Top Scottsdale Tours: Sightseeing & Cruise Reviews

Thinking about heading to Scottsdale, Arizona, and want to make the most of your trip? Scottsdale has fantastic desert surroundings and some unique, memorable experiences to be had. So, if you are trying to figure out how to experience it, these reviews of the top Scottsdale tours, sightseeing options, and yes, even cruises might just steer you right. Finding fun adventures and sights of Scottsdale that fit your vacation and sense of fun are very important, so let’s take a peek at what’s on offer.

1. Hot Air Balloon Ride Over the Sonoran Desert

Ever imagine yourself floating above the ground, watching the sunrise paint the desert in amazing colors? This is just a little of what you’ll find on a hot air balloon ride. It tends to be an absolutely unforgettable experience and a way to truly experience the area surrounding Scottsdale. Actually, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill tour options; they offer almost total peace while the world spreads out beneath you. Remember though, these types of experiences can be very weather dependent. Safety conditions must be right before getting off the ground. So it is always a good idea to have a little flexibility in your schedule.

What makes this tour unique: The obvious difference is the birds-eye look at the Sonoran Desert. More or less, the views at sunrise are worth waking up super early for! It could be seeing the landscape light up, or perhaps the quiet and peaceful atmosphere as you float. These balloon rides present a very remarkable point from which to see the area.

What to expect: Typically, the trip starts well before dawn. After a briefing, you’re going to hop into the balloon’s basket and ascend, quite slowly. As the sun comes up, expect the desert come to life. Some tours finish with a champagne toast right when you land. It tends to be a tradition to celebrate your adventure.

Things to keep in mind: Book way ahead! The most sought-after trips fill up quite quickly, especially during the tourist season. Wearing layers can assist since it gets colder up in the air, and don’t forget the camera, or your phone with a very good camera. Be aware that this option isn’t really for folks that have a massive fear of heights.

2. Taliesin West: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Winter Home

Are you excited about history and cool architecture? Then, a visit to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and architectural school, can really add an enriching experience to your visit. So it really shows the architect’s ability to blend buildings with their environment. The building, made up of desert masonry and integrated into the McDowell Mountains, shows the great man’s amazing eye for design and nature’s raw look. Visiting here is more than seeing just another building; it seems almost a view into the brain of an inspiring talent.

What makes this tour unique: More or less, Taliesin West gives a look into Wright’s philosophies on how to create spaces that lived in combination with their landscapes, not just over it. Actually, Wright’s personal touches are clear everywhere. Each spot showing just a small look into his amazing and extremely detailed process of thinking.

What to expect: It really offers different tour options that range from general overviews of the grounds to a little bit deeper looks at Wright’s individual design principles. Expect very knowledgable guides that explain each corner and beam that shows a part of Wright’s amazing process. As a matter of fact, allow at least 2 to 3 hours to totally view everything.

Things to keep in mind: Quite often, Taliesin West will experience seasonal closings, or have varied hours, so it is usually a great call to confirm access prior to your trip. The tours might need pretty major walking over some fairly uneven paths, so good shoes really will come in handy. Don’t pass up the gift shop; the books and items show a great extension to your experience.

3. McDowell Sonoran Preserve Hiking Tour

Feel like getting close to the heart of Arizona’s beauty? A hiking tour through the McDowell Sonoran Preserve gives that special possibility to get into the desert’s beauty firsthand. As a matter of fact, guided tours cater to all different fitness amounts, so all skill levels are able to see and understand the native plants, awesome wildlife, and landscape features of the area. Taking a hiking tour is a cool means of burning a bit of energy as well as getting a better insight into just what the Scottsdale surroundings have to provide.

What makes this tour unique: The fact that these guided hikes give an experienced guide. Not only do they find the hidden areas of interest but teach about the Sonoran Desert ecosystem too. Apparently, it’s a combo of adventure with instruction that brings more to just a self-led hike. Being with an expert often means potentially spotting hard-to-see wildlife that would be missed on your own.

What to expect: Tours tend to range pretty wildly. So some might be simple nature strolls and others will probably get intense with their climb and difficulty. Be confident in picking one which correctly matches your fitness amount. That, plus be prepared for Arizona temperatures. This usually means loads of water and sunblock, especially in the warmer months.

Things to keep in mind: Almost always confirm what physical demand there might be before reserving your spot. Wear appropriate hiking shoes to avoid blisters on your feet, and, very important, carry more water than you think you’ll need. Oh, and a little thing – regard the local plantlife: that would include giving the cacti space, just a little! Check to make certain physical demands are right.

4. Scottsdale Food Tour

Hoping to experience Scottsdale by way of your stomach? A Scottsdale food tour is seriously one good technique for getting introduced to the various cooking scenery. So, you’ll go to multiple places, trying a number of sample dishes, each stop exposing just a small piece of the city’s food story. Really, from authentic Southwest treats up to hip new bistros, there really seems something to please virtually everyone. So it truly seems an appetizing way to discover Scottsdale.

What makes this tour unique: Clearly, aside from the food tasting side, these tours pair awesome dishes with interesting info regarding each and every restaurant’s history and the local food scene. Seemingly, it’s more than simply snacking; it seems really an educational adventure.

What to expect: So you’ll often be walking in-between restaurants, it tends to be over a pretty easy distance, sampling food at just about every place. A large range of cuisines, tastes, and styles of dishes is usually experienced, offering more than one single preference. This sort of trip is excellent when you intend to be open minded with all sorts of eats.

Things to keep in mind: You probably need to inform tour guides of diet issues in advance, they quite often take care of them. Dress comfortably since you’ll be traveling for a number of hours, so there’s no pressure from feeling constricted. Be confident with attempting stuff beyond what’s within your food safety bubble; which can be your chance at something amazing and different!

5. Verde Canyon Railroad Cruise

If you would like an excursion with a slightly more slower speed, believe it or not there really is something called the Verde Canyon Railroad tour. Okay, so this journey basically takes you to a breathtaking location over parts of Arizona that aren’t basically reached by highways, giving very majestic scenery and perhaps the occasional wildlife sighting, along with that of ancient Indian ruins. Is that interesting at all? It truly can make an exceedingly soothing break through the desert landscapes.

What makes this tour unique: Almost a combo of adventure through nature and total comfort and rest in restored passenger cars, this cruise is pretty unique. I mean seriously, huge viewing windows that let you enjoy nature totally, including the likelihood to have access outside areas that let you soak within that clean, crisp desert wind. Apparently, it tends to be far more than just transportation; almost a completely slow dive directly into the very spirit of the area.

What to expect: Get there ahead of time to explore the depot along with the visitor center well before leaving. Along that four hour excursion, get ready to see extremely remarkable landscapes. Most likely take several snaps with that of the dramatic canyon views; very important! The trains will be built with seats, beverages and also treats being given on board. Apparently it turns out a fantastic method for relaxing and also experiencing Arizona with almost no attempt.

Things to keep in mind: Perhaps booking tickets far in advance should always be smart since it has a propensity to get full quite fast. If thinking of having improved landscapes decide to try opting-in a seat on the side from which they have that amazing drop off through canyon’s wall views. Be sure you have loads of protection out of the desert weather like sunshine, therefore wear a cap, spectacles, along with sunscreen if you wish to be outside!