16 Activities In Scottsdale (Indoor & Outdoor) To Keep Everyone Entertained

Scottsdale serves up sharp contrasts, with sun-scorched trails, chilled lounges, modern art, and desert grit. Whether you’re ducking the heat or leaning into it, there’s no shortage of ways to do Scottsdale your way.

So, we skipped the gimmicks. Here are 16 Scottsdale activities worth your time.

8 Indoor Scottsdale Activities Worth The Wait

With an average summer temperature of 105 degrees and winters that rarely drop below 70, Scottsdale’s weather can be hot, to put it mildly. But there’s no need to worry. There’s a lot for you to do indoors.

1. Arizona Boardwalk Entertainment Complex

You’ll find this entertainment hub just off Via de Ventura, usually packed and air-conditioned. Don’t expect Arizona Boardwalk to be some run-of-the-mill arcade. It’s got eight full-scale attractions under one roof, including Topgolf Swing Suites and a full Dave & Buster’s setup.

Open late (until midnight weekdays; 2 a.m. weekends), you also have access to free parking. Group combos start at $25 a head, no sunscreen required.

2. Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)

Located on East Mayo Boulevard, MIM holds the world’s largest collection of instruments, with over 8,000 pieces from 200 countries and territories. Wireless headphones kick in automatically as you walk through, syncing sound to the displays. It’s immersive, but not overwhelming.
They’re open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Thursdays until 9 p.m.). General admission is $25, and guided tours run $10 extra. You also have access to Café Allegro, which serves lunch with mountain views.

3. Scottsdale Museum Of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)

In the Scottsdale Civic Center, SMoCA keeps things current with rotating exhibits from artists like James Marshall, Lydia Okumura, Squidsoup, and more. It also houses James Turrell’s “Knight Rise” skyspace (one of only a few worldwide), plus works by Paolo Soleri and Mel Roman.

You’ll find digital projects backed by the Knight Foundation, including AR and interactive installations.

The exhibit is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 8 p.m. on Thursdays). Admission is $12 for adults; students and military personnel are admitted free of charge. Their museum shop also carries exclusive artist collabs you won’t find elsewhere.

4. Scottsdale’s Museum Of The West

At 3830 N. Marshall Way, you’ll find the real story of the American West with no romanticization. Scottsdale’s Museum of the West blends classic pieces, like original Remington bronzes, with modern Native American art and immersive setups, like a simulated cattle drive and a recreated trading post.

It’s open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours till 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission is $15 for adults. Once a month, the “After Dark” series includes live music and themed cocktails.

5. iFLY Indoor Skydiving

Beyond the Arizona Boardwalk location, located at 9206 E. Talking Stick Way, the iFLy wind tunnel cranks out speeds up to 175 mph. iFly packages cover everything: training, gear, and instructor-led flight sessions inside the tunnel.

Pricing starts at $79.95 for new flyers, with deals for return visits. They run throughout the week, but check their website for availability.

6. Butterfly Wonderland

You’ll find this indoor rainforest next to the Arizona Boardwalk at 9500 E. Via de Ventura. The Butterfly Wonderland is 10,000 square feet of warm, tropical air and over 3,000 butterflies in constant motion. Don’t miss the emergence chamber, where you can watch them hatch in real time.

Doors open daily at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Adult tickets run $24.95. Annual passes come with unlimited visits and discounts for guests.

7. Puttshack Interactive Mini Golf

Puttshack, at 15169 N. Scottsdale Road, fuses RFID-tracked balls, live scoring, and moving targets to make every round of mini golf feel like a tech-powered showdown. It’s part sport, part video game.

The venue serves sharp pub fare and craft cocktails in a space that leans more upscale than an arcade. Games start at $18 per player, and the doors are open Monday through Thursday from 4 to 11 p.m. They run to midnight Friday through Sunday.

8. Arizona Science Center

The Arizona Science Center at 600 E. Washington Street is four floors of hands-on science. You’ve got space, biology, and tech exhibits. The “Saguaro Bio Lab” even lets you extract DNA.

The five-story dome theater screens IMAX documentaries that orbit everything from ocean depths to deep space. General admission runs $21 for adults, with planetarium shows ticketed separately. Hours shift slightly by day, but most visits fall between midmorning and late afternoon.

8 Outdoor Scottsdale Activities Worth Braving The Heat

With over 300 days of sun a year, Scottsdale’s got more than enough light for you to enjoy the outdoors. If that’s your thing, these outdoor activities are worth the effort and the heat.

