the Southwest.

A robust dining scene offers everything from zesty tacos at casual Barrio Queen to pasta and limoncello made in-house at upscale Fat Ox. Oenophiles may sample Arizona wines as they wander Old Town Scottsdale's Wine Trail.

Stay:

At the exclusive Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, casitas with patios and Kiva fireplaces ooze Southwestern flair. It's steps from Pinnacle Peak Trail, a moderate hiking trail lined with soft sand that's easy on the knees. 

At the base of Camelback Mountain, Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa offers dramatic vistas across 53 acres of lush desert. It also has pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and a 12,000-square-foot spa.

If you favor mid-century modern, the 1956-opened Hotel Valley Ho (also with a pool, spa, and gym) is pure eye candy.