Dispatches

Valley Notes

99 long-form field notes on visiting and living well in the Sonoran Desert — trails, routes, rules, itineraries, and the occasional strong opinion. Search them, or pick a topic.

Valley Notes

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Beyond LOVE: A Field Guide to the Other Sculptures at Scottsdale's Civic Center, and Where the Missing Ones Went

Coronado School: The Segregated Classrooms Inside Scottsdale's Little Red Schoolhouse

The Garden Apartments South of the Valley Ho: Scottsdale's Resort-Era Rental District

Health Seekers and the 1918 Flu: The Graves Ranch, the Sleeping Cottages, and the Winter the Sick Came to Scottsdale

The Historical Happenstance Markers: Six Small Monuments to South Scottsdale Road's Floods, Parades and Turkey Farms

Hohokam Agave and the Rock-Pile Fields: The Ancient Crop Still Growing in the McDowells

The Hohokam Canals of South Scottsdale: The Ditches Under the Streets, and the Ghost Names on the Federal Map

Jewish Scottsdale: From a Paradise Valley Living Room to the Shea Corridor

LGBTQ Scottsdale: BS West, the Unity Pledge and the Seven-Year Road to a Nondiscrimination Ordinance

Lost Midcentury Scottsdale: The Modern Buildings the City Tore Down

Lost Scottsdale Events: The Festivals, Races and Parades That Left Almost No Trace

Fire in the McDowells: The TP Fire, the Rio Fire, the Diamond Fire and a Desert That Wasn't Built to Burn

The Geology of the McDowell Mountains: A Field Guide for Hikers

Rock Climbing in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve: The 36 Legal Crags, the Rules, and Where the Names Came From

Midcentury Scottsdale's Historic Districts: A Field Guide to the Register Neighborhoods

Our Lady of Perpetual Help: The Parish That Outgrew the Old Adobe Mission

Rock Art in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve: What's Out There, and Why We Won't Tell You Where

The Gooseneck and the Field Science of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Ralph Haver's Scottsdale: What the Valley's Everyman Modernist Built Here, and What's Left

The Ranch Schools of Camelback: Judson, Jokake, Brownmoor and the Boarding Schools Where the Rich Sent Their Children to Winter

Saguaro Season: From the May Bloom to the O'odham Fruit Harvest and New Year

Scottsdale and the Color Line: Pumpsie Green, the 'Restricted' Resorts and the Club Built in Answer

Scottsdale's Birthdays: How the City Has Celebrated Itself at 10, 25, 50 and 75

First 100, First 110: Scottsdale's Heat Calendar and the Records Behind It

Scottsdale's Midcentury Churches: Concrete Shells, a Drive-In Sanctuary and a Copper Spire

Scottsdale Public Art on the Road: A Drivable Field Guide From the Crime Lab to Pinnacle Peak

Scottsdale Public Art on the Water: A Field Guide to the Art Along the Canals, the Greenbelt and the Water Campus

Scottsdale's Quiet Calendar: The Holidays the Visitor Guides Skip

Scottsdale's Sister Cities: Álamos to Killarney, and the Volunteers Who Keep Them Going

The Barrio Under the Civic Center: How Scottsdale Cleared Its Mexican Neighborhood, 1968–1975

The Women Who Organized Early Scottsdale: Sewing Circles, the PTA, Liberty Loans and the Woman's Club

Why Scottsdale's Schools and Parks Have Native Names: Tonto, Kiva, Paiute, Apache and a 1950s School Board Rule

Yaqui Lent and Easter in Guadalupe: How to Be a Respectful Guest

Country Bars and Line Dancing in Scottsdale: From the 1951 Saloon to the Cave Creek Bull Ring

Haunted Scottsdale: The Ghost Stories, the Real Crimes Behind Them, and the Tours

Horseback Riding Near Scottsdale: The Ranches, the Rides, and the Moonlight Option

