We saw everything from cacti, cupcakes to cowboys in Scottsdale, AZ. The desert landscape has a storied beauty in it’s dichotomy of hostile needles and gentle flowers. Outside of the city, hills are covered with the rare and surprisingly tall saguaro cactus. Native to the Sonoran desert and the state symbol of Arizona, the saguaro can grow to 40 feet tall, has flowers, fruit and often lives to over a 150 years old. They are magnificent and their presence makes an Arizona sunset something to be remembered.

Scottsdale offers a beautiful desert experience partnered with the very best shopping, art, dining and even architecture. We were surprised to see a Sprinkles Cupcake, but made sure to stop and get a red velvet. Maybe not native to Arizona, but perfectly decadent for a vacation.

Throughout old Scottsdale there are numerous Remington sculptures. One of my favorite professors from Spring Arbor University has a couple works by Remington and he always talked about how he was able to capture the spirit of the American West. Although he was from New England, as a young man he took many trips west and observed the land before it was tamed. He understood the untouched wilderness and captured the men and women who settled the land. His drawings, sculptures and paintings are a perfect representation of the American west.

Life size bronzed horses, cowboys and cacti are on almost every street. On Thursday nights, the galleries stay open late, musicians play on the streets and you can grab a beer in a saloon or a meal from a James Beard award winning chef. It was heaven. I know we will be back. Arizona offers warmth, hospitality, culture and a nature experience second to none.