by LaVonne Redelinghuys

Created on: May 24, 2008   Last Updated: January 21, 2009

When visiting Arizona's Valley of the Sun, be sure to include Scottsdale, which is renown for its fabulous golf courses, upscale shopping, numerous art galleries and museums, and affluent lifestyle. You need not be a millionaire, however, to take your family on a fun adventure to this western desert city.

Train enthusiasts in your family will enjoy McCormack-Stillman Railroad Park. Admission to the park is free and children under three can ride the trains and an antique carousel for free with a paying adult. In addition to the rides and railroad museum, there are Navajo Hogans (unique six-sided dwelling of this Southwestern tribe) and a Xeriscape Arboretum to learn more about the area's native plant species.

Fiddlesticks Family Fun Park offers go-kart rides, laser tag, miniature golf, and many other diversions for kids of all ages, including a Kiddie Land for younger children. If your kids are older or if your family is more into athletic pursuits, consider visiting CrackerJax Family Fun & Sports Park instead. In addition to having many of the same attractions as Fiddlesticks, CrackerJax also offers a driving range, batting cages, and volleyball.

Of course, no visit to Arizona would be complete without some exposure to Native American culture. Scottsdale offers the Hoo Hoogam Ki Museum located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, which borders Scottsdale's eastern side.

Within a few miles of Scottsdale's city limits and certainly worth a visit are the Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden, and Papago Park with its unique rock formations. If you want to see more of the Scottsdale area's fabulous natural beauty, be sure to book a Sonoran Desert jeep tour, cool off on a raft floating down the Salt River, or hike or bike one of the region's numerous mountain trails. Temperatures in the Scottsdale area tend to be very warm and dry, even during winter months, so dress appropriately and pack plenty of water or other hydrating beverages. If you are traveling with small children, be sure to allow for frequent breaks and remember to apply sunscreen often.

With so much to do, you and the kids are going to get hungry! Fortunately, Scottsdale offers a wide variety of dining options ranging from gourmet dining establishments with celebrity chefs, ethnic restaurants featuring world cuisine from nearly everywhere, and, of course, the ubiquitous fast-food and casual dining establishments found in every other American suburb. Steakhouses are a traditional dining choice for many visitors to the Southwest as are Mexican restaurants, which range from upscale bistros to the "mama-y-papa" establishments in Scottsdale's south end where you can find very traditional offerings such as menudo.

After a long day of adventure, you may want to just sit back and stare up at - what else? - why, a movie screen, of course! If drive-in movie theaters have gone the way of affordable gas prices in your community, consider taking the family to the Scottsdale Six Drive on Hayden Road. Be sure to bring pillows so younger children can doze during the second feature. If the movie fails to keep your attention, you can look southward and watch the airplanes descend toward Sky Harbor Airport.

If you are staying at one of Scottsdale's many fabulous resorts, ask about any family-oriented activities they offer, or contact Scottsdale's Convention and Visitor's Bureau to find out more about family-friendly local attractions. Be sure to ask about coupons and discounts so you and your family can have a great time in this millionaire's playground without having to break your kids' piggy banks.

Learn more about this author, LaVonne Redelinghuys.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.