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| - I enjoy going to the Old Town Scottsdale (OTS) area. There's a certain charm about it that I haven't ever experienced in another Downtown area before--from the really cool Western look of the stores; great public art; wonderful landscaping; friendly people; and just a great all-around vibe. Besides all the great little shops, restaurants, art galleries, and museums to check out, there are also tons of seasonal events; I'd highly recommend checking the Downtown Scottsdale website before you visit to make sure you don't miss out on anything really cool (http://www.scottsdaledowntown.com/Events.aspx?Paging=1). Here's a quick list of some of my highlights (in no particular order):
Shops/Restaurants:
1) Scottsdale Historical Museum- Pretty cool, little piece of Scottsdale history. The Museum is housed in the original schoolhouse and the whole thing can be seen in 5-10minutes.
2) Bischoff's Shades of the West- Great little touristy store that's packed full of Southwestern memorabilia and souvenirs. This a must-stop for any true Pepper Head; they have a fantastic collection of salsa, hot sauce, spicy jellies, and every other kind of spicy food you could imagine--and even some you can't!
3) Bootleggers- Very good BBQ spot that's worth checking out if you're in the mood for some Q.
Events:
Native Trails- I was fortunate enough to be able to catch the Native Trails show when I was last in OTS. It's an hour and a half production that features Native American Dancers, Singers and Musicians. It's pretty great, goes by really fast, and has you wanting more by the end. All the performers are terrific and there's a nice amount of humor thrown in there for good measure. The event runs every Thursday and Saturday from the January to the first week of April--and the best part is it's free! Don't forget to grab some Indian Frybread while you're there; it's terrific!
If you're ever in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area during Spring Break or any other time of year I highly recommend making your way to OTS. It's a definite tourist trap, but it's the best damn tourist trap I've encountered. There's also plenty of parking and it's free! Do you hear that Bay Area?! Free Parking! Sorry, I hate paying for parking, but I digress. OTS is a lot of fun and there's lots to see and do and I look forward to visiting when I'm in the area.
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