Hotel at a Glance: Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort

With a stay at Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort in Scottsdale (South Scottsdale), you'll be a 1-minute drive from Old Town and 10 minutes from Camelback Mountain. This resort is 9.4 mi (15.2 km) from Arizona State University and 19.4 mi (31.2 km) from Phoenix Convention Center.

• Amenities: Make yourself at home in one of the guestrooms featuring mini-refrigerators and microwaves

• Make a splash: Swim in one of the two outdoor pools

• Dining: Satisfy your appetite for dinner at the restaurant

• Grab a drink: Complimentary evening reception is served daily

Scottsdale, Arizona: Stucco Mansions amid Rocky Desert Landscape

Located just northeast of Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale once served as ranch land where farmers grew oranges and lemons and cowboys kicked up dust in the fierce, dry heat. That era earned Scottsdale the nickname of “The West's Most Western Town.” Today, it is an affluent city landscaped with lush green grass and lined with stucco mansions. For a glimpse of the city's old-west roots, head to Old Town Scottsdale, where wooden boardwalks and hitching posts sit in front of a retro ice-cream parlor and rustic specialty shops.

Upon arriving in Scottsdale, you know you're in the desert—cacti and tumbleweeds dot the landscape, and dry shrubs and gnarled trees cover the McDowell Mountains in the distance. To get a closer look at southwestern flora, head to the Desert Botanical Garden. There, themed trails wind past huge cacti and other moisture-hoarding succulents, best seen in the cooler early-morning or twilight hours.