Ready for some desert excitement while you’re vacationing in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area? If you want to take a tour through the beautiful Sonoran Desert, but want to have a lot of fun while doing it, a guided ATV adventure tour is what you are looking for. Riding ATVs off-road is always fun and exciting, but the desert terrain takes everything to the next level.
A Guided Tour Through the Desert
Stellar Adventures Scottsdale has been guiding travelers on desert adventures since 1997 and they have several different tours to choose from. Their Arizona Guided ATV Tour through the Sonoran Desert takes you off-road on rough trails for approximately 2-3 hours of desert fun. Riding on two main trails – the Rocks & Ruins Trail and the 4 Peaks Trail – you’ll cover roughly 25 miles through the Tonto National Forest and Sonoran Desert. Your experienced guide will pick the best trail based on current conditions and driver ATV experience.
Riding through the dusty desert terrain, be on the lookout for the many indigenous animals living in the Sonoran Desert: coyotes, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and javelinas. And if you don’t see any wildlife as you zip down the trail, there should be plenty of animal tracks to inspect. Don’t forget to look for bald eagles and prairie falcons as they soar above the desert on the thermal updrafts. Your guide will be extremely knowledgeable on desert plants, animals and history, so be sure to ask plenty of questions.
Your desert adventure begins with Stellar Adventures at the Cline Cabin Road/4 Peaks Trail Trailhead. After a brief safety overview, you can jump on your ATV and get your adventure started. The trails cover many different types of desert terrain – prepare for sandy washes and dry beds, rocky slopes and flat dusty trails. These are rough, secluded trails that are perfect for an exciting off-road ATV adventure while providing an unparalleled view of the desert scenery.
Planning Your Stellar Adventures ATV Tour
Tours start from the trailhead at 9am, 12pm and 3pm daily. Participants must be at least 12 years old to drive the ATVs, and at least 6 years old to ride. Bottled water and snacks are included on your tour. Stellar Adventures Scottsdale provides the (fully automatic) ATVs and helmets. ‘Meet at the Trail’ pricing is $180/single ATV and $300/double ATV. Prices including transportation (4 driver minimum) can be found on the Stellar Adventures website. Give them a call if you have any questions (1-602-402-0584).
Book your off-road desert adventure online now! And don’t forget to bring your camera to capture your adventure! And if you need a place to stay, make sure to check out the fantastic Scottsdale villas from Parsons Villas; contact us to book today!
Now that you’ve made it to the lovely desert oasis of Scottsdale here in Arizona, you may be looking for a fun, outdoor activity for the entire family—something that everyone can do, no matter their age, or fitness level. Here’s an idea: Take a guided Arizona rafting tour on the lower Salt River.
Arizona Outback Adventures (AOA) provides guided adventures for everyone across the southwest. They have an activity for every age bracket, every fitness level, and every outdoor interest. Lower Salt River rafting is rated class I – the easiest rating on the scale and perfect for beginner rafters and rafters of all ages!
Floating Down the River
Lazily drift down the Salt River through the Tonto National Forest while your guide takes care of steering the raft. And as you float down the river, your guide will teach your group about the indigenous flora and fauna that are unique to this area. Lower Salt River rafting is a great way to experience some of the different desert ecosystems at a casual pace, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see a herd of the wild horses that range in this area. This is a great trip for your family bird-watcher too; bald eagles, osprey, peregrine falcons, hawks, herons and egrets are among the many species that can be seen.
Swim a bit if the water is warm enough for you, or just sit back, relax and breathe in the beauty of the desert surrounding you. This is a great family or group outing. Take a half-day out of your trip to enjoy the desert and cool down a bit.
Getting on the Water with Lower Salt River Rafting
Your starting point will be based on the current river flow, and you’ll get a short talk on rafting and paddling safety before you start out. Your guide will outfit your group with life jackets and dry bags, as well as bottled water and snacks for the trip. Arizona rafting tours run on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing at 8am and 1pm. Rates are $290/per person for singles, $145/per person for 2-3 people, $116/per person for 4 or more. Give them a call (1-866-455-1601) if you have a large group or questions.
