10 Things to Do in Old Town Scottsdale This Spring (That Don’t Involve a Golf Club)

Scottsdale has a reputation problem. People think it’s all golf courses, resorts, and expensive spa days. And sure, those things exist. But if you’re a woman over 50 visiting or living here, there’s a whole other side of Scottsdale that has nothing to do with a tee time.

We’re talking art walks, wildflower hikes, vintage market obsessions, rooftop cocktails at sunset… Also boutique shopping on tree-lined streets where you can actually walk from place to place without getting in your car.

Our Old Town boutique sits right in the middle of it at 7126 E 5th Ave, which means we see what people actually do here. Not the resort brochure version, but the real version.

Here are ten things to do in Old Town Scottsdale that don’t involve golf clubs, and what to wear to each one so you look good in the desert heat without suffering.

1. Old Town Farmers Market (Saturday Mornings)

What it is:

The Old Town Farmers Market runs every Saturday morning from October through May in the parking lot behind the Scottsdale Civic Center. It’s the real deal with local farms, fresh produce, artisan bread, honey, jams, flowers, and prepared food you can eat on the spot.

This is where Scottsdale locals actually shop. You’ll see the same faces every week, which means the vendors know their customers and the quality is high.

Get there early (7 am - 8 am) before it gets crowded and hot. By 10 am, the sun is brutal and you’ll be ready to leave.

What to wear:

Comfortable walking sandals (you’ll be on your feet), wide-leg linen pants (breathable and easy to move in), a lightweight linen top, a sun hat, and sunglasses. Bring a woven tote for carrying your produce.

2. Thursday ArtWalk (Every Thursday Evening, Year-Round)

What it is:

Every Thursday from 7 pm to 9 pm, the galleries in Old Town Scottsdale open their doors for ArtWalk. It’s free. You walk from gallery to gallery, look at art, sip wine, and pretend you’re cultured. Some galleries serve champagne. Some have live music. All of them are air-conditioned.

This is one of Scottsdale’s best-kept secrets. It’s the perfect thing to do on a spring evening when the weather is perfect, and you want to feel like you’re doing something interesting.

Start on Main Street or Marshall Way (the two main gallery corridors in Old Town). Pick a few galleries that look interesting and work through them. The Wilde Meyer Gallery and Cattle Track Arts Compound are good bets.

What to wear:

This is evening casual with a touch of polish. You’re walking around outside (it’s warm but not hot in spring evenings), then ducking into air-conditioned galleries.

Try navy or beige wide-leg linen pants with a linen top and a leather jacket. The Wild Leather Jacket Teal over a neutral linen outfit looks effortless and appropriate for gallery hopping. Add block heels or ankle boots for a little height, or stick with pointed-toe flats if you’re walking a lot.

Bring a crossbody bag (hands-free for wine sipping) and simple jewelry. You want to look like you belong in an art gallery, not like you’re dressed for a workout.

3. McDowell Sonoran Preserve Hikes (Sunrise or Late Afternoon)

What it is:

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is 30,500 acres of protected desert land with over 200 miles of trails. It’s right on the edge of Scottsdale, which means you can hike in the morning and be back in Old Town for lunch.

Spring is the best time to hike here because the temperatures are manageable (60s-70s in the morning, 70s-80s in the afternoon) and the desert is blooming. You’ll see wildflowers, cacti in bloom, and views that don’t look real.

Best trails for women over 50:

• Gateway Loop (4.5 miles, easy): Flat, well-maintained, perfect for a morning walk.

• Sunrise Trail (3.2 miles, moderate): Some elevation, but worth it for the views.

• Tom’s Thumb (5.5 miles, harder): Only if you’re feeling ambitious. The views are incredible, but it’s a real workout.

What to wear:

Do not hike in linen. Linen is for everything else. Hiking requires actual athletic gear.

