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SCOTTSDALE VACATION RENTALS, ARIZONA |
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Sights and Attractions in Scottsdale |
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| From museums to plays, botanical gardens and desert tours, Scottsdale offers so many activities that choosing exactly which you would like to try will be a difficult thing to do. |
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The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
Public Art Tour
The Desert Botanical Garden
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
The Heard Museum
Super Bowl XLII, February 2008
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| The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) |
| SMoCA is the only museum in Arizona devoted to the art, architecture and design of our time. The museum has five galleries showcasing changing exhibitions and works from its growing permanent collection. SMoCA also features an outdoor sculpture garden and presents a wide variety of educational programs and special events for adults and families. Free tours of SMoCA are led by expert museum guides on Thursdays and Sundays, beginning at 1:30 PM. Sunday tours are free. Regular admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students and free for children under 15. The museum is closed on Mondays. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays the museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM. On Thursday the museum has extended hours, from 10 AM to 8 PM. Sundays hours are 12 – 5 PM. |
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| Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts |
| The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers a variety of professional performances for the public. In addition, they provide several ongoing arts events. "Concerts Under the Stars" take place on the lawn located between the Scottsdale Civic Center Library and Scottsdale City Hall, just a short walk from the Scottsdale Center for the Arts. Gates open at 6:30 PM, unless otherwise noted. Food and beverages are for sale on the amphitheater grounds. Food and beverages, with the exception of water in plastic containers may not be brought into the amphitheater. Children age 12 and under are half price. Children age 2 and under are admitted free. In case of inclement weather, amphitheater events may be moved to an indoor venue, rescheduled for another date or canceled.
“Sunday A'Fair” takes place outdoors on the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, adjacent to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. In addition to relaxing and listening to great music, you can visit artists' booths. Food is available for purchase and admission is free. |
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| Public Art Tour |
| The city of Scottsdale has over 60 permanent and temporary public artworks spread throughout the community. Public art has taken many forms ranging from the walls of the Pima Freeway to James Turrell's "skyspace" at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. The city offers a three-part, self-guided walking and driving tour that showcases a limited number of works in the collection. |
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| The Desert Botanical Garden |
| The Desert Botanical Garden boasts more than 50 acres of outdoor exhibits, featuring 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species from around the world. It is one of only 44 botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. In addition to its five thematic desert trails, the garden hosts educational programs, outdoor concerts and special events throughout the year. Innovative classes, workshops and lectures for adults and children provide exciting opportunities to learn about desert flora. The classes also explore the desert lifestyle, including health and wellness, fine art, desert landscaping and the region’s natural history.
The garden rings in the fall season with an outdoor concert series featuring various styles of music ranging from Big Band and Swing to Flamenco Guitar and Latin Jazz. You can make a concert evening even more memorable by having dinner at the Garden or enjoying wine tasting with appetizers before the show.
The garden is open 7 days a week, year-round except for July 4th and Christmas Day. Seasonal hours are October through April, 8 AM – 8 PM and May through September, 7 AM to 8 PM. Some trails are closed during evening hours. Admission is $ 10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $5 for students age 13-college (with student ID), $4 for children 3-12 and free for children under 3 years of age. |
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| McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park |
| McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, located on 30 acres of land, has recently undergone massive changes. A favorite for railroad enthusiasts and children, the park includes an antique carousel and clock tower, and the park headquarters is a two-story model of an actual Clifton, Arizona railroad station. Take a ride on the Paradise and Pacific Railroad or enjoy the free Sunday night concerts.
The park is open everyday of the year except Christmas and Thanksgiving. Hours are seasonal. Ticket prices for the train ride are $1.00 per rider. Children under 3 ride free with a paying adult. The train and carousel ticket books cost $10 for 12 tickets. Discount ticket books are available through the main office. Ticket books are non-refundable, but never expire. |
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| The Heard Museum |
| The Heard Museum was founded in 1929 to house a personal collection of cultural art. It is one of the most prestigious private Native American arts centers in the world. Within the museum’s 10 exhibit galleries are 35,000 artifacts. During your tour, you can meet several Native Americans who provide insights about their lives. You can also purchase a distinctive piece of Native American artwork from the gift shop.
The museum’s hours are from 9:30 AM to 5 PM daily, excluding New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. General admission fees are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors 65 and above, $5 for students (with ID), $3 for children 6-12 and free for children under 6 years of age. Native Americans also gain free admission to the museum. Free public guided tours are available daily at 12 PM, 1:30 PM and 3 PM. Tours are approximately 45 minutes long. |
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| Super Bowl XLII, February 2008 |
| Scottsdale is to host Super Bowl XLII at the new Cardinal’s Stadium on February 3, 2008. The new stadium has some of the best amenities offered today, including a retractable roof, air-conditioning and a rollout grass field. Cardinal’s Stadium is to be the home of the Arizona Cardinals and the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, as well as play host to the National College Football Championship in 2007.
Be sure to get your tickets early. Kick-off for Super Bowl XLII is at 4:15 PM locally and 6:15 PM for those on Eastern Standard Time. The game will be broadcast on FOX. |
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