Founder Maj. Winfield Scott would no doubt be dumbstruck if he could time-travel to modern-day Scottsdale. An upscale, sophisticated, vibrant city with Western overtones, Scottsdale is a far cry from its lonely desert beginnings.

In 1888, Scott purchased more than 600 acres of land in the middle of the Sonoran Desert that would eventually become downtown Scottsdale. The first settlers were farmers and ranchers, and the little Western town that emerged was geared toward their needs.

As time progressed, Scottsdale’s weather and exotic landscape called to folks from the Eastern United States looking for relief from frigid winners. The first luxury resort, the Ingleside Inn, was built in 1910 and introduced golf to the area. In 1940, Scottsdale welcomed its first spa, Elizabeth Arden’s Maine Chance.

The city was incorporated in 1951, and over the following decades it grew to 180-plus square miles with a population, according to the 2010 census, of more than 217,000.

The greatest growth period of Scottsdale’s history occurred in the last decade of the 20th century, with the development of almost 38,000 new dwelling units bringing in 82,000 new citizens. With this rapid growth grew concerns about overdevelopment and loss of the quality of life the citizens of Scottsdale had come to expect. Fortunately, the city’s forward-thinking government committed to preserving the city’s character and assured future development would be in harmony with the natural desert landscape. With this in mind, Scottsdale residents authorized the city to acquire 36,000 acres of land to be preserved as natural open space for all time in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

The 21st century brought what has been referred to as Scottsdale’s urban renaissance. One of the city’s ancient Indian canals became the centerpiece for the more than $250 million Waterfront district, where modern high-rises house luxury condominiums. The adjoining $41 million SouthBridge District is the go-to place for shopping and dining. But don’t expect to see any chain restaurants or boutiques here because all the businesses are independently owned.

Over the years, Scottsdale maintained a close relationship with the two Native American tribes in the area, the Pima and the Maricopa, which comprise the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, or SRP-MIC. Talking Stick: A Cultural and Entertainment Destination Area has a cultural center, a resort and casino, restaurants, an entertainment venue for up to 2,000 people and two golf courses.

Cactus overlooking Scottsdale © Scruggelgreen | Dreamstime.com

In 2011 the SRP-MIC partnered with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies to build a new multipurpose facility for the Arizona Cactus League spring training. The only such training facility to be built on Native American land, it includes an 11,000-seat stadium, 12 practice fields, clubhouses and training facilities.

Scottsdale, perhaps best known for its luxury resorts, golf courses and spas, not surprisingly identifies the tourism industry as its primary employer, making up almost 40 percent of the city’s workforce.

Some resorts offer so much that those looking for a chill vacation don’t even have to leave the grounds. The Boulders, for example, sits in the middle of 1,300 acres of Sonoran Desert, dotted with dramatic boulder formations and has two award-winning golf courses, a 33,000-square-foot spa and plenty of open space for hiking.

Not everyone wants to stay at a luxury resort, however; for the visitor looking for charm and convenience, the four-room Bespoke Inn, Café & Bicycles just might fit the bill. Despite all of the city’s diverse accommodations, the Bespoke, which opened in 2013, is the city’s only downtown B&B. It offers a peaceful oasis just a couple of blocks from the center of Old Town. Brunch at the acclaimed on-site Virtù restaurant is included, and bicycles are available for a quick spin around town.

Scottsdale isn’t just about where to stay. Shoppers revel in its art galleries, malls and specialty stores. The city boasts a hot and happening nightlife in the downtown area, and the restaurant scene is no longer limited to steakhouses and Mexican joints. In fact, Scottsdale ranked second on Livability’s 2014 list of the Top 10 Foodie Cities. Virtù Honest Craft, an award-winning Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, serves items like braised oxtails and housemade sausage. Also a winner of national awards, FnB specializes in farm-fresh food and a great selection of Arizona wines.

Thanks to the efforts of Scottsdale Public Art, the downtown area has evolved into a sort of outdoor art museum. And more is yet to come with the organization’s allocation of more than $2 million for aesthetic projects in 2014.

But the really big news on the art front is the Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, due to open at the end of 2014. The 40,000-square-foot facility will showcase artwork and artifacts chronicling the area’s past.

SCENIC DRIVES

Deep canyons, giant saguaro cactus, dramatic geologic formations and stunning desert and lake views await those who venture along the Apache Trail. An easy daytrip from Scottsdale, the road was named after the Apache Indians who used this route to move through the Superstition Mountains. Early settlers ran their stagecoaches over it, and today everything from compact hybrids to SUVs navigate the 50 miles through the rugged mountains.

The trail, officially AZ88, starts at Apache Junction as a paved road which winds for 15 miles to Canyon Lake, one of three manmade reservoir lakes formed on the Salt River south of Roosevelt Dam. Drive a few more miles and you’re in Tortilla Flat, population six, with a restaurant and a little store.

At mile marker 220, the road becomes well-graded dirt for the next 22 miles. Things really get interesting at milepost 222, where Fish Creek Hill begins. The faint of heart should turn around here and head back to Scottsdale. Beginning with a quick 1,500-foot downhill drive, the road offers plenty of narrow hairpin turns, sheer drop-offs and no room for error. For the intrepid, it’s a fun ride with breathtaking vistas.