Check the AOA website for up-to-date information, private tour info, a checklist of things to bring (and wear), and most importantly to book your trip! And take a look at their Facebook, Instagram or YouTube pages to get an idea of what you’ll be experiencing. Make sure you have the best accommodations too: contact Parsons Villas today to book amazing Scottsdale vacation villas!
Imagine yourself whitewater rafting on the Salt River, fighting the water and rocks while slipping past the amazing scenery of the Salt River. Well, don’t just imagine it – do it! Schedule a Salt River rafting adventure now while you’re vacationing in the southwest.
Get Your Adrenaline Pumping
Wilderness Aware’s Half-Day Salt River White water Rafting tour isn’t a gentle rafting tour; this is five miles downriver on class III rapids! This half-day adventure is just enough of a challenge to be exciting and fun, but short enough to not over tax any newbie whitewater rafters. The half-day Salt River whitewater rafting tour is their most popular tour adventure for a reason; it delivers the thrill of whitewater rafting through beautiful country in a short amount of time.
This section of the Salt River drops an average of 25-feet per mile and cuts through picturesque red rock canyons along the way. You’ll journey from the forests of the Tonto National Forest down into the Sonoran Desert with its towering Saguaro cactus and prickly pear cactus. Experience the Sonoran Desert from a perspective only Salt River rafting can provide.
Start your whitewater rafting adventure at Wilderness Aware’s base between Globe and Show Low (in east central Arizona, approximately 2-1/2 hours east of Phoenix). Your guide will brief you on how to paddle through whitewater and basic river safety before you start out. Once out on the river, their knowledgeable guides will keep your paddling coordinated and guide you through the rapids as you speed down the river. Your half-day whitewater adventure ends at a private beach where you will be shuttled back to your starting point. (Or, you can upgrade on the spot to the full day rafting adventure for more excitement!)
Starting Your Salt River White Water Rafting Tour
Half-day Salt River white water rafting tours depart at 10am and last approximately 3-1/2 hours. Your tour includes fees, raft and safety equipment, and use of a wetsuit, splash jacket and river shoes in case of cool weather. This tour is not recommended for people with back or heart problems and women who are pregnant cannot participate. Tour start at $124.19/per person, participants must be 8 years or older, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Prices are dependent upon number of adults and children booking and the trip date.
For complete packing lists, directions, itineraries, river maps, and to book your trip, visit the Arizona Rafting by Wilderness Aware Whitewater Rafting Half-day trip page. Or, give them a call at 1-800-231-7238. Check out their Facebook page for a preview of your adventure! Then, check out the fantastic rentals offered by Parsons Villas: contact us to book today!
Covering over 100,000 square miles, the Sonoran Desert stretches up from Mexico into large parts of southern California and Arizona. This desert expanse is the only place in the world the towering Saguaro Cactus and Organ Pipe Cactus can be found, and it’s also the only habitat for the few remaining jaguars living in the U.S. This makes it one of the particularly unique Arizona hiking tours!
Journey Through the Desert
Sonoran Desert hiking is the only way to truly experience the desert – wandering along the dusty, rocky trails of the desert, winding in between the towering cacti and desert flora, looking for snake tracks in the sand, with the sun beating down on your head. The preserve is packed with desert wildlife including woodpeckers and roadrunners, snakes and lizards, mule deer and javelina. It’s a beautiful, glorious place, but also rugged and harsh. And, taking a guided tour of the desert is the best way for visitors to hike the desert safely, and learn about desert geology, its flora and fauna and history of the area. A guided tour allows you to focus on your amazing desert journey (while the guides worry about finding the way out).
Arizona Outback Adventures (AOA) offers guided Arizona hiking tours of the Sonoran Desert around Scottsdale. Most of their hikes use trails in the breathtaking McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Starting from the Preserve’s Gateway Trailhead, their knowledgeable guides will take you on a tour lasting 2 to 3 hours, departing at 8am, 11am and 2pm, seven days a week. Rates are $150/person for singles, $75/person for 2-3 people, and $60/person for 4+ people. For groups over 13, please call their office to schedule (866-455-1601). The AOA guides will also take care to modify the hike based on the group’s experience and fitness levels.
