What are the benefits to one area vs the other for a vacation? My hubby and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary. We'd like to stay somewhere where we can walk around and enjoy the town. No kiddies this trip... Thoughts?
Go to Sedona and be done with it. Awesome weather, shopping, views, food and the list goes on. Flagstaff would even be better than Phoenix.
I wouldn't do either.....go to sedona. It's not as hot and much more beautiful!
As another mentioned, they are right next to each other, so not a big deal either way. Scottsdale has a nice town areas, 5th ave if I recall, with some cool shops, etc. But you'll probaby end up driving between the two cities to see things.
Having lived in Glendale Az, and working in Phoenix I can say Scottsdale all the way. Phoenix is a huge flat valley with nothing but streets in a grid. Scottsdale has way more to offer.
While you are in either place, make sure you drive to Sedona. Wow! It'll be really hot, but then again, Scottsdale and Phoenix will be too. Make sure you get up early in the morning - that's the coolest time.
Dawn
I haven't really been to Phoenix so I can't offer any advice there, but I LOVE Scottsdale and Sedona is nice too. My girlfriends and I took several trips there in the summer. People always knew we were from out of town because we were tan from laying by the pool all day! The locals stay inside out of the heat. LOL
Lots of fun little shops, restaurants and nightlife there.
HTH,
A.
Scottsdale and Phoenix are right next to each other, a 10 minute drive, so you easily can see both. Good luck.
Scottsdale and Phoenix are pretty much the same place - go one street over and the city name changes. It's REALLY hot in both places right now, like 100 degrees every afternoon. And the sun is very bright. So if you do plan to walk around, you're going to want to do that in the early mornings, and plan to be back at your hotel enjoying the pool later in the day. Downtown Phoenix has more walkable areas than Scottsdale, but Scottsdale has some lovely streets of shops. You can easily do both, just drive to whichever place you're not staying (it will take you 15 minutes maybe) and enjoy a morning of window shopping.
Personally... I wouldn't do either if you want to walk around and enjoy at this time of year. I would happily do either for a resort type pool getaway, though.
Phoenix, as in downtown, is a working downtown with not a ton to do outside of a ball game or a museum. If you stay in Old Town Scottsdale, you're surrounded by restaurants, clubs, boutiques, galleries, etc. and can always take the light-rail into downtown Phoenix.
If you are planning on coming during June through September, forget it. It's too hot to enjoy.
Sedona is nice, but it's very touristy, and thus, very overpriced.
I would recommend going north of Phoenix, to the mountains/pines in Prescott, AZ. It has a really cool old school town square, great weather, and lots of outdoorsy things to do. And the locals are super nice & laid back.
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Scottsdale!!!!!! It's right next to phoenix but so much nicer. Phoenix is huge and sprawling. Scottsdale is one of the nicest areas there. Much nicer than anything in the city proper and its plenty close you can go to the city to see what you like. It's HOT right now in either place. For instance its 75 in Lafayette CA right now and it's 100 in Phoenix. Better stay somewhere with a pool! If you are looking for a desert getaway Palm Springs and Tucson are nice too.
Sedona - Enchanted Resort with Spa Mia. It is so nice !