Wear moisture-wicking pants or leggings (not cotton, which traps sweat), a lightweight athletic top, a sun hat with a brim, sunglasses, and real hiking shoes or trail runners. Bring a backpack with water (at least two liters), sunscreen, and snacks.

After the hike, change into linen and go get brunch. That’s the Scottsdale move.

4. Desert Botanical Garden Wildflowers (March-April Peak)

Source: Desert Botanical Garden

What it is:

The Desert Botanical Garden is a 140-acre garden in Phoenix (about 20 minutes from Old Town Scottsdale) that showcases desert plants from around the world. In spring, the wildflowers bloom, and it’s stunning.

March and April are peak wildflower season. You’ll see poppies, lupines, brittlebush, penstemon, and desert marigolds covering the trails in orange, yellow, purple, and pink. It’s the desert version of a spring garden, and it doesn’t look like anything you’ve seen before.

Go in the morning (8 am - 10 am) before it gets hot. The garden opens at 8 am. Bring water, wear sunscreen, and plan to spend two hours wandering.

What to wear:

This is walking on paved trails in the sun. You need sun protection and breathable fabric.

Wear wide-leg linen pants (beige or olive blend into the desert landscape beautifully), a lightweight linen top in a solid color (white, cream, or a warm neutral), a sun hat, and comfortable walking sandals.

If you’re planning to take photos (and you should, as the wildflowers are incredible), wear something that photographs well against yellow and purple flowers. Solid neutral colors work best. Our monochrome sets in beige or taupe look beautiful in desert wildflower photos.

5. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (Free on Thursdays)

What it is:

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) is a small, well-curated contemporary art museum in Old Town Scottsdale. It’s free on Thursdays, and it’s worth going even if you’re not typically an art museum person.

The building itself is beautiful (designed by architect Will Bruder), and the exhibitions rotate regularly. You’ll see contemporary art, architecture, design, and sometimes installations that take over entire rooms.

What to wear:

Museum-appropriate means polished casual. 

Navy or charcoal wide-leg pants with a simple top and minimal jewelry. Add a leather jacket for extra polish. The museum is air-conditioned, so you don’t need to worry about the heat.

If you’re combining this with Thursday ArtWalk (which you should), wear the same outfit for both. SMoCA during the day, galleries in the evening. One outfit, two activities.

6. Sweet Salvage Phoenix Vintage Market (Once a Month, Thursday-Sunday)

What it is:

Sweet Salvage is a vintage market that happens once a month in Phoenix (about 25 minutes from Old Town Scottsdale). It’s a massive warehouse filled with vintage furniture, home decor, clothing, jewelry, and weird treasures you didn’t know you needed.

Each month has a different theme. The market runs Thursday through Sunday, and serious shoppers go on Thursday (first pick of inventory) or Sunday (best deals as vendors want to unload).

This is not a pristine antique store. This is a dig-through-stuff-and-find-treasures situation. You’ll be walking, bending, lifting, and hunting. Wear clothes you can move in.

What to wear:

Comfortable pants (linen or cotton, nothing restrictive), a simple top, and closed-toe shoes (you’re navigating a warehouse with concrete floors and stuff everywhere).

Try the Michelle Linen Cotton Pant in a neutral color with a cotton top and sneakers. Bring a crossbody bag so your hands are free to dig through bins. Leave the heels at home.

7. Cactus League Spring Training (February-March)

What it is:

Spring Training is when Major League Baseball teams come to Arizona in February and March to practice before the season starts. Scottsdale Stadium hosts the San Francisco Giants, and it’s one of the best spring training experiences in the state.

Tickets are cheap (compared to regular season games). The stadiums are small and intimate. The weather is perfect. And it’s a genuinely fun afternoon even if you’re not a huge baseball fan.

Games usually start around 1 pm. Get there early, grab a beer, sit in the sun, and people-watch. This is as much about the experience as it’s about the game.

What to wear:

This is outdoor stadium seating in the sun for 2-3 hours. You need sun protection and comfort.

