Event Detail





June 22, 2023 - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost: $40 per person ~ AHP Members and Guests Only 

 

Limited Availability – Reserve Today

 

Known as the “West’s Most Western Town,” Scottsdale, Arizona, has rich agricultural roots, but today, it’s a vibrant city filled with spas and resorts, galleries, boutiques, and diverse cuisine. It’s also home to several well-known horse trainers.

 

Experience Old Town Scottsdale in this self-guided tour planned just for AHP members and their guests attending the Meet at the Mesa Conference. The bus will leave from the Doubletree Hotel at 9 a.m. sharp and drop you off and pick you up at the Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West in Old Town. You’ll have more than four hours on foot to explore everything this colorful Western-centric area offers. The bus will depart at 2:30 p.m. and return to the hotel.

 

Old Town Scottsdale map available here: https://oldtownscottsdaleaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/COS304_OldTownMapUpdateforWebsite.pdf

 

What to Bring:

 

  • Water bottle. It's a dry heat. Summer temperatures in Scottsdale soar into the high 90s and low 100s, so it’s important that you stay hydrated.

  • Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and other sun protection. The Arizona sun is warm and inviting, but it is hard on your skin, so prepare according to your comfort level.

  • Shopping bag for your goodies. It’s hard to resist not taking home a piece of turquoise jewelry and other souvenirs, so plan to bring a bag to protect your purchases.

  • Camera/cell phone. There are plenty of opportunities for selfies and unforgettable moments you’ll want to capture.

  • Book/tablet. If shopping, galleries, and museums aren’t your style, consider joining the tour and finding a coffee shop, wine tasting room, park, or a quiet place to read, catch up on emails or work, and just get away for a few hours! 

  • Comfortable walking shoes: You’ll most likely be afoot unless you take the Old Town Trolley and may walk a mile or two during your visit.

 

Old Town Shopping Areas

 

  • Old Town Scottsdale Shoppes, E Bennie Gonzales Wy, Scottsdale

  • Frontier Town, 7245 E Main St, Scottsdale

 

Museums

 

  • Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Allow a couple of hours to explore the exhibits inside the 43,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, eco-friendly museum complex. Opened in 2015, the museum is a nexus of exhibits that transition from the Old West to the New West, filled with fascinating artifacts, engaging artwork, and sculpture garden, and interactive experiences. Open Thurs. 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission: $25 adults; $22 seniors. https://scottsdalemuseumwest.org/ 
    Location: 3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale

 

  • Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Located in a 21-acre park in the middle of Old Town, this museum houses an extensive collection of contemporary art, architecture, and design from around the world. www.smoca.org Open Thurs. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission: $12 non-members; $9 seniors; Pay what you wish on Thursdays.
    Location: 7374 E 2nd St, Scottsdale

 

 

Art

 

  • Galleries. Home to the Scottsdale Artists School, Old Town represents the best Western artists in its galleries. Peruse masterpieces portraying horses, cowboys, the Western landscape, and wildlife in air-conditioned galleries such as Legacy Fine Art.

 

Dining

 

  • Los Olivos. For over 70 years, this third-generation family-owned restaurant has been a fixture in Old Town for authentic Mexican dishes and fresh, homemade salsa and tortillas. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call for reservations 480-946-2256. www.losolivosrestaurants.com 
    Location: 7328 E 2nd Street, Scottsdale

 

  • Old Adobe Mission. The oldest Catholic church in Scottsdale, dating to the early 1900s, unfortunately, won’t be open on the day of our tour. However, the beauty of its exterior is not to be missed, and The Mission restaurant next door is a great place for Southwest-inspired craft cocktails and cuisine. Be sure to try the guacamole made right at the table!
    Location: 3817 N Brown Ave, Scottsdale

 

  • Rehab Burger Therapy was founded on the idea that everyone deserves a break from the daily grind. A belief that it’s actually therapeutic to slow down and celebrate life’s simple pleasures like the company of friends, great music, and a ridiculously delicious meal. You don’t have to be a strung-out rock star or jaded gazillionaire to benefit from this sort of therapy. All of us need a place we can escape to and get properly treated. Open 11:00 a.m. to 9 p.m.  https://rehabburgertherapy.com/
    Location: 7210 E. 2nd Street, Scottsdale

 

  • Sugar Bowl. Get the scoop on this iconic, family-owned ice cream parlor, soda fountain, and diner built in the 1950s. The interior immortalizes Scottsdale cartoonist Bill Beane’s “Family Circus” comics. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. https://sugarbowlscottsdale.com/
    Location: 4005 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale

 

  • Rusty Spur Saloon. For a taste of the Old West, check out this saloon that shows the more rough-and-tumble side of Scottsdale’s history. Opens at 10:00 a.m. www.rustyspursaloon.com 
    Location: 7245 E. Main Street, Scottsdale

 

For questions or assistance, contact Chris at ahorsepubs@aol.com