Booking Your Arizona Hiking Tours
You can book a private tour, or join up with others. Visit the AOA website for additional up-to-date information and to book your tour. Don’t forget to wear comfortable walking shoes (closed toe), and to bring a sweater or light jacket for early morning hikes. Also pack some sunscreen, lip balm, a hat if you can, and don’t forget your camera! Tours include bottled water and snacks and park entry fees.
If you have a half-day to spend while in Scottsdale and want to truly experience the desert, schedule Arizona Outback Adventure’s Scottsdale Sonoran Desert Hiking Tour. You’ll get in a little exercise while enjoying this wild, amazing desert up close, and you might learn a little too.
Are you a biking enthusiast? If so, there’s no reason you can’t be biking while you’re on vacation in Scottsdale. With so many national parks in the area with bikeable trails, you can bike on a new trail practically every day. And with a guided Arizona bike tour, you can experience some of the lesser known trails while learning about the desert.
Adventure on Two Wheels
Arizona Outback Adventures (AOA) has guided adventures for a variety of activities, including Scottsdale mountain biking. They have a biking tour that will fit every age bracket and every fitness level. If you love bikes and the desert, you have to try their Half-Day Scottsdale Mountain Bike Tour. AOA’s half-day biking adventure takes full advantage of the nearby McDowell Sonoran Preserve’s biking trails and most tours start at the Preserve’s Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
Using a guide on your adventure will allow you to get the most out of your biking adventure. AOA’s knowledgeable guides will use your bike preferences (pedal type, how often you ride etc.) and the type of terrain you are interested in – easy trail riding or more technical rocky sections and big rock drops, and singletrack or wider track – to match you to the trail best suited for you. You decide what type of desert adventure you want, and the AOA guide will find the best trail for the best experience. And, all of the Preserve’s trails offer amazing views of the surrounding mountains and deserts, so no matter your preferences, you’ll be enjoying the best of the desert while doing something you love. And, your guide will provide interesting facts about the desert’s unique plants and animals as well as its history while you bike along trail winding through the desert landscape.
How to Enjoy Scottsdale Mountain Biking
You can bring your own bike or use one of AOA’s high-performance mountain bike. Helmets and gloves are provided by your guide as are bottled water and snacks for the journey. Their Arizona bike tours run Monday through Sunday, starting at 8am, 11:30am and 3pm. Rates (for 2018) are $280/per person for singles, $140/per person for 2-3 people, $112/per person for 4 or more. Give them a call (1-866-455-1601) if you have a large group or questions.
Check the AOA website for up-to-date pricing, private tour info, a checklist of things to bring (and wear), and most importantly – to book your trip! Visit their Facebook, Instagram or YouTube pages to get an idea of what you could be experiencing on your Scottsdale mountain biking adventure! And make sure to browse the available Scottsdale villas available from Parsons Villas for a place to stay: contact us to book today!
You’ve hiked and rappelled, biked and shopped your way through Old Town and the surrounding Sonoran Desert. And now that you have gotten your exercise, you’re looking for some adult fun, and it’s time to party. Try the Party Bike Pub Crawl of Old Town Scottsdale and bike your way through historic Old Town while sipping on cool adult beverages! There may be a little exercise involved – someone will need to pedal the bike – but you get to keep your drink close by at all times. You may not even realize you’re pedaling because you will be having so much fun!
A Unique Pub Crawl in Scottsdale
The two-hour Party Bike Pub Crawl tour is a great way to experience Old Town with your group. You’ll get an overview of this old western town and its unique boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and bars. And, you’ll get to stop in at three of the best bars in town while on your tour—all without having to worry about finding a parking spot!
