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For world travelers, Scottsdale, Arizona has a particularly potent reputation for attracting visitors who are looking to experience the finer things in life. A suburb of Phoenix that has always maintained a strong presence in local culture, it is one of the best places to enjoy world-class nightclubs, and it’s pretty hopping any time of year. It also boast some of the valleys finest restaurants, and has a knack for design and innovation in luxury hotels. Scottsdale is a vibrant part of the city’s scene.

With access to some of the most gorgeous parts of the desert here, it is also famous for its resort mentality, inspiring the desire to relax and enjoy some very healthy decadence. Health clubs and spas are plentiful, and there’s a full menu for things to do at night. If you want a break from the club scene, there is a surprisingly active art community here. The galleries in Scottsdale are excellent, offering plenty of new works of contemporary art. One of the best places to see what’s in town, however, is the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art .

Opened in 1999, they present themselves as an educational institution, introducing people to the newest trends with their exhibitions and educational programs. Almost every arts organization and institution in town has some relationship with SMoCA, an their commitment to the communities is superb.

Visitors can see what artists in the Southwest are up to these days. There are the usual offerings that one would expect in Arizona, with scenes of mountains and washes, and archetypal figures of the old west, but there are also some stunning works by artists who happen to live here. The recent exhibition of Sue Chenoweth ‘s work is the perfect example of a local artist doing work that embraces an international outlook. Deeply moving, provocative, and often humorous at the same time, her work is otherworldly, showing a vision that is accessible but deeply felt and deeply lived.