Hot Air Balloon Rides Over Scottsdale: Operators, Prices, and What Sunrise Is Actually Like

Late-Night Food in Scottsdale: What's Actually Open After Midnight

Live Music in Scottsdale: Where the Bands Actually Play, Night by Night

Pickleball in Scottsdale: Every Public Court, the Resort Courts, and the Indoor Clubs

Scottsdale Dive Bars: The Rooms That Open at 6 A.M. and Never Redecorated

What Happens in Scottsdale Every Week: The Standing Calendar Locals Run On

Scottsdale Public Art on Foot: A Self-Guided Walk From the Jackrabbit to the Canal

Scottsdale's Public Pools: The Four Aquatic Centers, What Each Does Best, and What They Cost

Scottsdale Speakeasies: Every Hidden Bar and How to Get In

The Best Mexican Restaurants in Scottsdale, Sorted by What You're Actually Hungry For

The Best Coffee Shops in Scottsdale: Where Locals Actually Drink It

Scottsdale's Rooftop Bars and Sunset Patios: Where to Watch Camelback Turn Orange

The Romantic Scottsdale Weekend: A Couples' Itinerary from People Who've Run It

The Scottsdale Bachelor Party: Golf, the River, the Steakhouse and the Night, Done Right

The Scottsdale Trolley: Yes, It's Free, and Here's Where It Actually Goes

Scottsdale Happy Hour: The Local's Guide to the 3-to-6 Window

Scottsdale's Sports Complexes for Visiting Teams: Reata, Bell94, the Sports Complex and WestWorld, Explained

The Best Hikes in Scottsdale, Ranked: From the Greenbelt Stroll to the Thumb

Moving to Scottsdale: The Honest Relocation Guide, Costs and Neighborhoods Included

Scottsdale on a Budget: Free and Nearly Free Things That Are Genuinely Good

Stargazing Near Scottsdale: Where the Dark Sky Starts and How to Reach It

What to Pack for Scottsdale: The Season-by-Season List From People Who Live Here

The Scottsdale Bachelorette Weekend: A Local's Honest Field Manual

Scottsdale Breweries and Beer: The Taprooms, the Brewpubs and the Ale Trail

Wine Tasting in Old Town Scottsdale: The Arizona Tasting Rooms, Explained by a Convert

Shopping in Scottsdale: The Districts, the Malls and the Stores Worth the Trip

The Best Resort Pools in Scottsdale, and How to Use Them Without a Room

Desert Tours From Scottsdale: Jeeps, Hot-Air Balloons, Horseback, and What to Skip

Phoenix Airport to Scottsdale: Every Way In, With the Honest Times and Costs

Scottsdale Museums and Indoor Attractions: What's Worth an Afternoon (and What to Do When It's 112°)

Scottsdale With Dogs: Parks, Trails, Patios and the Heat Rules That Matter

Scottsdale Steakhouses: A Field Guide to the City's Favorite Meal

Scottsdale Spas: The Resort Spas Worth a Day, Ranked by People Who've Paid for Them

Brunch in Scottsdale: The Party Rooms, the Pancake Houses, and Where Locals Actually Eat Eggs

The Sonoran Desert Plants Field Guide: Saguaros, Palo Verdes, and the Teddy Bear You Don't Hug

Where to Stay in Scottsdale: Old Town vs. the Camelback Corridor vs. North Scottsdale

Old Town Scottsdale Nightlife: The Entertainment District, Explained by People Who Live Near It

Scottsdale With Kids: Trains, Splash Pads, an Indoor Waterpark, and the Heat Rules That Matter

Things to Do in Scottsdale: The 25 We'd Actually Send You To

When to Visit Scottsdale: The Honest Month-by-Month Answer

The Summer Resort Playbook: Five-Star Pools at Summer Prices, and the Fine Print

Your First Year in Scottsdale: What Nobody Tells You Before the Moving Truck Leaves