"Visiting Taliesin West played a big part in my decision to come to AZ on vacation. I have been to several of his homes this year and it seemed like a good way to end the year. The property and home is absolutely amazing. I've been to Fallingwater and Taliesin West is every bit as breathtaking. I took the 90 minute insights tour which takes you around the exterior and the interior highlights include the living room and FLW's bedroom. The fee is $24 but you can't put a price on being exposed to a work of art and pure uninhibited genius. \n\nNo other FLW home that I've been to allows interior photography without doing an in-depth tour but interior photography was allowed at Taliesin West. I was over the moon, like a kid in a candy store.\n\nAfter a 30 minute break, my friend and I opted to do the 2 hour Apprentice Shelter Tour. It's $30 and a must for anyone into design or architecture. Taliesin West houses the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture - it has a max of 25-30 students, or apprentices as FLW would call them. An apprentice serves as the docent which is really neat because you get a student's perspective. Our apprentice was over here from China. We got to view over a dozen of the 30 or so desert shelters that apprentices have designed, built and lived in over the last several decades. We got to get up close and view the structures from tents to large glass and metal cantilevered studio homes. Apparently each apprentice who opts to build their design receives $1,000 in seed money but many try to get donations. One of the homes cost over $15K to produce. The works are very impressive. Most of the structures have just enough room for a mattress and of course each has a fireplace as an homage to FLW. It's also nice to hike through the desert. It's serene and quiet. \n\nDon't miss Taliesin West if you're in the Scottsdale area!!"^^ . "2"^^ . . . "2007-11-29T00:00:00"^^ . "1"^^ . . "5"^^ . "1"^^ .