1. Camelback Mountain Hiking

Camelback Mountain tops out at 2,704 feet, making it Scottsdale’s highest point and one of its toughest climbs.

There are two ways up: Echo Canyon Trail, a 1.2-mile scramble with rails and boulders (trailhead at 5700 N Echo Canyon Parkway), or Cholla Trail, a 1.5-mile steady incline starting from 6131 E Cholla Lane.

Parking is tight, especially October through May. Open spots are usually gone by sunrise, and summer hikes should start before 6 a.m. You don’t need a permit, and we recommend bringing at least 32 ounces of water per person.

2. Desert Botanical Garden

Just over the city line at 1201 N Galvin Parkway, this Phoenix-based Desert Botanical Garden has 50,000 plants from arid regions across the globe.

The Desert Discovery Loop is fully wheelchair-accessible. Wildflower Loop offers seasonal color but includes some uneven, unpaved areas and may not be suitable for mobility devices.

It’s open daily: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in winter. Adult admission is $29.95. Popular events include Music in the Garden and Las Noches de las Luminarias.

3. Scottsdale Stadium Spring Training

From late February through March, Scottsdale Stadium at 7408 E Osborn Road becomes the home base for the San Francisco Giants. With just 12,000 seats, it’s tight enough to feel close to the action but never crowded.

The concourse was recently renovated and now features local restaurant vendors and craft beer taps. Lawn areas offer relaxed viewing with desert views as the backdrop.

Tickets range from $15 for lawn spots to $65 for field-level seats. Parking is $10 per vehicle. During peak game times, shuttle services operate from nearby hotels.

4. McDowell Mountain Preserve Hiking

For a quieter trail day, head to the Gateway Loop Trail, which has a length of 4.5 miles, 655 feet of gain, and a full loop back to where you started. You can access it at 18333 N Thompson Peak Parkway, inside a 21,099-acre preserve with more than 50 miles of connected trails for you to explore.

You’ll find everything from nature strolls to serious climbs. Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are all in play. Parking fills up quickly during peak season, so arriving early is a smart move. There’s no entry fee, but donations help keep the trails maintained.

5. Salt River Tubing

Just a half hour from Scottsdale, at 9200 N. Bush Highway, Salt River Tubing operates seasonally from May through September. They outfit you with heavy-duty tubes and shuttle rides for a 2.5-hour float through the Tonto National Forest.

River flow varies with dam releases, resulting in light rapids (Class I to II) on different days. Tube rentals are $25 per person and include shuttle service. Cooler tubes (for floating your own cooler) run an extra $17 and come with ice. No glass allowed.

6. Scottsdale Golf Courses

With more than 200 courses across the city and surrounding areas, you’ll find everything from PGA stops to luxury resort layouts.

TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course hosts the WM Phoenix Open. Troon North delivers the Monument and Pinnacle courses. Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale also has two championship-level designs.

Green fees depend on timing. In summer, twilight rates can dip to $89. Come peak season, expect to see $500 or more at premium clubs. Carts usually run another $25 to $40 per round. Dress codes are strictly enforced at high-end venues, so plan ahead.

7. Hot Air Balloon Adventures

Local providers like Rainbow Ryders and Hot Air Expeditions fly FAA-certified pilots and finish each trip with a champagne toast on the ground. Flights usually lift off around sunrise, when conditions are most stable. That’s true year-round, with some operators adding sunset rides during cooler months.

The flight itself runs 60 to 75 minutes, but the full experience (setup to pack-down) takes three to four hours. Rates range from $199 to $299 per person, depending on the season and group size. If you’re planning a trip in peak season, book early. Seats fill fast.

8. Sonoran Desert Jeep Tours

Operators like Desert Wolf Tours and Pink Adventure Tours run modified 4WD Jeeps and trucks through the Sonoran backcountry. Tour lengths vary. You’ve got two-hour sunset rides or full-day excursions with all the extras.

Vehicles hold six to 14 passengers, depending on the setup. Professional guides handle the driving and narration, which includes insights on everything from geology to cultural heritage sites.

Half-day tours start at $89 per adult; full-day trips can reach $169, and hotel pickups run extra. Most companies run year-round but adjust hours with the season, so always check the times before making a booking.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re going full-throttle in the desert, cooling off in a museum, or booking tee times and balloon rides, Scottsdale always delivers.

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