Linen pants (any neutral color), a cotton or linen top, a sun hat, and sunglasses. Bring a light cardigan or linen jacket because the stadium can get breezy, and once the sun goes down behind the stadium, it cools off fast.

Skip the heels. Wear flat sandals or clean sneakers. You’re walking on concrete and climbing bleachers.

8. Rooftop Bars at Sunset

What it is:

Scottsdale has a ridiculous number of rooftop bars. Spring is the perfect time to sit on one at sunset with a cocktail and watch the sky turn orange and pink over the McDowell Mountains. Visit the following:

• Skysill Rooftop Lounge (Hotel Valley Ho): Mid-century modern vibes, great cocktails, occasional live music.

• Lustre Rooftop Bar (W Scottsdale): Modern, trendy, younger crowd, but great views.

• Citizen Public House (technically not a rooftop, but the patio is excellent): Local favorite, farm-to-table food, craft cocktails.

What to wear:

This is an evening casual with a touch of style. You want to look good, but you’re not going to a black-tie event.

Linen jumpsuit or wide-leg linen pants with a linen top and a leather jacket. The jacket adds polish and warmth once the sun goes down and the temperature drops.

Block heels or ankle boots work here. Add statement earrings or one of our new statement rings. Keep a small crossbody bag or clutch for your phone and cards.

9. The Boutique Shopping Crawl (Old Town Scottsdale)

What it is:

Old Town Scottsdale has a cluster of boutiques within walking distance of each other. You can park once and spend an entire afternoon walking from shop to shop.

Start at our boutique Conscious Coterie (7126 E 5th Ave) for linen and quality basics. Walk to Leela Market for bohemian home decor and unique gifts. Hit Mavericks or Amy Atelier for trendy pieces. Stop at Buffalo Boutique for denim. End at Luv Luxe if you’re in the market for a designer handbag.

What to wear:

Comfortable walking clothes that still look good when you’re trying things on in fitting rooms.

Wide-leg linen pants with a simple linen top and comfortable sandals. Bring a crossbody bag for your hands-free shopping. Wear minimal jewelry so you can try on pieces without taking off a ton of stuff.

This is also the outfit that looks good in boutique mirrors, which is half the point of shopping.

10. Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright's Winter Home)

What it is:

Taliesin West is Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and architecture school in North Scottsdale. It’s a National Historic Landmark, and the tours are genuinely interesting even if you’re not an architecture nerd.

The buildings blend into the desert landscape, using local stone and Wright’s signature organic architecture. The tours run year-round, and spring is the best time to go because the weather is perfect and the desert is blooming.

Book a tour in advance (they sell out, especially in spring). The Insights Tour (90 minutes) is the best option for first-timers. Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking on uneven desert paths.

What to wear:

This is outdoor walking in the desert sun with some indoor time in non-air-conditioned buildings.

Linen pants, a lightweight linen top, a sun hat, and comfortable closed-toe shoes (the paths are rocky and uneven; sandals can work, but sneakers are safer).

Bring a light cardigan or a linen jacket, as parts of the tour are indoors and shaded, and the temperature can be surprising.

What This Actually Looks Like

Scottsdale isn’t just golf and resorts. It’s art galleries on Thursday nights, vintage market obsessions once a month, wildflower hikes in the morning, and rooftop cocktails at sunset.

And the through-line for all of it? Linen. Breathable, packable, natural fabric that works in the desert heat and looks good in every scenario from farmers markets to art galleries to rooftop bars.

You don’t need ten different outfits for these activities. You need three or four quality linen pieces that you can mix and match depending on where you’re going. Wide-leg pants, simple tops, a leather jacket for evenings, and comfortable shoes. That’s it.

Walk into our Old Town Scottsdale boutique at 7126 E 5th Ave and tell us what you’re planning to do while you're here. We’ll pull pieces that work for your itinerary. You’ll try them on. You’ll see how they move in the Arizona heat. And you’ll walk out with a wardrobe that actually makes sense for Scottsdale instead of guessing what to pack.