Scottsdale, Arizona

Our first stop in Arizona was Scottsdale, a suburb of Phoenix. We stayed there for a total of three nights.  

Dessert Botanical Gardens

One of the things we did in Scottsdale was go to the Desert Botanical Gardens. They have over 25,000 different kinds of plants from the Sonoran dessert (part of Arizona and Mexico) and from around the world. One of the most common plants there is the Saguaro Cactus (S-u-waro). They can grow up to sixty feet in height and can get up to three hundred years old!

We also tried some Prickly Pear Cactus candy, it was delicious!

Old Town Scottsdale

Later that day we walked around Old town Scottsdale. We stopped at a bakery and got gelato ,(no surprise, my dad loves ice-cream). Then we walked around the little shops and stores. In the center of this mini town square there was a very unique fountain.

We also found an antique book store called Alcuin Books, and I bought a 1893 copy of Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass!

The Superstition Mountains

We also went hiking in the Superstition Mountains in Tonto National Forest. It took us about an hour to drive there from our house in Scottsdale. The hike was 6 miles round trip and uphill on the way there, but it was worth it, at the top there was a gorgeous view!

Arizona Renaissance Festival

On the last day in Scottsdale we packed all our stuff into the van and started our drive to the next place. On our way stopped at the Arizona Renaissance Fair. We had candied nuts, steak on a stake, chicken skewers, a turkey leg, chocolate on strawberries and corn on the cob. 

Aspen and Brooks shot bows and arrows, and we also learned how to throw ninja throwing stars. There were tons of renaissance themed shops including pet dragon shop (Aspen and Brooks each got one), costume stores, jewelry stores, renaissance weapon stores, etc. 

We saw the show Cirque de Sewer, acrobats with acro-rats, while we were there. The show was okay, the rat part was definitely interesting, the rats were named Hanta, Varicella, and Pneumonia.