The bikes can handle you and 14 of your friends (and there are five non-peddling seats for those who can’t pedal). And you’ll enjoy drink specials at your three local bar stops. All you have to do is pedal and drink – your (sober) guide will steer the bike. It’s a great little ride for bachelor and bachelorette parties, or reliving the past with those old college buddies!
Each Party Bike Pub Crawl has a premium sound system and LED party lights for your enjoyment. Pick the best DJ from your group, and use the bike’s tablet to select a playlist for your tour. The bikes come equipped with coolers, ice and cups – ready for your beer and wine – or you can bring your own coolers. Party bike tours are strictly BYOB, and only beer and wine are allowed (no hard liquor or mixed drinks are allowed). No glass containers are permitted, all beer should be still in the can and wine should be in boxes or in plastic containers. You can bring your own water, soda and snacks if you like.
Book Your Tour
The Party Bike Pub Crawl of Old Town Scottsdale costs $49/person. You can book a tour directly off the Arizona Party Bike – Scottsdale website. Or, give Arizona Party Bike a call to arrange a private bike tour, of if you have a large group. Text 1-520-365-5544, or call 1-844-656-5544. Your Scottsdale party bike leaves from the Arizona Party Bike office at 7037 East 6th Street. After the tour, kick back in a comfortable vacation villa from Parsons Villas: contact us to book today!
Watching the sun slowly rise up over the mountains is always breathtaking here in the southwest, no matter how many times you’ve seen it. But, imagine seeing the sunrise from a totally different perspective – from a hot air balloon with Rainbow Ryders Inc Hot Air Balloon Company! You’ll watch the glow of light gradually spill over the mountains and desert, almost like lava flowing from a volcano peak, and slowly fill the sky.
Rising Over the Desert
From your perch high up in the clouds, you’ll have an amazing panoramic view of the surrounding Sonoran Desert landscape. And while you drift over the desert floor your pilot will tell you a little about the Sonoran Desert, its history and the indigenous wildlife. If you are feeling ambitious, you can start your trip off by helping to inflate your balloon.
Grab a group of your closest friends and family, and schedule a Rainbow Ryders’ Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride for an unforgettable sunrise. Imagine surprising someone you love with a sunrise flight on an anniversary or birthday!
Total flight time will be from 45-60 minutes. If you are solo, don’t worry, you can still enjoy a flight. You’ll be put in with other eager balloonists to make up the numbers. Call the Rainbow Ryders Inc Hot Air Balloon Company office for information on a more private flight or for a group, they have several basket sizes to accommodate couples or small groups. Participants must be able to stand for at least 1-hour, be able to handle the impact of jumping down from the basket (similar to jumping down from a chair), and be at least 5 years old. Please remember to bring a light jacket (it gets cool up high), sunscreen, and of course don’t forget to bring your camera.
Getting into the Air with a Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride
Transportation from the Rainbow Ryders’ central Phoenix office (715 East Covey Lane, Suite 100) to the flight take-off point (and back) is included in your ticket. Your exact take-off time will be verified after your flight is scheduled, but prepare to check-in at the office at least 1-hour before sunrise. Check the Rainbow Ryders’ website for up-to-date information and to book your flight. Or, give them a call at 1-800-725-2477. Pricing is dependent on the flight date and number of people, but is approximately $159/per person. Book your flight early for discounts!
And once you’re back on the ground, you can compare pictures of your Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride journey with the rest of your group while enjoying complimentary champagne and delicious breakfast treats! It’s even better from the comfort of a Scottsdale villa from Parsons Villas: contact us to book today!
Scottsdale is well-known for its art galleries, shopping experiences and lovely desert scenery. It’s also known for its love of nightlife and world-class cuisine. There are so many wonderful restaurants to choose from, how do you make a selection? Well, why not start with a food tour? You’ll get a tour of historic Old Town Scottsdale with the Scottsdale Trolley Food Tour, while also experiencing the signature dishes of several local restaurants. And you get to ride in the Old Town Trolley!
