Live here like you've been a local for years.

Neighborhoods, seasons, trails, and the small decisions that make Scottsdale feel like home, before you move and long after.

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Start here

Where are you on the map?

Thinking about moving

Start with the neighborhoods, then the 90-day plan.

Already here

Get more out of the seasons, the trails, and the weekends.

Here for the season

How the year changes, and the weekend that sells everyone.

The Journal

Notes on living well in Scottsdale.

See all 10 articles →

Aerial view of Scottsdale-area neighborhoods and a golf course

7 min read

Living in Scottsdale: A Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Guide

Scottsdale runs about 31 miles from end to end, so where you land shapes your week. Here is each major area by terrain, layout, landmarks and the drive to Old Town.

A Scottsdale home behind saguaros and desert trees

6 min read

Which Way Should Your Backyard Face in Arizona?

In the desert, the direction your backyard faces decides when you can actually use it. Here is how the sun moves over Scottsdale and what each exposure gives you.

Cactus and boulders below Pinnacle Peak in North Scottsdale

7 min read

McDowell Sonoran Preserve Trailheads, Easy to Challenging

The preserve has trailheads across Scottsdale, and each one suits a different kind of hike. Here is where to start, what you will find there, and how to stay safe in the heat.

Scottsdale and the surrounding mountains seen from a desert hill

6 min read

North vs. South Scottsdale: How Daily Life Differs

South Scottsdale puts you on a walkable grid near Old Town. North Scottsdale puts the desert and the preserve at your door. Here is how the two halves differ day to day.

Palm trees and a Scottsdale golf course at sunset

7 min read

Golf in Scottsdale: Public, Resort and Private Courses Explained

Scottsdale golf comes in three flavors: public courses anyone can book, resort courses, and private clubs. Here is how each works, and when to play.

Aerial view of Scottsdale and Paradise Valley neighborhoods with mountains

6 min read

Scottsdale HOAs and Master-Planned Communities: What to Know

Many Scottsdale homes come with one association or several. Here is how HOAs, master associations and design review work, and what Arizona says you receive before closing.

Free guide

Everything we'd tell a friend before they moved here.

The Scottsdale Lifestyle Guide puts the neighborhoods, the seasons, the preserve, dining, golf, a moving checklist, and a first-weekend itinerary in one place.

Neighborhood-by-neighborhood notes
A 90-day moving checklist
Trailheads by skill level
A first-weekend itinerary

Why "The Scottsdale Lifestyle"

Scottsdale isn't a single neighborhood or a single season. It's mornings on the trail, long evenings outside, and knowing which side of the house gets the shade in July. This is where we write that down.