Delicious Tours of Scottsdale
Taste It Tours in Scottsdale offers several food tours, but the Scottsdale Trolley Food Tour is their most popular. The tour includes stops at five or six restaurants where you’ll get to sample that restaurant’s most popular menu item. As a bonus, several stops include their signature cocktail. The menu is pre-selected, and restaurants can vary from tour to tour. Restaurants on the tour are posted on the Taste It Tours website, along with a brief description of each restaurant’s signature dish for an idea of what you will be experiencing on your food journey. Past stops have included Barrio Queen (street tacos and 400 tequilas!), Classic Cakes & Confections (one of Martha Stewart’s top bakeries), Cornish Pasty Co. (tasty English meat pies), Craft 64 (craft pizzas and 36 Arizona-brewed beers), Sugar & ‘Spro (candy and chocolate!), and TeaTime Scottsdale (the oldest independently run tea shop in Old Town).
Although participants will ride the (public) Old Town Trolley, this is basically a walking tour (1-2 miles of walking between the six delicious food stops), so please wear comfortable shoes – and loose pants! For added interest, your guide will provide interesting fun facts along the way. You will learn a little about the history of the area while enjoying delicious food and experiencing scenic Old Town.
Book Your Scottsdale Trolley Tour
This Scottsdale trolley tour is a great activity for groups – the tour can serve up to 16 guests per group. Participants must be at least 13 years old, and the tour stops (and trolley) are wheelchair accessible. Tickets are also sold individually as well as in groups. The tour price is $65/per person (not including tax). Tours begin Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 2pm, rain or shine. You’ll start (and finish) your tour at the Hotel Valley Ho (6850 East Main Street). Each tour lasts approximately three hours. Book your Scottsdale trolley tour now at the Taste It Tours website. Please call if you need a vegetarian option or have any question – 1-480-274-3569. Speaking of which, contact Parsons Villas today if you need a fantastic vacation villa to stay in while here!
Rappelling is basically just sliding down a rope, although technically, it’s a controlled descent from a height, sliding down an anchored rope, applying friction to control speed. It might sound easy, and it can look easy too. And almost everyone has seen it done – like in every Mission Impossible movie! Are you ready to give rock climbing in Arizona a try? The canyons and cliffs around Scottsdale are waiting for you!
Your Day on the Cliffs
Epic Adventures has a half-day Scottsdale rappelling adventure perfect for you. Their personable, knowledgeable guides will tailor your adventure to fit your experience and fitness levels. And, you’ll be in a private group – just you and a couple of friends or family there, enjoying the fun of learning a new sport together.
Your adventure begins with a short hike through the Sonoran Desert just outside the city and continues on up to the top of a local mountain peak. You can choose a half-day tour in the beautiful McDowell Mountains or the sandstone Papago Buttes. Once at the top of a peak, you’ll start your descent. It will take some skill and a little practice. But don’t worry about that – the knowledgeable guides at Epic Adventures will guide you through the entire process, and make sure you’re completely comfortable with the gear and the idea of leaning back and sliding down the face of the cliff. Soon you’ll be rappelling down the canyon face just like in the movies!
Your guides will start your adventure with a short safety orientation and hand out your gear. They will also provide bottled water and snacks. The journey begins at the Epic Adventures’ home base (15525 N 83rd Way, Suite 6 in Scottsdale) in the early morning and you’ll be back at by dark.
How to Enjoy a Scottsdale Rappelling Adventure
Book your canyoneering adventure on their website, or give them a call (1-480-246-7207). The tour cost is $135 for either Scottsdale rappelling adventure location. There is a two person minimum, and all participants must be at least eight years old. All equipment (including ropes, harnesses, helmets and gloves) is provided. Remember to wear climbing shoes or hiking boots for greater friction against the rocks when you are rock climbing in Arizona. And, don’t forget to bring your camera; you can shoot amazing video of your friends as they rappel down the mountain face!
Be sure to visit Epic Adventure’s Facebook page for a look at your next adventure. Enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains and Scottsdale as you slide your way down the mountain in an easily controlled descent. The best part of hiking up a mountain is coming down! But all this climbing can be exhausting: rest your feet in a Parsons Villas vacation rental! Contact us to book today!